How to Prepare for the Philosophy Test Section of the MLAT

Written by Joseph Watt for Oxbridge Mind

The Philosophy Test section of the Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT) is required for those applying to Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford. Your performance in the MLAT forms an important part of your application. So it makes sense to try and score as highly as possible. Here is our advice on how to do just that: 

Do I need to complete the Philosophy section of the MLAT?

Only candidates applying to read Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford need to complete this section of the MLAT. If you are applying to study single honours Philosophy, there is a separate Philosophy Admissions Test (PAT) that you’ll need to sit.

In addition to the Philosophy section, Philosophy and Modern Languages candidates will either need to complete one of the individual language portions OR the Language Aptitude Test (LAT) section. This will depend on your chosen language and previous level of study.

If you are applying to study a language that you will have studied up to A-Level (or equivalent), then you will need to complete the MLAT section for that language. If you are applying to study a new language alongside Philosophy, then you will need to complete the LAT instead. Read our article ‘How to Prepare for the LAT Section of the MLAT‘ for tips and advice.

To be totally sure of the sections you will need to complete within the MLAT, our article ‘What is the MLAT?‘ describes each section. Oxford University also have a series of tables as a helpful tool for applicants to use. This will help you to understand which sections are necessary to complete for each relevant course, here.

How is the Philosophy Test section structured? 

In every other portion of the MLAT candidates are given 30 minutes to answer questions. In this section, candidates are given 1 hour to complete both Section A and B of the Philosophy Test.

Section A consists of a comprehension-style exercise. You will have 2 questions on a provided text. This evaluates how well you can understand a given text and identify its key arguments.

Section B instructs you to answer 3 questions on a variety of topics. These could include: deciding whether a series of statements are true or false, valid or invalid. It may also include responding to a social or philosophical question, and deciding whether you agree or disagree with a given statement.

You should spend 30 minutes on each section.

Before the Exam 

Practise, practise, practise

It may seem obvious, but the best way to prepare for the Philosophy section of the MLAT is to practise it by going through past papers.

The Philosophy section is completed by students with all levels of experience studying Philosophy, meaning that you don’t need to have studied it to read Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford. However, if you haven’t previously studied philosophy, the questions asked in the Philosophy section of the MLAT might appear rather alien due to their unique wording and format. Therefore, we advise you to get comfortable with the format and question types that might come up before exam day. Our Modern Languages Preparation Programme will help you during your studies.

To help you prepare well, all of the MLAT past papers used since 2011 are free to access on the Oxbridge Mind website.

Read, read, read

It is particularly important, if you haven’t studied Philosophy before, to go into the exam hall with a strong understanding of how philosophical reasoning and writing operates. The best way to do this is by reading around the subject. Here are a few good introductory texts, recommended by Oxford, listed below:

• Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy, by Simon Blackburn
• The Pig That Wants to be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher, by Julian Baggini
• Philosophy: The Basics, by Nigel Warburton

Beyond practising directly for the MLAT Philosophy Test Section, a strong Philosophy and Modern Languages candidate should also look to develop their interest in both subjects they’re applying to read. So pick up a Philosophy text that interests you. It’ll help you both in the MLAT and in any potential interviews.

During the Exam

Section A

Section A assesses your comprehension of a set text and your ability to evaluate its proposed arguments. Usually, the first question will ask you to explain a core concept discussed in the text written into your own words to test your reading comprehension. The second question, requiring a longer answer, is more open-ended. This usually asks you to respond to, and evaluate, an argument central to the text.  

Here are a few tips to help you ace Section A come exam day:

• Bring a highlighter. Highlight the key words, phrases and sentences that contain and explain the central propositions, concepts and arguments covered in the text. This will help you organise the text in your mind and provide direct textual examples that you can use to evidence your responses.
• Quality over quantity. Examiners are looking for candidates who can write clearly and concisely, so focus on clarity over waffle. Practice using as few words as possible to convey the point you are trying to make.
• Explain yourself. Particularly with regards to question 2. Examiners aren’t looking for a ‘correct’ answer, they are looking for a fully fleshed-out, well-justified argument. It is far more important to explain your thought processes and reasoning with appropriate evidence properly than to try to look for a ‘correct’ answer.

Section B

Section B examines your ability to form arguments, defend your reasoning, use logic to think through premises and conclusions. It also asks you to engage in philosophical or social debate. The format and topic contained in each of the 3 questions within Section B changes each year but, again, it is generally most important to write clearly and concisely, explaining your reasoning at each stage.

Here are a few tips to help you ace Section B come exam day:

• Read the questions thoroughly. This is particularly important in relation to any logic-based questions. All the information needed in order to answer will be contained in the question, so make sure you read through it properly! Candidates are often caught out by failing to comprehend the conditions provided in the question. The Modern Languages department at Oxford aren’t looking to catch you out. But they are looking for thorough candidates with a strong analytical sense.
• Answer the question. Though this might seem blatant, it can be easy to stray away from the central question that you are being asked in your responses. So, make sure you provide a strongly evidenced conclusion that satisfies all the conditions of the question. Keeping this in mind will also prevent you from writing long, irrelevant, responses, giving your answers a clearly defined structure.
• Provide evidence. Examiners aren’t looking for a ‘correct’ answer, but they do want to see that you are able justify your reasoning using evidence throughout. The best way to do this is by using real-world examples in your long answer responses. A well-selected example to encapsulate your point used to accompany your argument will make your responses all the more convincing.

After the MLAT Philosophy Test Section’s Exam

Don’t worry if you found the Oxford’s MLAT Philosophy Test Section difficult. It stretches candidates, so you’re supposed to find it challenging! The MLAT forms an important part of your overall application to study Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford. However, it is not the only thing that is taken into consideration by the admissions team. So, once it’s over, try not to worry about it too much.

For more tips and advice on how to prepare for all sections of the MLAT, read our article ‘Top 10 Tips to Ace the MLAT‘. If you are feeling worried about the interview process, our Modern Languages Interview Tutoring is designed to support you through the process. Good luck!