STEP FAQs

What is STEP?

STEP is a well-established Mathematics university admissions test, which is used to help to select very academically able students for courses which are usually oversubscribed. STEP was originally administered by OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations). However with effect from 2008 STEP has been transferred from OCR to its parent company Cambridge Assessment which has a specialist team that manages assessments relating specifically to university entrance.

About the Test
Specification

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Who needs to take STEP?

Candidates who have received offers for Mathematics courses at the University of Cambridge will normally be required to sit STEP as a post-interview test.  The University of Warwick also includes STEP in its undergraduate Mathematics offers; the University of Bristol, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of Bath all encourage applicants to take the papers. 

Candidates should refer to the universities they have received offers from in order to find out which papers they need to sit. Typically, the universities will specify which papers a candidate needs to sit in their offer letter.

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When is STEP taken?

STEP papers 1 & 3 will take place on 21st June 2010 starting between 1pm and 1.30pm BST.
STEP paper 2 will take place on 23rd June 2010 starting between 9am and 9.30am BST.

International candidates should check with their centre to confirm the start time.

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Where can STEP be taken?

Typically, candidates sit the STEP at their school or college. Candidates who do not attend a school or college will need to find an open centre where they can take the test.

Candidates who cannot find a centre should contact the STEP Support Team.

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How much does STEP cost?

£40.20 - Standard entry fee per paper (applies until 5pm GMT on 30th April 2010)

£53.50 - Late entry fee per paper.

Late entries may be accepted by centres until 5pm GMT on 28th May 2010

Some open centres may charge an administrative fee for organising and administering the BMAT on behalf of external candidates.

STEP Costs

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Can STEP fees be refunded?

STEP fees cannot be refunded.

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As a candidate how do I register for STEP?

You cannot register yourself for STEP; you must be registered by an approved STEP centre.

If you are currently attending a school or college you should approach your Examinations Officer to discuss whether or not your school can accommodate for you to sit the STEP there; other candidates should find an open centre where they can sit the STEP.

If you cannot find a centre near you to take STEP you should contact the STEP Support Team.

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As an Examinations Officer how do I register my candidate for STEP?

Candidates must be registered by their Examinations Officer through our Entries Extranet. If your centre has not offered Cambridge Assessment Admissions Tests before you will need to register with us.

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What are access arrangements?

Access arrangements is the term given to any pre-examination adjustments based on history of need and provision. That is to say that a candidate may have dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, or working memory deficit and require extra time, the use of a laptop or some other physical requirement.

It is important for candidates to consult with their centre notifying them of any access arrangements the candidate may have and the candidate should be prepared to provide clinical evidence as requested.

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What evidence should an Examinations Officer submit for candidates with access arrangements?

Examinations Officers do not need to submit any evidence to Cambridge Assessment but candidates may be asked for evidence of any access arrangements at interview.

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Where should requests for special considerations be sent?

Special considerations are used to indicate to institutions that a candidate suffered temporary illness, injury or disposition at the time of the assessment. The University of Cambridge will be asked to take the special consideration into account when considering applications. No adjustment will be made to candidates' results.

Requests for special considerations should be completed on the form below and sent with an accompanying letter on school headed notepaper within seven days of the test date to:

Admissions Tests Team
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

Special Considerations Form

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What preparation materials are available for STEP?

Preparation materials for STEP.

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When will STEP exam materials arrive at the centre?

STEP exam materials will arrive with the examination centre approximately a week to ten days before the date of the exam marked with a sticker stating “Admissions Tests Materials Enclosed”.

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Are calculators allowed for STEP?

Calculators are not allowed for STEP.

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Is extra time allowed for candidates without English as their first language?

Extra time is not allowed for candidates without English as their first language as STEP papers do not contain or require a large amount of written English.

Bi-lingual dictionaries are allowed for use in STEP by candidates where English is not their first language

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What equipment can be used for STEP?

Bi-lingual dictionaries are allowed for use in STEP by candidates where English is not their first language.

Candidates may also take rulers, protractors and compasses into the examination.  Answers should be written in hard pencil or pen.

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When will STEP results be published?

STEP results will be released from 00:00hrs BST via our Results Online System on 19th August 2010.
Online Results - Candidates
Online Results - Centres

Results Online User Guide - Candidates (PDF, 888 KB)
Results Online User Guide - Centres (PDF, 486 KB)

Please note: Results Online only supports Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, if you are using any other browser you may not be able to use the Results Online system. Internet Explorer and Firefox can both be downloaded for free from www.microsoft.com or www.getfirefox.com

 

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Can PINs for Results Online be reissued?

Unfortunately Cambridge Assessment are unable to reissue candidate PINs for security reasons. Candidates who have lost their PIN will need to ask the Examinations Officer at the centre where they took STEP to download a Statement of Results on their behalf.

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Can previous STEP results be used as part of a new application?

Candidates should consult with the institution(s) to which they have applied if they have taken STEP previously.

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Can STEP results be queried?

Cambridge Assessment do not accept requests for re-marks.

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Need More Information?
Email: STEP Support Team
Call: +44 (0)1223 55 84 55
Opening Hours: 0900 - 1700 GMT


About the Test
Details about the format and content of the STEP


Dates & Costs
Find out when tests are taking place and how much they cost


Test Preparation
STEP resources for candidates and teachers, including past papers and specifications.


Registration
Information for candidates and teachers about the STEP registration process