TSA Preparation Courses

The TSA is designed to help UCL and Oxford Tutors assess whether you would perform well on their course, so you must demonstrate you are the right candidate by excelling at the test.

Preparing for the TSA is a large task because of the number of skills you have to practice. These skills, such as problem-solving and data interpretation, are needed to successfully study a course like Economics. Applicants often find the TSA daunting, so our Oxbridge Tutors (who scored in the top 10% in their TSA) are on hand to provide the best support possible, through One-To-One Tuition, TSA Courses and much more.

What is the TSA?

The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is a 2-hour computer-based aptitude test taken by students who are applying to certain courses at Oxford and UCL, from Psychology to Political Studies. Split into two parts, the TSA starts with a 90-minute multiple-choice Thinking Skills Assessment and a 30-minute writing task.

Oxford and UCL Admissions Tutors use the TSA to test the generic academic skills needed to successfully study a course like PPE or Economics and Management. Skills include problem-solving (creating a solution to a numerical, spatial or logical problem), critical thinking (evaluating and understanding arguments) and reasoning ability (presenting ideas in a well-organised way).

How To Prepare for the TSA

The TSA is all about the methods of reaching a solution, making preparation different to what you have practised before. Unlike A-levels, there isn’t a curriculum to follow.

Start by spending time understanding what the TSA really tests and learn the timings of each section. Then, switch your focus to working through TSA past papers to help you develop your thinking skills. Start at your own pace and work towards taking tests under timed conditions. 

You can boost your TSA score by working with an expert tutor here at UniAdmissions, guiding you through the process and offering experienced insight into the TSA.

Which TSA Preparation Programme Is Best For Me?

OXBRIDGE ECONOMICS PREMIUM PROGRAMME

Our Complete Oxbridge Economics Preparation Programme

Preparing your Economics application is not a simple process. The success rates are very competitive and there are many hurdles to clear to reach your Economics offer. The UniAdmissions Economics Premium Programme was created to help you stay on top of your application and triple your chances of gaining an offer.

Alongside TSA preparation, we can teach you how to write a perfect Personal Statement to boost your impression on the university and offer guidance on acing your Interviews. You will have over 170 hours of study time made up of many avenues of learning including expert-led 1-1 Tuition, Intensive Group Teaching and an Online Course.

TSA Preparation Programme

Our TSA Specific Preparation Programme

We have supported hundreds of students with their TSA exams over the years and have gained a critical understanding of what Oxford and UCL Admissions Tutors are looking for.

The TSA Preparation Programme is the most comprehensive TSA support you will find. Our expert Tutors (who all scored in the top 10% of their TSAs) help you to identify and improve the areas you find most difficult to ensure you score highly. The Programme also offers a reserved space on our Intensive Course and access to online revision support. If you are only looking for support with the TSA exam, then this is the perfect Programme to help boost your score rapidly.

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Oxford Economics and Management

“My confidence improved massively since using the support of UniAdmissions as I knew I had people I could rely on to help, and that there was guidance and expertise at all times. I didn’t receive the necessary help from school so having specialised support was vital.”

Frequently Asked Questions

All tutors are either current senior students, recent graduates or from a professional background that have taken the TSA and scored in the top 10% in their admissions cycle. Our selection process ensures only the best tutors work for us, in roles most suited to their skill-sets. You can read more about our tutors here.

We work with a limited number of students each year to ensure we can provide the best support suited for their particular needs.

Our Programmes have a structured syllabus, however, we tweak elements of the syllabus so the student is able to gain the most out of our support.

First and foremost, we assess whether the potential student has the right academic capabilities and profile to be realistically accepted to study at Oxford or UCL.

Secondly, we assess whether the student is capable and willing to put in the time required to create a strong application for Oxford and UCL.

Finally, we assess the student’s attitude and reasoning behind applying to their subject, whether it is Economics and Management at Oxford or Political Studies at UCL. This is one of our most important considerations.

If a student has below-average (but still realistic) grades, but the correct attitude, we would consider accepting them onto our Programme. Unfortunately, if the inverse is the case, it’s unlikely the student would be accepted onto the Programme. Admissions Tutors look for passion, not just academic potential.

We do have ideal start times at points throughout the year, however, the syllabus can be adapted to suit your particular start time if you are accepted onto the Programme. Our Admissions Consultants can help you understand the Programme timeline in your specific case – all you need to do is ask.

You’ll get access to all of our online TSA resources, such as online lectures, and paperback books packed with powerful strategies and techniques to help you prepare, improve and boost your score. You will also receive TSA mock papers to put your learning to the test.

The TSA is an important part of your application, but to ensure you give yourself the best chance of receiving an offer, the rest of your application has to be strong too, such as your Personal Statement and Interviews. 

For this reason, we provide the complete Premium Programmes. 

Our Premium Programmes that also offer TSA support are:

These Programmes were created to help you stay on top of your application and triple your chances of gaining an offer.

Yes, we have a lot of valuable information about how to prepare and score highly on the TSA on our website. You can take a look at the articles on this page by clicking here.

The Programme Portal is where you will find all of the support and resources for your Programme.

You can think of the Portal as the hub of all the materials included within your Programme. If you are ever looking for a relevant book, an online course, course dates or anything along those lines, the Portal is very likely to be your answer.

You can also use the Portal to get in touch with our team at any point.