Admission tests and assessments

Most applicants need to take a written or verbal test as part of their Cambridge application. Your assessment will be relevant to the subject you’ve applied for. We take your assessment performance into account alongside the other elements of your application.

You will either take your assessment:

• before we shortlist for interview. You need to be registered for this type of assessment in advance and you will take it at your own school or college, or an open test centre. 
• after you’re invited to interview, if you are shortlisted for interview. You don’t need to be registered for this type of assessment. The Cambridge College that interviews you will make arrangements for the test. They will provide you with details of when and how you will take your assessment. Find out more about College assessments

Your assessment will test:

• your skills (for example, your writing and language skills or mathematical problem-solving ability)
• your subject knowledge
• your understanding of topics related to your chosen course

You don’t need to get every question right

We don’t expect that you will answer every question correctly. The assessments are designed to challenge you.

Some strong applicants may not even complete the paper in the time given. On average, typical applicants to the most selective undergraduate courses will gain around half of the available marks. Almost no one gets full marks.

Find out which assessment you need to take

The table below will shows what type of assessment is required for each course for 2024 entry. Click on the link in the table to find out more about your assessment and whether it is required at all Cambridge Colleges.

Further information

If you have any questions about our written assessments, please contact assessment@admin.cam.ac.uk.