ENGAA Worked Solutions 2022

This website provides comprehensive, unofficial solutions for the 2022 Cambridge Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA) exam. Access to all other solutions is available upon purchasing our Oxbridge Engineering Guide. Authored by a First Class Cambridge Engineering Graduate (Pembroke College 2018), these solutions include time-saving tips and reasoning. Should you wish to discuss any of the solutions, we also offer one-to-one tutoring sessions.

Full Worked Solutions:

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ENGAA Deconstructed

The Cambridge Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA) is compulsory for all Cambridge Engineering applicants. Scoring well on this exam is crucial for securing an interview invitation from Cambridge, and subsequently, an offer.

The difficulty for an average applicant stems from two factors:

1. Time Pressure - The assessment itself is not overly difficult; given enough time, most applicants could score 100%. However, the reality is that many candidates run out of time. Good candidates will likely complete around 90-100% of the exam (like myself), while average ones may only reach around 60-70% (based on peers I know).

2. Content - The assessment takes place in October of your Year 13 and essentially covers the entire A-Level syllabus. Therefore, it’s vital to cover the required content for the exam in advance and allocate sufficient time for practice. From my tutoring experience, students struggle most with the physics portion. To ensure you’ve covered and practiced everything, refer to the official syllabus - 2023 ENGAA Syllabus Here.

Tackling Past Papers

1. Aim to replicate the actual assessment conditions - ensure no interruptions for two hours, print the questions/answer sheets if possible, and avoid using calculators or phones.
2. After the two-hour mark, stop working and check the answers for the problems you’ve solved.
3. If your answer doesn’t match the answer key, review the solutions and ensure you understand them. Mark these problems and attempt to redo them after a week or so to test your understanding.
4. Attempt to solve the problems you either guessed or didn’t get to due to time constraints within the same session. Building your stamina to around three hours is crucial to excel in the two-hour exam. Always make a solid attempt at the problem yourself before looking at the solutions.
5. If you need assistance, you can book our one-to-one tutoring sessions.

Tips for the Assessment

I developed these strategies for myself and my tutees, and I believe that anyone can improve their performance by implementing them.

During the Assessment

0. Never leave answers blank. Always guess the unanswered questions as wrong answers are not penalised.
1. Practice pacing yourself and working on past paper questions under timed conditions without a calculator. If you can’t find a quick solution, review the worked solutions after you’ve finished and revisit the question later.
2. Develop time-saving shortcuts (such as factorisation, energy perspective, etc.).
3. If you can’t see a path to the solution straight away or within 30 seconds, it’s best to guess the answer and move on.

Assessment Taking

4. Bring your own watch (an old Casio watch works well) for checking time and pacing yourself - looking up to find a clock wastes time.
5. If you’re easily distracted by sounds or others, consider using earplugs (I recommend 3M E-A-R ones; they’re affordable and effective. Just remove the wire so the examiners don’t object).
6. Visit the toilet before the assessment and avoid consuming anything that might necessitate a bathroom break during the two-hour assessment.

You’ve Got This!

While this might all seem a bit daunting, it’s best to cover the necessary syllabus as soon as possible. Spend around two to four months before the assessment (depending on your proficiency) diligently practicing past papers. I believe this approach will equip you with the skills necessary to perform well on the exam and secure an interview.