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Admissions Tests

Admissions Tests Good Practice Briefing papers

One of the first objectives for the SPA Programme that the SPA Steering Group were keen for us to explore was the use by Higher Education provider institutions (HEIs) of admissions tests, and to consider issues relating to their rationale, purpose and validity from a higher education (HE) perspective and issues for and impact on the pre-HE curriculum from the perspective of schools and colleges.

The admissions tests pages on this website highlight SPA’s concerns and contribution to the national debate on admissions tests and the work that we have done in this area. Some of this work was brought together in two admissions tests briefing papers, the first versions of which were published in December 2008. The Briefing Papers have now been updated and include new information about Appeals against test results, some initial findings from the SPA Admissions Tests Questionnaire which was issued in April 2010 and details of the numbers of tests in use for 2011 entry to HE.

The updated Admissions Tests Briefing for HE provider institutions aims to encourage HEIs using tests or thinking about using tests to consider the points raised in the briefing and to refer to the SPA web pages for more details. HEIs using tests need to ensure the tests are approved via their normal internal quality teaching and learning processes; make it transparent to applicants how and why tests are used; monitor the test process; evaluate the impact they have on applicants and the progression of students when at the HEI; ensure the tests are valid and reliable and are backed up by institutional evidence.

The updated Admissions Tests Briefing for schools and colleges aims to highlight issues around HE admissions tests and the small number of courses using tests so that advisers in schools and colleges are fully informed.

Admissions Tests Briefing for HE provider institutions - published December 2008

Admissions Tests Briefing for schools and colleges - published December 2008

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Reviewed and updated: July 2010