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STEP Support Programme

Is it worth doing STEP 1 in this case?

I'm currently a year 12 looking to do economics or a similar course. I've tried a few step 1 past papers in exam conditions and mostly got low 70s, which is 1 or 2 in most years. Is it worth taking the exam with only this level of ability? I have been told that some universities consider grade 2 or below in step 1 to be a bad result, making the application weaker. It seems unlikely that I will get S. I've been told that I need to decide whether or not to take the exam in three days and I have no idea what to do so advice would be greatly appreciated.

Given that Warwick only asks for a 2 in any STEP as part of its Mathematics offer, I highly doubt any university would see a 2 as weakening your application. If you enjoy it, go for it

Well yes, but what's the point of doing STEP (apart from just fun), no university will really factor it into their decision if you're an economics applicant. Surely you should just focus on your A-Levels? If you were applying for Cambridge Maths and were fairly confident of getting a 1/S, I'd encourage you to sit it - but in any other case, I can't see any utility in doing so.

Whilst STEP I only depends on A-Level Maths it does assume a level of Mathematical maturity usually found in year 13's :-).

I suggest you keep doing the papers for fun, and sit the exam next year if you still want to.

Useful Links

Underground Mathematics: Selected worked STEP questions

STEP Question database

University of Cambridge Mathematics Faculty: What do we look for?

University of Cambridge Mathematics Faculty: Information about STEP

University of Cambridge Admissions Office: Undergraduate course information for Mathematics

Stephen Siklos' "Advanced Problems in Mathematics" book (external link)

MEI: Worked solutions to STEP questions (external link)

OCR: Exam board information about STEP (external link)

AMSP (Advanced Maths Support programme): Support for University Admission Tests (external link)