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Data-backed guides on UCAS admissions, A-Level choices, and university entry requirements. No email required.

ESAT: One Test, Four Top Unis

The ESAT is a single admissions test that counts for Engineering and Science courses at Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford and UCL. This guide breaks down what it covers, who needs it, the modules per course and how to prepare for free.

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Oxford Just Scrapped the MAT

Oxford has dropped the MAT for Maths and Computer Science admissions. This guide explains what replaced it, what it means for applicants, and how to adjust your preparation.

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TARA: The Test That Didn't Exist Last Year

TARA is a brand new admissions test that most parents haven't heard of yet. This guide covers what it is, which universities use it, and what your child needs to know.

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TARA, TMUA and ESAT, The Test Timeline

What the TARA, TMUA and ESAT each test, who actually needs them, and the booking dates you cannot miss. Plus how to prepare for free, including the Senior Maths Challenge head start in the Year 11 summer.

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Do You Actually Need Further Maths?

Further Maths is recommended by many top universities but not always required. This guide shows you exactly which courses need it, which prefer it, and where you can skip it.

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Your Shortlist Needs Three Tiers

A smart UCAS shortlist has safe, target, and reach options. This guide explains how to build a balanced list so your child has strong options on results day.

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The UCAS Mistake That Costs Offers

There is one common UCAS application mistake that costs students offers every year. This guide shows you what it is and how to avoid it.

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Oxford PPE: AAA Published, AAA* Reality

Oxford publishes AAA as the entry requirement for PPE, but the reality is very different. This guide shows the actual grades successful applicants have.

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Durham CS 29% vs Durham Physics 70%

Same university, very different odds. Durham Computer Science has a 29% offer rate while Physics sits at 70%. This guide breaks down what this means for your application strategy.

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QS Rankings 2026: The UK Movers

The QS World University Rankings 2026 for the UK top 20, with year-on-year movement. Who climbed, who fell, and why the big swings mean less than you think.

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I Read Every Top CS Course's Requirements

A complete breakdown of entry requirements for Computer Science at every top UK university. Grades, subjects, admissions tests, and the details that catch people out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your CS Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from hackathons to open source contributions that make Computer Science applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Economics Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from UKMT challenges to essay competitions that make Economics applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Mathematics Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from UKMT and STEP preparation to NRICH problem-solving that make Maths applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Engineering Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from ESAT preparation to Arkwright Scholarships that make Engineering applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Physics Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from BPhO and ESAT preparation to Isaac Physics problem sets that make Physics applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your International Relations Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from Model UN to think-tank reading and essay competitions that make International Relations applications stand out.

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12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Law Application

What top universities actually want to see beyond A-level grades. 12 activities from LNAT preparation to mooting and reading real judgments that make Law applications stand out.

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The TARA & TMUA Prep Schedule: Year 11 to Test Day

A month-by-month admissions test prep schedule for the TARA (Oxford) and TMUA (top Economics courses). Exactly what to do from Year 11 to test day, plus the best free resources. Skills built early, not crammed.

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The Graduate Earnings Cheat-Sheet

The graduate earnings data most parents never see: UK median salaries by subject at 1, 3 and 5 years after graduating, across all 35 subject areas. The numbers that should shape your child's course choice (DfE LEO data).

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AI and Your Child's Degree

Is any degree AI-proof? The government's own data, scored for AI exposure, shows there is no magic safe subject, and that is freeing. Includes what to actually do about it and the skills that genuinely matter.

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The Hardest UK Universities for Economics

The top 20 UK universities for Economics ranked by how hard they really are to get an offer, using real UCAS offer-rate and achieved-grade data from 2023 to 2025. The numbers the league tables never show you.

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Predicted ABB? Top Courses You Can Still Get

The grades on a university website are the published requirement, not what students actually got in with. 20 Russell Group courses across the sciences, engineering, economics and humanities where ABB was the most common achieved grade, based on real UCAS data from 2023 to 2025.

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Foundation Routes, The 3 Ways Into a UK Degree

A foundation year does not mean your child wasn't good enough. The three completely different routes compared, widening participation (Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group), the open year zero, and the international foundation. Who each is for, the cost, example unis and how you progress.

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Summer Schools, Compared

The paid summer schools worth the money, the free ones that carry just as much weight, and the few I have used with my own children. With real costs and who each one suits.

