More students asked to sit Oxford entrance exams

The number of Oxford applicants asked to sit pre-interview entrance exams is rising.

More than 70 per cent of Oxford applicants were required to take tests in subjects such as history, English, languages, maths and science this term, compared with 50 per cent two years ago.

The university claims the tests were essential to shortlist the best candidates from the thousands of students achieving at least three As at A-level.

Mike Nicholson, Oxford’s director of admissions, said: “When we are presented with 17,000 candidates for around 3,200 places, all of whom have glowing references and excellent academic records, aptitude tests and interviews allow us to differentiate between the very best and the very good.”

This year every Oxford applicant is expected to achieve straight As at A-level compared with fewer than half in the mid-1980s.

In the mid 1990s, claims from state schools that entrance exams discriminated in favour of pupils from public schools forced Oxford to abolish entrance exams in most subjects.

Different tests have been slowly reintroduced over the last decade, though Oxford insists current tests differ from the old entrance exams.

Students applying for 36 different subjects at Oxford are now required to take a pre-interview aptitude test. Subjects such as experimental psychology and PPP (philosophy, psychology and physiology) were added for the first time this year.
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Do you think universities should use pre-entrance exams to select students? Do you know of a better way? Share your thoughts by posting a comment in the box below.

Comments

11-12-09 was my quote. Kane O'Malley

16-12-09

yer, definitly a really good ideas to differentiate between the really good and the really best.
they should still take others things like application and personal motivation of aplicant in consideration though. Intelligence isnt what its all about to become succesfull career. So i think the PPP is really good as it tests the social emotional skills that are important. Like patients want a clever uet sympathetic doctor.

16-12-09

I think UKCAT and other aptitude tests should be used across the board. It shows other reaches of intellegence rather their grades

11-12-09

I think this is an great idea, especially when they have high expectations such as the Oxford as a top university, they should be as strict as possible if not they will ruin their reputation arguable it could be said that they are more pressured entering than actually studying in the university, so the results may not necessarily reflect fully.... But yeah, sound like a great idea :D

27-11-09