2018 CSAT Preparation

Haven't seen a thread up yet, I'll remove this post if anyone links a previous one.

Applying for Computer Science 2019 entry, trying to get ready for the CSAT sooner than later (and STEP as well). What resources are out there? I've been using this thread but they haven't got solutions for sample paper 3 yet.

Anyone found anything useful for it?

When does one give the CSAT exam, is it before Step or after?

You sit the CSAT in Cambridge at the same time as your interviews (if you get an interview). STEP is an exam that you have to do as part of an offer condition in the summer, but you don't actually need it for most CompSci options, only for CompSci with Maths.

Haven't seen a thread up yet, I'll remove this post if anyone links a previous one.

Applying for Computer Science 2019 entry, trying to get ready for the CSAT sooner than later (and STEP as well). What resources are out there? I've been using this thread but they haven't got solutions for sample paper 3 yet.

Anyone found anything useful for it?

Make sure you leave the practice papers until a few weeks before interview! I found past MAT papers (not the mc) pretty useful and definitely the STEP preparation program on the Cambridge website

Also make sure you’re familiar with basic searching/sorting algorithms and a few of the algorithms from D1/D2 (graph/tree traversal) and their big-O as it might come in handy

Which section of the MAT should I do? Just the computer science stuff or everything,m

As someone who has never been to any Maths Olympiads or Contests, I find the CSAT questions so impossible! Where should I start from? Should I just give up?

I mean giving up wouldn't be the wisest option if you wanna have a shot

If you find the CSAT questions impossible, maybe start with some easier maths competition questions (I'm not entirely familiar with the UK system, but I think something like the Kangaroo should be a good start) or something like the STEP foundation modules. A year ago I also found most of the CSAT questions impossible, I just started with the ones that I thought I might be able to solve and went on from there. Generally though, as long as you keep going with maths stuff regularly you will improve, and it should be quite fun.

Thanks a lot! As your username suggests, have you applied for Comp Sci last year or are you applying for 2019 entry?

I applied last year and got rejected after interview, but I am applying again this year.

Oh best of luck! Hope it's not too late to start preparing for the CSAT in a couple of weeks.... Have you decided on a college?

Oh best of luck! Hope it's not too late to start preparing for the CSAT in a couple of weeks.... Have you decided on a college?

For anyone looking to prepare, we've been cooking this: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/csat/practice/ - feel free to spread the word! Keep an eye on it during the upcoming weeks for more content.

p.s. Also make sure to read the main CSAT webpage, and the FAQ on other material: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/csat/#faq-prepare

I just visited the website. Really appreciate the help.

Is this website going to be providing solutions to the CSAT sample papers or will the website also provide more problems that are similar to the style of CSAT?

Glad to hear it.


Both!

The webpage looks extremely helpful for becoming better at problem solving.

This is coming from a person who is neither going to be sitting the CSAT nor going to be applying to Cambridge .