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How Representative is the Thinking Skills Assessment?

caaakeeey

How Representative is the Thinking Skills Assessment of things such as;

•

How successful you will be on the course

•

How successful you will be throughout your career

•

Your Intelligence

Also, how much weight do you think Oxbridge place on the TSA scores when decided whether to give an offer or not. Is this variable for different courses?

Discuss.

Reply 1

hobnob

I don't think the TSA has really been around long enough for any data on correlations between high TSA scores and success on the course, let alone after graduation (how would you measure that anyway?) to exist. Even when such data is eventually collected, I doubt it'll be conclusive.
As for intelligence, I suppose TSA-style "critical thinking" does form one component of IQ tests, so there may be some correlation there, though not necessarily a very strong one, because not everybody who gets high scores in IQ tests will have scored highly in this particular category (and vice versa).

Reply 2

Andy the Anarchist

I think it's more a test of ability to spot flaws in arguments, and underlying assumptions, rather than a test of intelligence per se.

It's just, with the courses that do the TSA, you'll be exposed to a lot of arguments that require evaluation, and if you can't do that, you'll not do very well on the course.

(I'm specifically thinking about PPE, but it could apply to any subject which requires the TSA really).

Reply 3

JohnKennedy

I got 92% on the TSA and didn't get into Merton College Oxford... So i think its only a way of weeding out applicants for interview...

Reply 4

paneity

Very little correlation, from what I've heard.

EDIT: Ok, I was completely wrong, apparently there is a very strong correlation between TSA scores and tripos performance (at least in cambridge for the 2004 intake)

See here: http://www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/digitalAssets/103046_Predicting_Degree_Performance_with_the_TSA_-_report_1__24-04-06_.pdf

Reply 5

TomTeeTom

how do we get our tsa results

Reply 6

Roundabout

TomTeeTom

how do we get our tsa results

On 30th January via your test centre.

Reply 7

coren111

JohnKennedy

I got 92% on the TSA and didn't get into Merton College Oxford... So i think its only a way of weeding out applicants for interview...

Hey how do you know what you got in the TSA?

Reply 8

Roundabout

coren111

Hey how do you know what you got in the TSA?

Read the two posts preceding yours.

Reply 9

JohnKennedy

coren111

Hey how do you know what you got in the TSA?

The tutors told me at inteview that i had done v.well and i asked what i got and one of them said around 92.

Reply 10

Roundabout

JohnKennedy

The tutors told me at inteview that i had done v.well and i asked what i got and one of them said around 92.

What did you apply for? Do I know you? :p:

Reply 11

Inter-Company

JohnKennedy

The tutors told me at inteview that i had done v.well and i asked what i got and one of them said around 92.

I find that very hard to believe coming from tutors - it is their job to remain professional and keep a level playing field after all (i.e. if they that all candidates shall find out their results on the 30th of Jan, all candidates should) - it is something that I would think most if not all would take very seriously