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Admissions Tests

What is an Admissions Test?

An admissions test has been defined by SPA as a timed unseen written paper based or on-line test normally taken in the academic year before admission to a Higher Education Provider Institution(HEI), the results of which can be used by that HEI as one element in decision-making on an application.

The type of test used depends predominantly on the course and the attributes deemed appropriate for the professional, vocational or academic discipline. They can be aptitude tests, essay writing exercises, problem solving tests, critical thinking assessments, subject specific tests, cognitive and non-cognitive tests. Many tests are designed to enable a correlation to be made between test results and degree success; that is they are designed to be predictive as well as testing aptitude; whether evidence can be presented to support this will require long term study and analysis.

The tests can be in the summer/autumn in the academic year before admission or at interview, normally from November onwards in the academic year before admission. A test can be an HEI's own devised test or a test devised by an HEI or group or consortium of HEIs with one or more testing/awarding bodies. A test may be used by one HEI for one or more subjects or may be used by many HEIs for the same subject.

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• What makes a 'good' admissions test?
• What are Admissions Tests used for?

back to Admissions Tests main page

Reviewed and updated: June 2011