UK University Admissions Tests Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Students
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What A-Levels Do You Need for Oxford PPE?
2025-05-05•10 minute read
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Overview
What A-Levels To Take
Entry Requirements
Having only accepted about 14% of candidates in the most recent application cycle (2024-25), Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) is known to be one of the most competitive programs at Oxford University.
Furthermore, with more than 30 UK Prime Ministers amongst their numerous alumni, the prospects associated with the Oxford PPE are essentially limitless. In fact, the program was dubbed as “The Oxford Degree that Runs Britain” by The Guardian.
Unsurprisingly, applications are competitive. It is therefore important for students to choose the right A Levels to hone their analytical, writing and quantitative competencies to prepare a strong application to the programme.
Preparing for such a competitive admissions process can be daunting, which is why Crimson Education offers personalised support for Oxford applications and guidance down to the smallest details like subject selection. Find out more with a one-hour consultation today with one of our experts!
Overview of Oxford PPE
Oxford PPE offers a unique interdisciplinary blend - combining three subjects, Philosophy, Politics and Economics into one degree of study. In the first year, all three branches are studied concurrently, before students choose whether to continue with all three branches, or to concentrate on any two in the remaining two years of study.
There is also considerable flexibility in choosing modules and specialisations in the second and third year of study. More details on Oxford's website here.
With regard to career prospects, PPE graduates benefit from a wide gamut of choices across different sectors – government, politics, business, consulting, academia – and much more.
Essential A Levels for Oxford PPE
A mix of mathematics and essay-based subjects at A Levels are strongly recommended for the course. Mathematical competencies are highly relevant to the study of Economics, and essay-based subjects like History, English Literature, and/or Philosophy help to hone critical thinking, essay-writing and argumentative skills relevant to the study of Philosophy and Economics.
Here are some suggested combinations which are a guide though by no means prescriptive:
● Mathematics, History, Economics
● Mathematics, Politics, Philosophy
● Mathematics, History, English Literature
As a general principle, any combination which hones one’s critical thinking, writing, linguistic, and/or mathematical competencies will be useful for the course.
Additional Recommended A-Levels
For more industrious students looking to take additional A Levels to complement their studies, the following subjects are also helpful:
Economics
Though not essential, the study of A Level Economics can provide useful foundational knowledge and understanding as a useful primer to the eventual undergraduate study of Economics.
Government and Politics or Politics:
Similarly, not essential – but certainly helpful in providing an introduction to the political branch of the course.
Languages
A study of language or linguistics can also be helpful to hone analytical skills and sharpen one’s mastery of language to strengthen essay writing.
History
The Oxford PPE webpage specifically identifies History as a subject which provides a “useful background, but is not essential”.
Entry Requirements for Oxford PPE
Grade Requirements
A minimum entry requirement at A-Level is AAA, though students are encouraged to strive for the highest grades possible. For those applying with IB or Advanced Highers, the requirement is a minimum of 39 (including core points) with 766 at HL, and AA/AAB respectively.
Subject Requirements
While there are no mandatory subject requirements, the Oxford PPE website specifically recommends the study of A Level Mathematics, and explicitly states that applicants should have “sufficient interest in, and aptitude for mathematics to cope with the mathematical elements of the course.”
For applicants whose first language is not English, there may be a need to meet English Language requirements.
Test Requirements
Lastly and crucially, all candidates applying for Oxford PPE must sit for the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).[1] The TSA is a standardised test comprising two parts: a 90-minute multiple-choice segment of 50 questions, and a 30-minute writing task.
Note that while applicants to some other courses may only be required to sit for the first section, all PPE applicants must sit for both sections.
The first section evaluates candidates’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including numerical reasoning and the ability to understand arguments. For the second essay section, candidates answer one question out of a choice of four and are assessed on their ability to write in an organised, clear, and concise manner.
This test is now computer-based, and applicants should make arrangements to register and sit for the test at a Pearson VUE authorised test centre.
Given the range of skills that are tested in the TSA, it is important for aspiring applicants to pick A-level subjects that help to polish these skills during their course of study.
Notably, TSA performance is one of three factors listed as of ‘high’ importance by Oxford in deciding who to shortlist for interview (the other two being GCSE or equivalent profile, and predicted/actual performance at A-level or equivalent).[2]
Tips for Aspiring PPE Applicants
There are four key tips for PPE applicants:
Develop Critical Thinking Skills
There are no shortcuts when it comes to developing critical thinking skills, which are needed not just for the purposes of preparing to apply to Oxford PPE, but also to thrive during the course itself.
Critical thinking can be honed through regular essay writing, participation in debates, and active reading. Beyond the classroom, this can take the form of participating in essay competitions like the John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition, joining your school or local debate team, and reading a quality newspaper each day.
Engage With Current Affairs
In general, and especially in applying to an interdisciplinary course like PPE, it is helpful and important to be updated and engaged with current affairs.
Read actively, not passively. This would entail reading a quality newspaper and thinking critically about the viewpoints being made, and formulating your own view on various issues on well-reasoned grounds.
In the context of applying to PPE, it is wise to devote more attention to news relating to political and economic developments in order to nurture genuine interest and stay informed.
Go beyond being informed – discuss these issues and engage in active discourse with your peers, teachers, parents, or even online (observe etiquette)!
Prepare for the TSA
The TSA is a key part of the application. With your hands tied with school commitments on top of applications, it is therefore useful to take on A Level subjects which equip and train up the relevant skills like writing, critical thinking, and reasoning.
This will allow you to indirectly prepare for the TSA even while you prepare for your school examinations and the eventual A-Level examinations.
It is also important to do sufficient timed practices in simulated conditions, and to actively review mistakes made. Do not practice blindly – find out what led to your errors – was it a flaw in reasoning, a careless oversight, or misreading of the question material? Free sample TSA papers and practices can be found online for free.
Last but certainly not least, seek feedback for your essay practices – look for teachers and seniors for support. Ask for constructive feedback on areas of weakness to work on, such that each practice becomes purposeful. In this regard, Crimson Education also offers specialised support and feedback to help with more thorough and strategic preparation.
Showcase Passion
As part of the Oxbridge application process, it is critical to be able to demonstrate genuine academic interest in the subject. This can be assessed at the interview through your spontaneous responses, but it is also crucial that there is evidence of this interest - which should be expounded upon in your personal statement.
With regard to PPE, it is helpful to take part in supercurriculars that are relevant to the subject – Model United Nations, debate, or internships in related organisations or fields.
In your personal statement, or if it comes up in the interview, do not just name-drop a laundry list of super-curriculars you have taken part in – pick one or two and elaborate in detail about how it has shaped or nurtured your current interest and/or understanding of PPE.
Final Thoughts
All in all, building a strong application for the Oxford PPE program starts with a wise selection of A Level subjects that demonstrate and develop analytical, writing and quantitative skills.
Given the interdisciplinary nature of PPE, it is important that applicants keep abreast of current affairs and read widely, to nurture a genuine interest and curiosity in the subject.
It is important to diligently check the official Oxford website for any updates and the relevant requirements, and to plan ahead accordingly,
While the process can be daunting, you need not be alone. You can start your journey today with a free one-hour consultation with Crimson Education.
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About the Author
Holly Morgan
Holly holds a BA and MA in English from the University of Cambridge and a Postgraduate Diploma in Acting from The Mountview Academy of Performing Arts. With over a decade of experience in education, Holly currently serves as a Senior Strategist with Crimson. Her success is reflected in the testimonials from her students, who commend her for her proactive and resourceful approach. Whether supporting a potential PPE applicant in refining their university choices.
