The Oxford TSA thread - 2015 applicants - 5th Nov 2014

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Good for you! Hertford's the best for Geography, isn't it?! I'm a bit nervous, actually. But also really excited :biggrin:

Im really nervous too! But I'm quite excited to spend some time looking around Oxford as well be there for a few days. Why do you say hertfords the best for geog I just assumed they were all the same. :smile:

Reply 1101

Froydel

Anyone at St Catz from 14-16 Decemeber? PPL :smile:

Reply 1102

username1370919

Original post by drewsalexia

Has anybody still not received an interview yet? I haven't even gotten an email or a letter to say that I've been rejected. It's annoying not knowing anything yet :frown:

Did you get your invitation? Oxford will update you, surely.

I find it sad that my friend did not get the invitation. She's more hardworking than me in all ways possible, and always gets better grades :frown:

Anyway I've just done my Skype interview with Dr. Hazareesingh on the subject of politics. Loved it! It was done like a tutorial, and we had an interesting discussion on political ideologies.

Reply 1103

poboxobkh56

Original post by Turtlefushsia

Obviously there isn't a huge difference, with the tutors switching around and lectures being in the department and whatnot. But I think the general consensus is that Hertford is the most competitive and famous for Geography??

Reply 1104

AKell17

Original post by poboxobkh56

Hertford's the best for Geography, isn't it?!

Darn right it is ;D

Really its just one of the biggest groups, my year group has 9

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Reply 1105

groovyd97

Results come out on the 15th guys, don't forget to register online with your pin beforehand!

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Reply 1106

username976741

Original post by groovyd97

Results come out on the 15th guys, don't forget to register online with your pin beforehand!

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How do I do this?

Reply 1107

einot

Original post by aasvogel

How do I do this?

You should have got a sheet from your centre with your candidate number and a PIN on. Go to https://results.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/candidates/controller/open/login.html and you'll be able to register.

Reply 1108

1144876

I'm weirdly looking forward to the results, not sure why :P Anyone else?

Reply 1109

username976741

Original post by einot

I don't have this sheet myself, but think my teacher still has it. Or at least I hope they do.

Reply 1110

Dprince

What scores did everyone get then?

Reply 1111

mrpunchline

Original post by Dprince

What scores did everyone get then?

Take a look at this thread :smile:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3083097

Reply 1112

username1796065

Prospective 2016 applicant here. Does anyone know whether it is acceptable or even good if one uses graphs to answer section 2 questions (e.g.. when it asks about something economics-y)?

Reply 1113

einot

Original post by Denker812

Prospective 2016 applicant here. Does anyone know whether it is acceptable or even good if one uses graphs to answer section 2 questions (e.g.. when it asks about something economics-y)?

The second section isn't marked, it is just given as is to Oxford. Therefore I guess the answer to your question depends on the tutor looking at your application. The TSA also tends to examine how you think rather than what you know so it may not be advantageous to merely regurgitate theory. That being said I imagine you could produce a good essay if you applied theory in an interesting innovative way. Consider though that you don't get much time for an elaborate answer so might struggle to produce a great piece of work.

Reply 1114

LFR

Original post by einot

I think I put one small graph in mine, but remember you only get two a4 pages so you don't want to waste space for the sake of putting a graph which you can explain if necessary

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Reply 1115

ari0710

Hi there, I'm a perspective 2016 applicant. Could anyone explain the answers to questions 36 and 37 of the Oxford 2013 TSA paper? I'm totally stuck.

Reply 1116

Pars12

Original post by ari0710

Hi there, I'm a perspective 2016 applicant. Could anyone explain the answers to questions 36 and 37 of the Oxford 2013 TSA paper? I'm totally stuck.

36)
(i) Calculate the total mileage for 16+9=25 days.
(ii) Add on 8 miles per day and check whether the result is greater than 5 x number of days.

37)
The minimum possible is a very unlikely event. 10secs +15secs+15secs every time.

Reply 1117

ari0710

I'm sorry, I still don't really get it for question 36 :frown:

I'm quite terrible at math, I know...
But thanks a lot for the help, much appreciated :smile:

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 1118

ryanicale

I'm applying to Oxford PPE. Just did the TSA 2008 paper and have to say it was very manageable save for some questions (37? Sheep Pens?) (49? How would we know Logs for Fire are considered energy costs?) I ended up with a score of 44/50 :smile:

Are the newer papers much more difficult than the 2008 paper?

Also, could anyone explain how this answer came about?

37 Peter needs to separate his sheep into 16 square pens. Each side of a pen is formed bya free-standing barrier known as a hurdle. Each pen must be individually accessible on atleast one side so that sheep can be penned or released without a risk of the othersescaping.What is the smallest number of hurdles that Peter must take out to the fields in order toaccomplish his task?

A 40B 42C 48D 49E 64

The answer is B. Thank you.