article: Pupils applying to Cambridge University may have to take an entrance test next year for the first time in almost 30 years. Tutors are deciding whether to bring back the exams, which would be designed to select the exceptional applicants. The university said recent changes to the exams system made it more difficult to decide which students to admit. Pupils applying to Cambridge University may have to take an entrance test next year for the first time in almost 30 years . According to trade magazine Schools Week, documents presented to senior tutors say the university is ‘being forced’ into changing its system of using AS-levels to assess applicants. The paper says that GCSEs ‘will not give us a reliable measure’ due to their ongoing reform and that ‘schools’ predictions of grades will be next to useless’. At present, the university uses unified mark scheme (UMS) scores calculated from students’ performance in their AS-levels - which are known when they apply to university - to decide which applicants are invited to interview. But under coalition reforms planned to ‘toughen up’ the qualifications, AS exams will be optional for cohorts starting this September and scores will no longer contribute to the overall A-level. The Labour party has pledged to halt the changes and retain AS-levels. University departments have now been asked for their views on a ‘main proposal’ to reintroduce the tests from the 2016-17 admissions round. Under coalition reforms planned to ‘toughen up’ the qualifications, AS exams will be optional for cohorts starting this September . Mike Sewell, director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges, said: ‘In the light of the recent A-level reforms, the university is in the process of considering all options available so that we may continue meeting our goal of admitting the best and brightest students from all backgrounds.’ Oxford University already uses subject-specific aptitude tests. Most of its admission tests are organised by the Admissions Testing Service. The disclosure has been met with concern by school leaders, who said institutions with fewer resources may not be able to properly equip pupils for the tests. Eddie Playfair, principal of Newham Sixth Form College, London, said: ‘There’s a danger students in smaller sixth forms don’t have the same resources and might lose out. 'It could be one more barrier in the way.'
highlights: Pupils applying to Cambridge University may have to take an entrance test .
  Exams could be introduced next year and would help select best applicants .
  University says changes to exams has made it harder to choose students .
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