OXFORD

D
APPLICATION ESSENTIALS
FURTHER STUDY
PERSONAL STATEMENTS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Your personal statement needs to be tailored to the institution to which you are applying. In general, you need
to convey:
YOUR INTERESTS
Why you want to study this topic or field. Is it a natural
extension of your current interests? How did you become
interested in this area? What have you done within your
degree or outside of your study to fuel this interest?
WHY US?
Why you have chosen this specific course and institution?
Are there particular options or modules of interest? Is there
particular expertise in that department? Has access to
specific resources such as museum collections, libraries or
laboratory equipment been a factor? Has the reputation of
the course inspired you? Are you attracted by opportunities
for collaboration or work placements? Have you attended
any Open Days or made other visits?
WHAT YOU BRING
How your experience equips you for the course; consider the
subjects you studied at undergraduate level, your relevant
skills (technical, language, computing, research methods),
independent study or research, prior (relevant) experience,
academic awards and other achievements.
YOUR ASPIRATIONS
Where the course might lead you and how it will help you
move towards your goals. You don’t need a detailed career
plan, but you do need to show how this course fits in with
your general aspirations. Do you have a broad interest in
contributing to a particular issue or field? Or do you have a
more specific goal in mind? Summarise your application in
your closing paragraph, return to any themes you introduced
at the beginning, and restate your enthusiasm for the course.
MORE INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/personal-statements-for-further-study
PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS
Many graduate schemes use online tests in the initial application stage and, if successful, you’ll
probably be asked to take similar tests as part of an Assessment Centres. These tests typically
include numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning tests – and occasionally ‘personality’ tests, or
in-tray/e-tray exercises as well (see page 52).
Psychometric tests are normally multiple choice questions,
and both speed and accuracy are important. It is therefore
important to familiarise yourself with the structure and style
of the tests in advance and develop your technique. This will
allow you to focus your time and energy in the actual test
on the questions asked, not on wondering how you should
answer them.
The recruiter’s website will normally provide both advice and
practice questions, and you should always complete these
practice tests. In addition, the Careers Service offers free
access to practice tests through the subscriptions pages on
CareerConnect (p.4) – as well as our online guidance and the
practice materials and books in our Resource Centre.
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EQUALITY & DIVERSITY:
DISCLOSURE?
If you feel that you might be at a
disadvantage to others sitting the test,
owing to a disability or dyslexia and dyspraxia then do
contact the recruiter beforehand, to discuss if adjustments
could be made for you, eg, extra time in the timed tests.
Your experiences of adjustments that are made for you at
University are a good guideline as to what you can ask for,
or advise a recruiter to put in place.
www.careers.ox.ac.uk
VERBAL REASONING SKILLS
These typically test your ability to make logical inferences, and
to extract the details and main points from different passages
numerical tests, though reading manuals, technical reports or
academic and business journals may help. If English isn’t your
subject, to ensure you are comfortable with different styles.
Less frequently, you may also encounter PERSONALITY
TESTS; SITUATIONAL JUDGEMENT TESTS; or INDUCTIVE/
ABSTRACT/DIAGRAMATIC REASONING TESTS. Look online
for more information on these or speak to a Careers Adviser if
you want some guidance.
NUMERICAL REASONING TESTS
On these, you’ll likely be asked to do addition, subtraction,
division, multiplication and calculations of percentages and
ratios. The ability to extract information from charts and
graphs can be as important as actual calculations. Remember
that, unless a job requires a high level of numeracy, numerical
tests are not likely to be pitched higher than GCSE-level
study different types of charts (eg, in quality newspapers
in our guidance and held in our Resource Centre, The
Careers Service holds numeracy refresher sessions: these are
advertised in our Events calendar on CareerConnect.