Are you a student in Year 13 (or equivalent) and are taking STEP exams or thinking about taking them to apply for Mathematics at a competitive University?
STEP is designed to test candidates on questions that are similar in style to undergraduate mathematics. Although demanding, preparing for STEP gives you a chance to engage with interesting, challenging mathematics, to stretch yourself and to develop the mathematical reasoning, independence and confidence needed in an undergraduate mathematics degree.
In Cambridge, sitting the STEP exam will be a condition of your offer. Unfortunately, while many students manage to meet the A level (or equivalent) component of their offer, they often ‘fall’ at the STEP hurdle. This is often due, however, to the fact that they have not had access to significant help and resources when it comes to preparing for STEP, and the particular style of questions of which it consists.
What's involved
Accordingly, our STEP preparation workshop is an intense two day residential workshop at King’s College, Cambridge, designed to provide students who will be taking STEP this year with additional support in preparing for these demanding exams. In addition to a packed academic programme (provisional timetable see below) you will be staying over night at an iconic Cambridge College, with meals and accommodation free of charge included. The workshop will take place from 8th April to 10 April 2024 in Cambridge, UK.
Provisional timetable:
| date | time | what |
| Monday 8th April 2024 | ||
| 14.00 - 15.00 | arrival at King's and welcome | |
| 15.30 - 18.00 | academic sessions | |
| 18.30 - 19.00 | dinner at King's | |
| 19.30 - 21.00 | social activities | |
| Tuesday 9th April 2024 | ||
| 8.00 - 8.30 | breakfast at King's | |
| 9.00 - 12.00 | academic sessions | |
| 12.30 - 13.15 | lunch at King's | |
| 13.15 - 14.00 | college tour | |
| 14.30 - 18.00 | academic sessions | |
| 18.30 - 19.00 | dinner at King's | |
| 19.30 - 21.00 | social activities | |
| Wednesday 10th April 2024 | ||
| 7.45 - 8.00 | checking out of rooms and putting luggage into storage | |
| 8.00 - 8.30 | breakfast at King's | |
| 9.00 - 12.00 | academic sessions | |
| 12.00 - 13.00 | getting luggage and goodbye |
Eligibility
This residential workshop is aimed at students in Year 13 (or equivalent) who are taking Mathematics and Further Mathematics A level (or equivalent) at school and are either required to take STEP exams for meeting their offer conditions or are aiming to take it for other reasons.
Initial priority on this programme will be given to offer holders in Mathematics at King's College, as well as students who will need to take STEP exams to meet their offer conditions in 2024 at another College/UK University. The University of Cambridge and it's colleges are committed to widening participation in Higher Educations and therefore, in the case of over-subscription, we will then select students for a place according to the following criteria (in order of importance):
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Living in care or care leavers
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Eligibility for Free School Meals
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Living in Polar4 quintile 1 and 2
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Living in IMD quintile 1 and 2
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No parents with background in HE
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Attending a state school
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Attending a school within our link area in the North East of England, specifically areas of Northumberland, County Durham, Hartlepool, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, York, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/area-links)
How to apply
Applications have now closed. We will be in touch by 1 March 2024 to confirm if you have a place.