Questions students
& parents ask

Do I need Further Maths to study economics at Cambridge?

For Cambridge Economics, A Level Mathematics is required and Further Mathematics is strongly encouraged. Most successful applicants have Further Maths, and the course is mathematically demanding from the first term. If your school does not offer Further Maths, Cambridge takes this into account, but you should then demonstrate strong mathematical ability through other means, particularly a strong TMUA score. For other top universities such as LSE, UCL and Warwick, Further Maths is similarly preferred for economics though requirements vary, so always check the specific course page.

What TMUA score do I need for Cambridge economics?

There is no fixed cut-off, but competitive applicants for Cambridge Economics typically score above 6.5, with strong candidates often above 7.0 on the 1.0 to 9.0 scale. A high score strengthens an application considerably; a low score is unlikely to help. Because the test is learnable with targeted preparation, it is one of the highest-return parts of an application to prepare for. Requirements and weightings vary by college and by university, so check current guidance for your specific choices. See the TMUA preparation page for how to prepare.

How long is a Cambridge economics interview and what is it like?

Cambridge economics interviews typically last 20 to 45 minutes, and most applicants have one or two. They are problem-solving conversations, not tests of memorised facts. An interviewer presents an unfamiliar problem (often probability, logic, mathematics, or applied economics) and watches how you reason through it aloud. The single most important skill is thinking out loud and responding constructively when challenged. Worked examples of all five common question types are in the interview questions guide.

What should an economics personal statement focus on?

It should demonstrate genuine intellectual engagement through specific projects, methods, and findings, rather than listing books you have read. Show your mathematical and analytical ability directly. Explain why economics specifically interests you using a concrete question or observation, then connect your activities to the analytical purpose of the degree. The most common mistake is describing what you thought about rather than what you actually did or produced. A detailed before-and-after guide is at how to write an economics personal statement.

Is the TMUA hard, and can you actually prepare for it?

The TMUA is demanding because it tests mathematical reasoning and logic under time pressure rather than rote application of methods, but it is very much learnable. Paper 1 tests application of mathematical knowledge; Paper 2 tests mathematical reasoning, including logic and proof. Targeted preparation, particularly on the reasoning paper and on speed, reliably improves scores because most students have never been taught the specific reasoning patterns the test rewards.

What is the difference between economics and econometrics?

Economics is the study of how people, firms and governments allocate scarce resources, covering microeconomics, macroeconomics and economic theory. Econometrics is the application of statistical methods to economic data to estimate relationships, test theories and forecast. Econometrics is a subfield of economics that combines economic theory, mathematics and statistics; it is the toolkit economists use to take their models to real data. Almost all economics degrees include compulsory econometrics.

What is OLS in simple terms?

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) fits a straight line through data by choosing the line that minimises the sum of squared vertical distances between the data points and the line. In regression it estimates how a dependent variable changes on average when an explanatory variable changes by one unit. It is the foundational estimation method in econometrics, and understanding its assumptions (and what happens when they fail) is the core of an introductory econometrics course. A full plain-English explanation is at what is OLS.

What does it mean for a time series to be stationary?

A time series is weakly stationary if its mean is constant over time, its variance is constant over time, and the covariance between two observations depends only on the gap between them, not on when they occur. Stationarity matters because most standard estimation and inference relies on it; applying ordinary regression to non-stationary series can produce spurious results. Many economic series in levels (such as GDP) are non-stationary, while their growth rates often are stationary. See the time series introduction.

What is a p-value, in plain language?

A p-value is the probability of observing data at least as extreme as what you actually observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true. It is not the probability that the null hypothesis is true, which is the most common misunderstanding. A small p-value means your data would be surprising if the null were true, which is taken as evidence against the null. Crucially, statistical significance is not the same as practical importance. A full explanation is at hypothesis testing explained.

What is GARCH used for?

GARCH (Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity) models the way financial market volatility changes over time, in particular the empirical fact that large price movements tend to be followed by large movements and calm periods by calm periods (volatility clustering). It is widely used in finance for risk management, option pricing and forecasting return volatility. See the GARCH explainer.

Why does my regression have heteroskedasticity and does it matter?

Heteroskedasticity means the variance of the regression errors is not constant across observations, common when the spread of outcomes grows with the scale of a variable (for example, spending variance rising with income). It does not bias the OLS coefficient estimates, but it makes the usual standard errors wrong, so t-tests and confidence intervals become unreliable. The standard fix is to use heteroskedasticity-robust (White) standard errors, which most software computes with a single option.

Is a specialist econometrics tutor worth it, or will a general maths tutor do?

For introductory statistics or the maths underpinning economics, a strong general maths tutor can help. For econometrics specifically (OLS assumptions, instrumental variables, GMM, time series, panel data, identification), a specialist with genuine econometrics training is far more effective, because the subject blends statistical theory with economic interpretation in ways a general maths tutor will not have met. The gap is widest at university and postgraduate level, where the material moves well beyond standard A Level or first-year maths. An honest breakdown of when each is the right choice is on the choosing a tutor page.

Can you help with my economics or finance dissertation?

Yes, with the methodology. Sessions focus on understanding the methods your research requires: why a particular estimator is appropriate, what its assumptions mean in practice, and how to interpret and write up results accurately. This covers regression, event studies, panel data, time series and volatility models. The aim is genuine understanding of the techniques and clear writing of your methodology and results, not doing the work for you.

What level of student do you teach?

From A Level (Maths, Further Maths, Economics) through undergraduate and postgraduate economics, econometrics, statistics and finance, up to PhD-level econometric theory, plus TMUA and Oxbridge admissions support. The common thread is quantitative economics and the mathematics and statistics underpinning it. This range means sessions can meet a student exactly where they are, whether that is rebuilding A Level foundations or working through a PhD identification problem.

Do you tutor online or in person?

All tuition is online, available UK-wide and internationally. Online tuition with a shared digital whiteboard works particularly well for mathematical subjects, allowing real-time working through of problems, and it removes travel constraints so you can work with a subject specialist regardless of where you live.

What are your qualifications?

Cambridge economics qualifications, university teaching experience and public profile links are summarised on the credentials page. Parents and students can use that page to check the background most relevant to them.

How much does tuition cost and is there a free consultation?

There is a free initial consultation of 30 to 45 minutes to discuss what you need and check that the fit is right, with no obligation. Session rates are on the pricing page. Tuition is direct, with no agency fees added.