Preparing for the Oxford Mathematics Test paper

1
Preparing for the Oxford Mathematics Test paper

• Dr Neill Cooper, Wilsons School

2
Applications Process

• Apply to Oxford through UCAS
• Oxford Maths test on the morning of 5th November
• Interview in from Sunday 14th to Wednesday 17
  December.
• Conditional offer
• A level results in August

3
Apply to Oxford through UCAS

• Should be done or ready by now
• You have only a few days left

4
Maths test on 5th November

• Subject of todays session. The purpose of the
  test is
• To check that candidates are worth interviewing
• To get an early idea as to the strength of
  candidates
• Based on test score around 80 of applicants
  will be invited to Oxford in mid-December for
  interview

5
Interview in early December

• Lasts 3 days (Cambridge is one normally day)
• Includes a general interview and a subject
  specific interview
• Separate twilight session on Oxbridge interview
  on Monday November 17th

6
Conditional offer

• Almost certainly AAA
• If you are doing more than three A levels the
  offer is unlikely to be more than AAA
• You know your target marks for the Summer exams
• Your second choice university should not also be
  an AAA offer!

7
A level results in August

• You will probably hear from UCAS early in the
  morning before you collect your certificates

8
Test paper

• 2½ hours long
• 10 multiple choice questions 4 marks each
• 4 hard questions 15 marks each
• Syllabus is based on C1 and C2 ONLY
• No calculators or formula books
• Some questions for related applications
• Past papers and specimen available online

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Test paper

• Indices and logs
• Trigonometry including Sine and Cosine rules
• Circles and straight line graphs
• Graphs
• Differentiation, maxima, minima and stationary
  points
• Integration and area
• Factor and remainder theorems
• Arithmetic and geometric progression
• Logic
• Functions

10
Test paper

• Sample and past papers on the Oxford Maths
  website (Google oxford maths entrance)
• In 2007 average score was 57 - of successful
  applicants 75.
• (In 2007 average score was 64 - of successful
  applicants 85.)
• Syllabus and past papers on their website

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2007 Test paper
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Further preparation

• Read the Oxford Maths Entrance web page
• Try all practice papers from the website
• Look through a C1/C2 textbook and try the
  starred questions
• Practice not using a calculator for trig