University Admissions
Specialist preparation for admissions tests, interviews and applications to the world's leading universities.
For the most competitive university courses, top grades are no longer enough on their own. With so many applicants presenting strong GCSE results and A* predictions, universities rely on admissions tests and interviews to tell candidates apart. A strong performance in these can make the difference between an offer and a rejection.
As Head of Mathematics at University College School, Mr Armitage led the school's preparation for mathematics admissions tests and guided many pupils onto the most competitive courses. Our pupils have gone on to study at Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and leading universities in the United States. We recommend starting preparation early, ideally during Year 12, as these tests reward months of deliberate practice.
Admissions tests
TMUA
The Test of Mathematics for University Admission is used for Mathematics, Computer Science and Economics at universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, LSE and Warwick. Oxford now uses the TMUA in place of its former MAT, making the test more important than ever. The mathematics is hard, but it is also enjoyable: the questions demand creative problem-solving and logical reasoning rather than routine application of formulas, and pupils who like playing with mathematics find the preparation deeply rewarding.
ESAT
The Engineering and Science Admissions Test is used for engineering, physical and natural sciences and related courses at Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial. Its mathematics content overlaps substantially with the TMUA, so our preparation draws on the same expertise, alongside the physics, chemistry and biology modules.
STEP
The Sixth Term Examination Paper is sat in June after A Levels and forms part of many Cambridge Mathematics offers, as well as being used by Warwick and others. It is among the most demanding mathematics examinations a pupil can sit, and success depends on sustained preparation well before the exam.
TARA
The Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions is used for a range of humanities and social science courses at Oxford and UCL. It assesses critical thinking, problem-solving and extended writing.
UCAT
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is required by most UK medical and dental schools, and assesses verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning and situational judgement under strict time pressure.
LNAT
The National Admissions Test for Law is used by a number of leading UK law schools, and assesses reading comprehension, logical reasoning and essay writing.
SAT and ACT
For pupils applying to universities in the United States, we offer preparation for the SAT and ACT.
Interview preparation
Interviews for the most competitive courses can be daunting, particularly because pupils rarely know who they will meet. Our interview preparation brings in different tutors and members of Mr Armitage's wider professional network, so pupils practise with a range of interviewers, just as they will on the day. They learn to think aloud, handle unfamiliar problems with confidence, and show the depth of their interest in their subject.
Personal statements
We review personal statements and give detailed advice on structure, content and how to present a pupil's interests and achievements most effectively. We do not write them. A personal statement should be the pupil's own work, and our role is to help them make it the best version of what they want to say.