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International Summer Schools

The big overseas summer programmes UK parents actually consider, from Bocconi and Yale to Stanford and John Locke, with real costs and who each one suits. Plus what I learned putting my own son through one, and the one rule that saves a place.

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The Safe Degrees, Compared

Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and engineering, how hard they are to get into, where they lead, and what they really pay. Ranked by graduate earnings.

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Europe, in English

English-taught degrees across Europe, the business schools like Bocconi and IE, the sciences, and the lower-grade-bar route most parents miss. With real entry requirements.

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Creative Courses, the Real Data

Film, Media, Drama, Fine Art and Photography, how hard they are to get into, what they pay, and the joint-honours options at top 50 UK universities. With real offer rates.

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Top 50 UK Open Days, Autumn 2026

Every autumn and winter 2026 open day for the top 50 UK universities, in date order, with the format and which are still to publish. Straight from each university.

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Results Day & Clearing: The Game Plan

How to land a great place on results day, even if the grades do not go to plan. What to do before the day, exactly what to do on the morning of 13 August, and the phone pitch that works.

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University vs Degree Apprenticeship

You can apply for university and a degree apprenticeship at the same time. This guide covers the pros, the cons, how to run both applications and how to stay organised.

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The Russell Group, Ranked by Diversity

All 24 Russell Group universities ranked by the share of UK students from an ethnic minority, using UCAS End of Cycle 2024 data. The numbers no league table shows you.

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One email when we publish something worth your time: a new guide, a rankings refresh, or a genuinely useful UCAS deadline reminder. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Want the complete picture?

Our STEM Cheat Sheets cover A-Level entry requirements for every major STEM subject across all top UK universities. Colour-coded, print-friendly, and always up to date.

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Free Guides

ESAT: One Test, Four Top Unis

Oxford Just Scrapped the MAT

TARA: The Test That Didn't Exist Last Year

TARA, TMUA and ESAT, The Test Timeline

Do You Actually Need Further Maths?

Your Shortlist Needs Three Tiers

The UCAS Mistake That Costs Offers

Oxford PPE: AAA Published, A*A*A* Reality

Durham CS 29% vs Durham Physics 70%

QS Rankings 2026: The UK Movers

I Read Every Top CS Course's Requirements

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your CS Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Economics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Mathematics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Engineering Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Physics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your International Relations Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Law Application

The TARA & TMUA Prep Schedule: Year 11 to Test Day

The Graduate Earnings Cheat-Sheet

AI and Your Child's Degree

The Hardest UK Universities for Economics

Predicted ABB? Top Courses You Can Still Get

Foundation Routes, The 3 Ways Into a UK Degree

Summer Schools, Compared

International Summer Schools

The Safe Degrees, Compared

Europe, in English

Creative Courses, the Real Data

Top 50 UK Open Days, Autumn 2026

Results Day & Clearing: The Game Plan

University vs Degree Apprenticeship

The Russell Group, Ranked by Diversity

Get new guides + rankings updates

Want the complete picture?

Free Guides

ESAT: One Test, Four Top Unis

Oxford Just Scrapped the MAT

TARA: The Test That Didn't Exist Last Year

TARA, TMUA and ESAT, The Test Timeline

Do You Actually Need Further Maths?

Your Shortlist Needs Three Tiers

The UCAS Mistake That Costs Offers

Oxford PPE: AAA Published, A*A*A* Reality

Durham CS 29% vs Durham Physics 70%

QS Rankings 2026: The UK Movers

I Read Every Top CS Course's Requirements

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your CS Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Economics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Mathematics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Engineering Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Physics Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your International Relations Application

12 Supercurriculars That Strengthen Your Law Application

The TARA & TMUA Prep Schedule: Year 11 to Test Day

The Graduate Earnings Cheat-Sheet

AI and Your Child's Degree

The Hardest UK Universities for Economics

Predicted ABB? Top Courses You Can Still Get

Foundation Routes, The 3 Ways Into a UK Degree

Summer Schools, Compared

International Summer Schools

The Safe Degrees, Compared

Europe, in English

Creative Courses, the Real Data

Top 50 UK Open Days, Autumn 2026

Results Day & Clearing: The Game Plan

University vs Degree Apprenticeship

The Russell Group, Ranked by Diversity

Get new guides + rankings updates

Want the complete picture?

Oxford PPE: AAA Published, AAA* Reality

Oxford PPE: AAA Published, AAA* Reality