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The History Aptitude Test (HAT) is a test based on two passages of information (each of approx. 250-350 words), about which five questions are asked. For the first passage, two questions are generally concerned with your understanding of the expressions and arguments contained in the passage; and two are short essay style questions asking you to apply the arguments in the passage to a period of history with which you are familiar, or to comment more broadly on the views of the writer. The second passage is accompanied by a single question typically asking you what you have learnt (from the passage) about the period of history described.
How long does it take? The time allowed is 120 minutes.
How are the results reported? There is a complicated marking scheme. If would like to know how it is done, look at the University of Oxford Faculty of History website.
Who uses it? The HAT is used by the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford for the selection of candidates for all degree courses that have a history component.
How do I take it? The test is administered at test centres in schools and colleges. It is also possible to take the test in Oxford.
How can I prepare?
- Basic preparation. There is good practice material, including a number of past papers and an example marking key, on the University of Oxford Faculty of History website.
- Advanced preparation. This is a test that does not look easy, and as it says on the Oxford website, ‘it will not be easy’. However one question does ask candidates to apply what they have learnt from the text to a historical situation they know about. This suggests that it would be a good idea to concentrate on one or two significant turning points in history. Also, that reading different historians views of the same events may be advantageous – e.g. the histories written after a conflict by the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’.
- Additional brain warm-up. If you want to give the logical part of your brain a workout try the Verbal reasoning test available via the practice tests page.
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