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Webinar: A Guide to University Interviews
Keystone’s Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Jenny McGowan, Keystone’s Director of Asia, to discuss university interview skills for applicants to Cambridge, Oxford, and courses that typically require interviews, such as medicine and veterinary science. They covered the benefits of practice interviews, recommended reading before your interview, how to approach the interview process, and shared their top preparation tips.
How to write a standout personal statement for Oxbridge
Last year, only 16% of applicants successfully gained a place at Oxford or Cambridge. Making your application stand out requires more than just exceptional grades—it demands a personal statement that demonstrates not only your academic achievements but also your passion for your subject and your readiness for the rigours of Oxbridge’s academic environment. Crafting a standout personal statement for an Oxbridge application can be challenging.
A Complete Guide to Oxford University Interviews
Interviews are often considered to be the most intimidating and mysterious elements of the Oxford admissions process. This guide is designed to demystify the Oxford interview process so that you can approach your interview as confidently as possible.
A Complete Guide to Cambridge University Interviews
Interviewing for a Place to Study at Cambridge UniversityCambridge University, founded over 800 years ago, supposedly by scholars fleeing from irate townsfolk in Oxford, is one of the world's greatest universities and a historic seat of learning. Graced by the stunning architecture of its colleges, and filled with keen minds from around the world, Cambridge is an amazing place to study your chosen subject.
Oxbridge – Which Schools Get the Most Offers?
The Spectator has published its annual table showing which schools received the most Oxbridge offers last year. Over the years, both Oxford and Cambridge have increased the proportion of acceptances from state schools, which now account for 72%, up from 52% in 2000. Of the 80 schools considered, 29 are independent, 29 are grammar or partially selective, 17 are Sixth Form Colleges, and 5 are comprehensives or academies.
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Do I need to sit the TSA?The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is a form of assessment used to measure aptitude in critical thinking and problem-solving. The TSA is a requirement only for those looking to study certain courses at Oxford University: Philosophy, Politics and EconomicsEconomics and ManagementExperimental PsychologyHistory and EconomicsHuman SciencesPsychology, Philosophy and Linguistics.
A Guide to the Oxford Physics Aptitude Test (PAT)
This guide is for anyone applying to sit Physics or a number of STEM courses at the University of Oxford. In the sections below you can find out if you need to sit the test and how you go about doing that. There is also some advice on how best to prepare for the test and how important the test will be to your application to study at Oxford.
Applying to Medical School
Places to study at medical schools in the UK are highly sought after, by both domestic and international students, and require a great degree of commitment from prospective applicants. Understanding just what medical school involves can really help you decide whether it’s right for you and, once you’re sure it is, give you the very best chance of securing a place at the school of your choice.
A Guide to the PhilAT (Philosophy Test) for Oxford University
What is the PhilAT (Philosophy Test)?The PhilAT is a 60-minute online test for those applying to study Philosophy and Theology at Oxford University. The parameters are simple - to test a candidate's philosophical reasoning skills – and there is zero expectation that applicants will have studied philosophy in any formal way. This is not a test of your philosophical knowledge.
Guide to Admissions: Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) at Cambridge
Do I need to sit an entrance test for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Cambridge? The admissions process for those wishing to study PBS at Cambridge has changed for 2025/6 entry. Candidates will no longer required to sit the PBSAA (Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Admissions Assessment) which is no longer in use. Some Cambridge Colleges will however require you to sit what is called an at-college assessment.
A Guide to Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT)
What is the Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT)? The BMSAT is a 90-minute test of your scientific knowledge and its application. There will be 80 questions in total, 20 each for Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. These will be multiple choice questions and marking of your responses will be automatic.
A Guide to Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test (AHCAAT)
What is the AHCAAT? The AHCAAT (Ancient History and Classical Archaeology Admissions Test) is a new online test - introduced in 2024 - for all candidates applying for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford University. For the first two years of its running, the test should be considered as a pilot. It will be used only to supply ‘extra information’ on a candidate's application.
The Oxford History Admissions Test (HAT)
The History Admissions Test (HAT) – previously the History Aptitude Test – is a source-based test that all History students applying to study at Oxford University must sit. The test format might be unfamiliar to A-level or IB History students, being a test of skills, rather than substantive historical knowledge. It is therefore well worth familiarising yourself with parameters and format, as well as details of registering for the test as set out below.
The Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT) at Oxford
What is the MLAT and do I need to take it? The MLAT (Modern Languages Admissions Test – previously the Modern Languages Aptitude Test) is a computer-based assessment that all students applying to study a modern languages course at Oxford will be required to sit.
