TSA Past Paper Collection (2008 - 2021)

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TSA Section 1 Past Papers (2008 - 2021)

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TSA Section 2 Past Papers (2008 - 2021)

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TSA Specimen Papers

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TSA Specification

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Why use Past Papers?

Past papers are inherently the most realistic materials available for TSA preparation, as they are real papers from the exam! Past papers are the best way of taking mock exams, as they will provide you with actual TSA questions and a realistic format.

Once you’ve been preparing for a while, you’re more than likely going to want to give the exam a go, which is exactly why past papers are so helpful. Not only are you taking a perfectly accurate mock exam, but you’ll also have access to the answer to every question to make marking easy for you.

For the TSA, mock exams are especially important due to the nature of the exam and revising for it. The TSA doesn’t test content knowledge, so it’s not an exam you can revise for traditionally. Instead, you’re going to have to practice the core principles of Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing through continuous practice, something that the past papers are perfect for!

Plus, you can go a step further and view worked solutions for every paper to get a better understanding of how each question is solved. You can access these when you upgrade your TSA.Ninja account!

History of the TSA

The first TSA was sat in 2001 at the University of Cambridge for various undergraduate degrees. In 2005, a study was published in relation to the development and reliability of the TSA as an admissions test, which concluded that the exam was “reasonably reliable” for its use. It seems the early years of this TSA were very experimental, as many types of multiple-choice questions are mentioned, with Critical Thinking and Problem Solving being highlighted among these. Of course, these are the two topics that are covered in the TSA today.

In 2007, the University of Oxford introduced the TSA for the first time in their PPE admissions process (where it was initially called the PPE admissions test). As part of this test, TSA Section 2 was introduced exclusively for Oxford, which saw candidates writing a short essay in 30 minutes. Since 2007, the number of courses requiring the TSA has expanded. University College London (UCL) also adopted the TSA in 2008 for their European Social and Political Studies.

In 2022, it seems that only Oxford will continue using the TSA. Cambridge confirmed that its last course to require the test, Land Economy, will not use it for 2023 entry, while UCL’s webpage for ESPE does not mention the TSA for 2023 entry.

TSA Past Paper Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you optimise your TSA Preparation with these past papers:

Ensure that you’ve read through the TSA Specification a few times during your preparation. It’s always handy to refresh your memory of what exactly the test will be asking of you.
These past papers are a great way of understanding the TSA format and question types, so you should look through one towards the start of your preparation. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of the actual exam and will have some context to work with when revising.
Don’t rush through all the past papers at once! You’ve got a lot to go through, but you should save most of them for later on in your revision schedule. The ideal strategy is to build up your skills with practice questions first. Once you’re more confident in your abilities, you will have a good chance of doing well in the past papers.
The TSA is typically taken on paper, so you may want to print off your past papers for a more authentic experience. Just be aware that you will then need to set up your own timers.
Remember that you can’t use a calculator in the TSA, so don’t use one during mock exams either. You’re not going to be doing particularly complex calculations, but it’s better to practice your mental arithmetic now than freeze during the actual test!
Be as strict as possible with yourself when it comes to sticking with exam conditions. There are no cheats in the real exam, so push through and do as well as you can when practising. Anything that goes wrong here can be improved afterwards!
Marking for Section 1 of the TSA is super simple as all questions are multiple-choice. Keep track of your scores so you can see how much you’ve improved during your preparation.
When marking your Section 2 essay, it’s best to give it to someone with experience in writing such as a teacher or peer.

Here on Exams.Ninja, you’ll find amazingly in-depth guides to show you through every section of the exam, along with guides to help you with your planning and revision. Check out one of our Definitive Guides below!

Get the most out of your TSA Past Papers with TSA.Ninja

Your TSA.Ninja account gives you access to every TSA past paper and tonnes of practice questions. You can even upgrade your account to access worked solutions and other amazing features. To access your past papers, just follow these simple steps:

STEP 1

STEP 2

Enter the Exam Arena on the home page.

STEP 3

Choose the past paper that you want to try.

STEP 4

Take the exam!