The majority of admissions exams have multiple sections, many of which include essays or a segment that is essay-based. This guide dissects each essay-based section of an Oxford or Cambridge Admission Test and offers tips on how to approach it.
ELAT (English / Oxford and Cambridge)
Essay Format
The ELAT invites you to evaluate two or three different samples from each of the six works (prose or poetry) and compare and contrast them.
Approach
A smart place to start when preparing for the ELAT is to concentrate on particular literary techniques. Consider the language and images being employed, as well as the rhetorical strategies. However, if you employ literary language, be sure you understand what it means and that the example you’re providing is accurate. Always support your definitions with an analysis of how and why the phrase was used, as well as its impact. Think about the texts’ differences and similarities as you compare them. Consider this with an open mind.
CLT/LNAT (Law / Cambridge and Oxford)
Essay Format
You get one hour to write one essay for both the National Law Admissions Test and the Cambridge Law Test. These exams are intended to evaluate your ability to organise and present a strong argument. The examiners want to know if you can analyze both sides of an issue and present a strong case in favour of one or the other.
Approach
It’s vital to keep in mind that since examiners are not evaluating interpretation, they are not particularly interested in whatever side of the argument you take. Numerous students present opposite viewpoints and nevertheless receive highly competitive grades. To be able to discern the conflicting values being stated in the inquiry, students should be careful not to underestimate how difficult and contentious the ideas presented in the question will likely be. Students must be able to make arguments in paragraphs that start with a point and then defend that point for the remainder of the paragraph. Additionally, you are not required to know any legal jargon in order to pass the test.
BMAT (Medicine / Oxford and Cambridge)
Essay Format
In the BioMedical Admissions Test essay portion, you are given a quote to define, defend both for and against, and draw a conclusion about. The essay is meant to assess your ability to organise and rationally present information, so it’s critical that you write clearly. This essay is meant to simulate the process of summing up cases and drawing a conclusion based on your professional judgement that doctors are frequently required to perform.
Approach
This portion of the test might cause concern for many applicants, especially considering the fact that many applicants for the medical field haven’t studied an essay-based topic since GCSE. It’s best to start reacquainting yourself with essay writing if you find yourself in this predicament. Examiners evaluate the presentation’s potential for coherence and logic. In contrast to a Humanities degree, they are seeking for a well-structured, precise, brief piece of writing rather than a creative, opinionated, imaginative essay. Remember to organise your essay thoroughly (because you will only have one side of A4) before writing it, if at all feasible, in correct and effective English. Avoid using shorthand or bullet points; you will lose points for doing so.
TSA Oxford (Experimental Psychology, Geography, Human Sciences, PPE, and PPL (Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics) / Oxford)
Essay Format
You must take an additional essay component if you are taking the Thinking Skills Assessment for Oxford. You will be required to select one of four questions and explain your answers in writing.
Approach
The questions in this area are not subject-specific, and there is no predetermined format for responding to them, although it is preferable if you make sure to state an argument, support it with evidence, consider the opposing viewpoint, and then draw a conclusion. You won’t require a database of statistics, and you shouldn’t spend too much time considering using examples or sources from outside the text. Once more, the time allotted is fairly little and includes question selection and planning, so you should begin arguing as soon as you can. To increase your chances of succeeding, make sure to adhere to a well-thought-out plan.
HAT/HAA (History / Oxford and Cambridge)
Essay Format
You will do a definition exercise, an explanation exercise, and an essay on the History Admissions Test and the History Admissions Assessment. The essay portion of the exam evaluates a student’s ability to organize an argument. The essay portion of the admissions test is not about your knowledge; rather, it is about the talents you can demonstrate.
Approach
Students can occasionally get away with a lot of preamble and big concepts in GCSE coursework, and occasionally even in A-level coursework, without providing solid justification or supporting data. However, on both the HAT and the HAA, your creativity, clarity, and precision, as well as your capacity to detect errors, are evaluated, which leaves little room for mistakes.
Prepare with Rostrum
In general, the essay portion of an admissions test is made to give admissions committees a sense of your capacity to organise an argument, reason rationally, and persuade the reader in a specific direction using clear and succinct language. Instead of trying to cram in specific knowledge that you feel may be useful, keep in mind that the exercise’s goal is to have you stand out with your argument and thought processes.
Get in contact with our Oxbridge graduate consultants for the most comprehensive advice and personalised coaching if you have an upcoming essay test or any other type of admissions test and are unsure about where to start.
