Why should I take STEP?
STEP is used by the University of Cambridge, the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. Other universities sometimes ask candidates to take STEP.
Some of the reasons why universities ask students to take admission tests:
- Shortlisting
- Universities use them to shortlist applicants for interviews.
- Offer reduction
- Universities might give you a lower A Level offer if you do well in the test.
- Final selection
- Universities might require you to achieve a certain grade in a test (as well as A Levels) to meet your offer.
Some students take STEP papers just for the challenge
STEP test format
The test consists of up to two 3-hour paper-based examinations: STEP 2 and STEP 3. Candidates are usually required to sit either one or two of the examinations, depending on the requirements of the universities they have applied to.
For more detailed information about the format of STEP, see the 2023 STEP guidelines.