If you are applying to study at Cambridge, there are two types of assessments you may have to go through; pre-Interview and at-Interview assessments.
In this guide, we explain the types of assessments you will come across, exactly which assessment you will have to take for your chosen subject and some information about submitted work.
Cambridge Pre-Interview Admissions Tests
Pre-interview assessments are required for a number of undergraduate courses as a part of the application process. Below are the current pre-interview admissions tests used by Cambridge:
If you are applying to a course that requires a pre-interview assessment, you must register before the UCAS Oxbridge deadline of the 15th of October. Registration dates vary depending on the exam you need to sit. This is a separate registration/application to your UCAS form. Late registrations aren’t accepted so don’t leave it until it’s too late! The tests are usually around 2 hours long, but this depends on the test you will be taking.
For Cambridge, pre-interview assessments are all handled by Pearson VUE and take place at an authorised centre. We say “usually” as during the pandemic, some assessments were taken at home. All of these tests are computer-based and run on the dedicated testing system by Pearson VUE. Our guide to this announcement covers all the important details and dates you need to know.
Cambridge Pre-Interview Assessment Costs
There’s an entry fee for students who take each of these exams. If you’re a Home fees status student who’s concerned about the cost, financial support is available on the website for your test.
Applicants from overseas will need to pay more than UK applicants, below you can see the required fees for each admissions test:
| Test | Cost (UK Applicant) | Cost (Overseas Applicant) |
|---|---|---|
| UCAT | £70 | £115 |
| LNAT | £75 | £120 |
| ESAT | £75 | £130 |
| TMUA | £75 | £130 |
Which Cambridge subjects use pre-Interview assessments?
| Degree | Pre-Interview Admissions Test |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | ESAT |
| Computer Science | TMUA |
| Economics | TMUA |
| Engineering | ESAT and STEP depending on which college you apply to |
| Law | LNAT |
| Medicine | UCAT |
| Natural Sciences | ESAT |
| Veterinary Medicine | ESAT |
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Cambridge At-Interview Assessments
At-Interview assessments are taken, as the name would suggest, at your Cambridge Interview date. Cambridge Interviews take place during the first three weeks of December so this is when you would be taking the assessment.
Unlike pre-Interview assessments, you do not need to register to sit the test. At-Interview assessments do not have any fees associated with them.
Which Cambridge subjects use at-Interview assessments?
| Degree | At-Interview Assessment |
|---|---|
| Archaeology | Essay/text response element |
| Architecture | Writing skills, Graphic and spatial ability |
| Classics (3-year) | Translation exercise |
| Classics (4-year) | Language aptitude interview |
| History | History Admissions Assessment |
| History and Modern Languages | Modern Languages assessment or History Admissions Assessment |
| History and Politics | History Admissions Assessment |
| History of Art | Structured comparison of images |
| Linguistics | A combination of data questions and an essay question |
| Modern and Medieval Languages | Discursive response in Foreign Language and English |
| Philosophy | Multiple choice logic problems and an Essay |
| Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion | Comprehension questions on a pre-recorded sample lecture |
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Submitted Work
For a number of Cambridge Degrees (mostly for art and social science degrees), students are required to send submitted work. This is usually one or two examples of your written work from school which could be from your A-levels or IB.
Submitted work will be marked by your teachers and then your work will likely form a part of your Interview questions.
Below is an example of submitted work requirements for Cambridge Architecture. For this degree, you will need to submit 6 pages of your own artwork.
Fortunately, it is not a guessing game as Cambridge notify their applicants what sort of work should be submitted, how to submit it and the deadlines.
Make sure to check the Cambridge course pages to see what sort of assessment you will need to undertake. We strongly suggest starting early to effectively prepare for your future assessments. Thank you for reading and good luck with your application!
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