A Guide to Oxford Classics Admission Test (CAT)
This guide is for anyone applying to sit Classics or any combination involving Classics at the University of Oxford. In the sections below you can find out if you need to sit the test and how you go about doing that. There is also some advice on how best to prepare for the test and how important the test will be to your application to study at Oxford.
A Guide to Oxford University Admissions Tests 2024
Competition for a place to study at undergraduate level at Oxford University is fierce. On average, they receive over 20,000 applications for approximately 3,250 places every year. This should not put off the prospective Oxford student, who will be well used to competition and accustomed to a challenge.
A Guide to the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)
The Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT) is a critical assessment for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate courses in engineering and science at some of UK’s leading universities. It is used to assess candidates in conjunction with your UCAS application and is an important part of your application. Make sure to check the entry criteria for your desired course to see if the test is a requirement.
A Guide to Cambridge University Admissions Tests
Gaining entry to Cambridge University is a process that requires you to be curious and committed from day one. It is a multi-facetted process and you must be across all elements of your application. You may even want to choose your A Levels with your Cambridge course in mind! –Cambridge requires you to apply earlier than you would if applying elsewhere, finesse your subject knowledge and think outside of the box. This all before you sit your exams - and achieve top grades.
Languages Super Curricular Activities
Super-curricular activities are intellectually enriching pursuits that extend beyond the standard curriculum. Super-curricular activities are essential for applications to top universities, demonstrating commitment and deeper engagement with a chosen subject.
The LNAT Exam
The National Admissions Test for Law, or LNAT, can seem like a formidable hurdle for many students applying to read law at university; this is particularly the case when one considers the historically low average scores (usually around 50%) and the fact that many students do not know what to expect.
Webinar: How to Use the Summer Holiday to Maximise Your University Application
In this webinar Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Jenny McGowan, Keystone's Director of Asia, to discuss the sorts of preparation students can complete over the Summer Holidays of Year 12 to ensure they submit a strong UCAS application. The discussion covers how to prepare effectively with particular reference to the importance of super-curricular learning, admissions tests and the personal statement.
Webinar: A Guide to Oxbridge
Keystone's Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan, was joined by Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, to discuss the Oxbridge application process. Their discussion covered the differences between Oxford and Cambridge, course choice, the importance of super-curricular learning, admissions tests, interviews and how to prepare effectively.
Preparing for English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
The English Literature Admissions Test (or ELAT) is a formal English assessment now sat exclusively by students applying for single and joint-honours English courses at Oxford University. This is a ninety-minute online exam for anybody looking to study English Language and Literature, Classics and English, English and Modern Languages, or History and English.These are popular and rigorous courses but sitting the ELAT need not be a terrifying experience.
English Super Curricular Activities
In a world full of distractions, there are few more satisfying ways to spend your time than immersed in a good book. But studying literature at university is about more than wiling away your days in the company of great authors; it’s a rigorous and exacting discipline that will stretch the way you think about language and about art.
Psychology Super Curricular Activities
What are super curricular activities? Every student that applies to university will know something about psychology. They may have seen a true crime documentary about a serial killer, read an article about attachment styles, or even studied the subject at GCSE or A-level. But in order to convince universities to give you an offer for undergraduate study, you will need to go above and beyond this level, exploring the subject to a greater extent.
A Guide to the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a medical and dental course admissions test used and created by multiple universities across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is used to assess candidates in conjunction with your UCAS application and is an important part of your application. Make sure to check the entry criteria for your desired course to see if the test is a requirement. The importance of your UCAT score varies across universities.
A Guide to Postgraduate Options
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to the courses and qualifications beyond undergraduate level. This can include further degrees, certificates, diplomas or professional qualifications. Postgraduate study doesn’t need to be directly connected to the course you graduated in at undergraduate level, though it is often the case, and a strong performance in your undergraduate degree can certainly help strengthen your application.
Law Super Curricular Activities
What are ‘Super curriculars’? Super curricular activities are essentially extracurricular learning activities that are specifically related to your chosen course of study at university. They can include many different things, including experiences and academic research. Incorporating these in your personal statement, and using these experiences in your interviews, can really help improve your chances of being accepted onto your chosen law course.
History Super Curricular Activities
How do Super-curricular Activities help applicants to top Universities? Anybody can say that they have a passion for history and many people do. Most of us are interested in some aspect of the past, whether we are keen students of local history or the traditions associated with our favourite sport, or fascinated by a particular figure whom we have encountered in a book or historical drama on TV.
Webinar: How to Prepare Competitive Oxbridge Candidates
A webinar for school leaders.
