Sixth Term Examination Paper
Encyclopedia
Sixth Term Examination Papers in Mathematics
, often referred to as STEP (or as STEP papers through RAS syndrome
), are examinations set in the United Kingdom
by the University of Cambridge
to assess applicants for undergraduate mathematics courses. Other universities may require STEP, including the University of Warwick
. Students used to be entered for STEP through the OCR
exam board
, but as of 2008 are administered by its parent group, Cambridge Assessment.
Results from STEP papers are used to supplement candidates' existing exam results, which are often claimed to be insufficient to distinguish between the very brightest applicants. Each year, over 1,500 students take at least one STEP paper. The overall candidature is made up of: those applying for mathematics at the University of Cambridge or the University of Warwick; the University of Bristol, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of Bath may also encourage mathematics applicants to take STEP papers. In fact anyone, with or without the aim of seeking admission to an institution, may take STEP, making them public examinations.
All of the Cambridge colleges require candidates to achieve good STEP grades before accepting them onto the maths course. Mathematics applicants for some Cambridge colleges who compete in the International Mathematical Olympiad
are often excused from taking STEP.
Before 2003, STEP papers were available for a wide range of subjects, including, for example, chemistry
and biology
, but the mathematics STEP paper is the only one now in use. Three STEP Maths papers are set each year. The university the candidate is applying to may specify which of the papers need to be taken: for example, for applicants to the University of Cambridge, it is usually STEP I and II if they are taking Mathematics A Level, and STEP II and III if they are also taking Further Mathematics
. STEP Maths grades are also occasionally required for other courses at the University of Cambridge, such as computer science
and engineering
.
Lined answer sheets and a formula booklet are provided for each paper. From June 2009 graph paper is no longer to be used by candidates in the STEP examinations as all the graphs required are sketches, it is neither necessary nor appropriate for candidates to produce detailed graphs on graph paper. Instead all graphs should be sketched inside the answer booklets alongside their answer to the question.
Calculators may not be used during STEP.
s awarded on STEP. From best to worst, these are 'S' (Outstanding), '1', '2', '3', and 'U' (Unclassified). The 'rule of thumb' is that four good answers (to a reasonable level of completion) will gain a grade 1; more may gain an S, and fewer will gain a correspondingly lower grade. However, the grade boundaries can shift dramatically from year to year, and the boundaries for Mathematics III are generally a small but appreciable margin lower.
All STEP questions are marked out of 20. The mark scheme for each question is designed to reward candidates who make good progress towards a solution. A candidate reaching the correct answer will receive full marks, regardless of the method used to answer the question.
All the questions that are attempted by a student will be marked. However, only the 6 best answers will be used in the calculation of the final grade for the paper.
Cumulative percentage of candidates achieving the following grades in 2006:
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, often referred to as STEP (or as STEP papers through RAS syndrome
RAS syndrome
RAS syndrome , also known as PNS syndrome or RAP phrases , refers to the use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym or initialism in conjunction with the abbreviated form, thus in effect repeating one or more words...
), are examinations set in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
to assess applicants for undergraduate mathematics courses. Other universities may require STEP, including the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. Students used to be entered for STEP through the OCR
OCR (examination board)
OCR is an examination board that sets examinations and awards qualifications . It is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards....
exam board
Examination board
An examination board is an organisation that sets examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results. Examination boards have the power to award qualifications, such as SAT scores, to students...
, but as of 2008 are administered by its parent group, Cambridge Assessment.
Results from STEP papers are used to supplement candidates' existing exam results, which are often claimed to be insufficient to distinguish between the very brightest applicants. Each year, over 1,500 students take at least one STEP paper. The overall candidature is made up of: those applying for mathematics at the University of Cambridge or the University of Warwick; the University of Bristol, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the University of Bath may also encourage mathematics applicants to take STEP papers. In fact anyone, with or without the aim of seeking admission to an institution, may take STEP, making them public examinations.
All of the Cambridge colleges require candidates to achieve good STEP grades before accepting them onto the maths course. Mathematics applicants for some Cambridge colleges who compete in the International Mathematical Olympiad
International Mathematical Olympiad
The International Mathematical Olympiad is an annual six-problem, 42-point mathematical olympiad for pre-collegiate students and is the oldest of the International Science Olympiads. The first IMO was held in Romania in 1959. It has since been held annually, except in 1980...
are often excused from taking STEP.
Before 2003, STEP papers were available for a wide range of subjects, including, for example, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, but the mathematics STEP paper is the only one now in use. Three STEP Maths papers are set each year. The university the candidate is applying to may specify which of the papers need to be taken: for example, for applicants to the University of Cambridge, it is usually STEP I and II if they are taking Mathematics A Level, and STEP II and III if they are also taking Further Mathematics
Further Mathematics
Further Mathematics is the title given to a number of advanced secondary mathematics courses. Higher and Further Mathematics may also refer to any of several advanced mathematics courses at many institutions....
. STEP Maths grades are also occasionally required for other courses at the University of Cambridge, such as computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
Test format
The syllabus for STEP I and STEP II is based on Mathematics A level content whilst the syllabus for STEP III is based on Further Mathematics A level. The questions on STEP II is the most difficult paper among the three, while STEP III is harder than STEP I. Candidates are only expected to have knowledge of topics within the A level syllabus. Candidates who are not studying Further Mathematics will not be expected to sit STEP III.Lined answer sheets and a formula booklet are provided for each paper. From June 2009 graph paper is no longer to be used by candidates in the STEP examinations as all the graphs required are sketches, it is neither necessary nor appropriate for candidates to produce detailed graphs on graph paper. Instead all graphs should be sketched inside the answer booklets alongside their answer to the question.
Calculators may not be used during STEP.
Grading
There are five possible gradeGrade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
s awarded on STEP. From best to worst, these are 'S' (Outstanding), '1', '2', '3', and 'U' (Unclassified). The 'rule of thumb' is that four good answers (to a reasonable level of completion) will gain a grade 1; more may gain an S, and fewer will gain a correspondingly lower grade. However, the grade boundaries can shift dramatically from year to year, and the boundaries for Mathematics III are generally a small but appreciable margin lower.
All STEP questions are marked out of 20. The mark scheme for each question is designed to reward candidates who make good progress towards a solution. A candidate reaching the correct answer will receive full marks, regardless of the method used to answer the question.
All the questions that are attempted by a student will be marked. However, only the 6 best answers will be used in the calculation of the final grade for the paper.
Subjects of examination
- Biology (before 2003)
- Chemistry (before 2003)
- Economics (before 2003)
- English Literature (before 2003)
- French (before 2003)
- General Studies (before 2003)
- German (before 2003)
- History (before 2003)
- Mathematics I
- Mathematics II
- Mathematics III
- Physics (before 2003)
Statistics
Numbers taking the exams (across all subjects before 2003):- 2005 – 1350 entrants
- 2004 – 1273 entrants
- 2003 – 1183 entrants
- 2002 – 1607 entrants
- 2001 – 2160 entrants
Results
Typically (based on all subjects; i.e. before 2003),- 12% achieve grade S
- 37% achieve grade 1 or above
- 63% achieve grade 2 or above
- 83% achieve grade 3 or above
- 17% fail to achieve a grade
Cumulative percentage of candidates achieving the following grades in 2006:
| S | 1 | 2 | 3 | U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics I | 7.7 | 21.3 | 44.2 | 68.1 | 100.0 |
| Mathematics II | 12.9 | 41.4 | 57.2 | 82.4 | 100.0 |
| Mathematics III | 12.2 | 38.6 | 59.2 | 78.7 | 100.0 |