Deciding Between Oxford and Cambridge University
Which is ‘best’, Oxford or Cambridge University? It should be clear that the ‘best’ of these two historic institutions is going to be the one which has the most to offer you. This decision should be based on careful and thorough research. Knowing exactly why you want to go to Oxford over Cambridge won’t just help improve your application, it will be the reason behind it, as you cannot apply for both.
Webinar: How to Manage Dual US/UK University Applications
In this joint discussion hosted by ESM Prep and Keystone Tutors, ESM College Coach Josh Davis and Keystone's Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, meet to compare the US and UK university application processes. They identify key differences between the timelines and requirements, discussing the best way to balance both processes with limited stress and maximum effect.
The Road to Oxbridge: A Webinar Series for School Leaders
Below you will find the recordings of our five-part webinar for school leaders on Oxbridge applications.
A Guide to STEP Maths
What is STEP Maths? STEP stands for Sixth Term Examination Paper and is a collection of three exams (STEP 1, 2 and 3) which traditionally are used in conditional offers by Cambridge to determine if you get accepted for Maths or Maths-related degrees. Other universities, like Warwick and Imperial, use STEP in some of their Maths offers. You sit these papers in the Summer alongside your other exams like A-Levels, IB and Pre-U.
History Admissions Assessment (HAA) Cambridge
Cambridge’s History Admissions Assessment, or HAA, is still a relatively new exam. It launched only in 2016, when the abolition of AS-levels deprived the university of a favoured metric which its colleges had used, up to that point, to help determine admissions decisions in history in place of a written exam in the style of Oxford’s well-established HAT.
A Guide to the TMUA
This guide is for anyone applying to a university programme where applicants must first complete the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA). In the sections below you can find out if you need to sit the test and how you go about doing that. There is also some advice on how best to prepare for the test and how important the test will be to your application to study mathematics at university.
How to Choose an Oxbridge College?
Oxford has 39 colleges, Cambridge 31. You can leave it to chance and make an open application, but most people expect to direct their application to one of them. In some ways, it seems an unnecessary distraction. After all, no one presents Formula One drivers on the starting grid with a wine list expecting them to choose which champagne they want to be sprayed with on the podium.
Applying to UK Universities from Hong Kong
UK universities are incredibly popular with students from Hong Kong, and Keystone Tutors has extensive experience in helping these students to gain admission to their desired university. This invaluable guide covers key facts and tips about the application process, how to choose the right university and course, and the costs and fees involved.
Applying to Study History at Oxford University
Keystone Tutor Tom read History at Christ Church College, Oxford, graduating in 2015. In the interview below Tom covers his inside experience of the application process, the best ways to prepare, and some insights into his work as a tutor helping students gain entry to some of the UK’s top academic institutions.
Applying to Study English at Cambridge University
Securing a place to study, or ‘read’ English at Cambridge University is a challenging task. Extremely able candidates from around the world compete for a limited number of places, and it is essential to prepare for this competitive process effectively. In the article below, Keystone Tutors provide an overview of the best approach to take, some top tips, and even an inside view on the application process from a tutor who read English at Cambridge.
Applying to Study English at Oxford University
In the article below, Lincoln College Oxford alumni and Keystone Tutor Rory outlines the best approach to take when applying to study English at Oxford, with plenty of hard-won insights from his own successful application process thrown in! .
Guide to Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) at Oxford
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) is one of the most popular, and best-known, courses that you can read at Oxford. It has been offered since 1921, and it’s rooted in the view that it’s helpful to approach problems in society from the perspectives of several complementary disciplines and frameworks.
Guide to Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge
What is HSPS at Cambridge? Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Cambridge is a three-year BA Hons degree in politics, international relations, social anthropology and sociology. Although students can focus on one of these areas from the start, HSPS is also the broadest and most flexible political and/or social science degree at Oxbridge.
Applying to Study Engineering in the UK
Keystone's Director of Education, Ed Richardson and senior tutor Jon Gale discuss UK Engineering Degrees.
The Maths Admissions Test (MAT) at Oxford
What is the MAT? The Maths Admissions Test (MAT) is the admissions test used by Oxford for degrees in Mathematics. If you’re applying for a Maths or Computer Science degree at Oxford or a Maths degree at Imperial College London, you must sit the MAT just after beginning year 13 in late October/early November.
The Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment (MMLAA) - Cambridge
Any candidate applying to study Modern Languages at Oxford or Cambridge will have to sit a written paper as part of the admissions process: The Modern Languages Aptitude Test (MLAT) at Oxford and the Modern and Medieval Languages Admissions Assessment (MMLAA) at Cambridge. There are big differences between the two tests, from the structure and what they are testing to when they are sat. This blog covers the Cambridge MMLAA. You can read our blog on the Oxford MLAT here.
