Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Excellent for AS History, 23 Feb 2006
Simply put; if you're doing the AS level History course buy this book as it covers a wide, relevant range of topics in sufficient depth.

a good read, 24 Jan 2004
This book offers a good read on US civil rights. It notonly covers African American civil rights it also covers the civil rights of other groups such as Hispanics and the rights of labour. Aimed at the A level market the text unfortunately doesn't address recent scholarship on AfricanAmerican civil rights , in particular on the pre-1945 period. Also coverage of labour rights is scant and seems to have been an afterthought when producing the book.
Although strong on narrative the text lack a strong historical interpretation dimension.

A MUST have book for any A'Level student studying this topic, 31 Jan 2002
This is one of the few books which I have found which gives you not only excellent information and varied views on the struggle African Americans faced in gaining their Civil Rights, but also contains various sections on the other minority groups such as Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics with a view on how they fought for equality. Not only does the book give you all you need to know when it comes to studying American Civil Rights, but it also has very handy exam style questions with model answers to see if you're on the right track! A MUST if you're studying the subject for A'Level - it'll ease the stress at exam time for sure!

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Excellent for AS History, 23 Feb 2006
Simply put; if you're doing the AS level History course buy this book as it covers a wide, relevant range of topics in sufficient depth.

a good read, 24 Jan 2004
This book offers a good read on US civil rights. It notonly covers African American civil rights it also covers the civil rights of other groups such as Hispanics and the rights of labour. Aimed at the A level market the text unfortunately doesn't address recent scholarship on AfricanAmerican civil rights , in particular on the pre-1945 period. Also coverage of labour rights is scant and seems to have been an afterthought when producing the book.
Although strong on narrative the text lack a strong historical interpretation dimension.

A MUST have book for any A'Level student studying this topic, 31 Jan 2002
This is one of the few books which I have found which gives you not only excellent information and varied views on the struggle African Americans faced in gaining their Civil Rights, but also contains various sections on the other minority groups such as Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics with a view on how they fought for equality. Not only does the book give you all you need to know when it comes to studying American Civil Rights, but it also has very handy exam style questions with model answers to see if you're on the right track! A MUST if you're studying the subject for A'Level - it'll ease the stress at exam time for sure!

20 years old but definitely Worth it!, 04 Oct 2006
This book is very deserving of 5 stars. Despite the fact it was written a while back, it holds true to it's word - it's provides concise and well grounded information on how to study effectively for a social science degree. I'm doing a law degree and found it very useful after my lecturer recommended it. The author teaches at the LSE and I commend him on writing such a good book.



It should be recommended reading for every student., 10 Dec 1999
Having come across Mr Dunleavy's book in my course of study for a Master's Degree, my sole criticism of the it is that it restricts itself to the humanities - of course modes of study for physical and social sciences are different.

Particularly useful are the chapters on essays; examinations and dissertations.

As I could not recommend it highly enough, perhaps it might be useful if there were versions for students of higher degrees and physical sciences.

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Excellent for AS History, 23 Feb 2006
Simply put; if you're doing the AS level History course buy this book as it covers a wide, relevant range of topics in sufficient depth.

a good read, 24 Jan 2004
This book offers a good read on US civil rights. It notonly covers African American civil rights it also covers the civil rights of other groups such as Hispanics and the rights of labour. Aimed at the A level market the text unfortunately doesn't address recent scholarship on AfricanAmerican civil rights , in particular on the pre-1945 period. Also coverage of labour rights is scant and seems to have been an afterthought when producing the book.
Although strong on narrative the text lack a strong historical interpretation dimension.

A MUST have book for any A'Level student studying this topic, 31 Jan 2002
This is one of the few books which I have found which gives you not only excellent information and varied views on the struggle African Americans faced in gaining their Civil Rights, but also contains various sections on the other minority groups such as Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics with a view on how they fought for equality. Not only does the book give you all you need to know when it comes to studying American Civil Rights, but it also has very handy exam style questions with model answers to see if you're on the right track! A MUST if you're studying the subject for A'Level - it'll ease the stress at exam time for sure!

20 years old but definitely Worth it!, 04 Oct 2006
This book is very deserving of 5 stars. Despite the fact it was written a while back, it holds true to it's word - it's provides concise and well grounded information on how to study effectively for a social science degree. I'm doing a law degree and found it very useful after my lecturer recommended it. The author teaches at the LSE and I commend him on writing such a good book.



It should be recommended reading for every student., 10 Dec 1999
Having come across Mr Dunleavy's book in my course of study for a Master's Degree, my sole criticism of the it is that it restricts itself to the humanities - of course modes of study for physical and social sciences are different.

Particularly useful are the chapters on essays; examinations and dissertations.

As I could not recommend it highly enough, perhaps it might be useful if there were versions for students of higher degrees and physical sciences.

Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement

"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.

"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.

The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.

The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.

Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.

This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.

Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.

40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Excellent for AS History, 23 Feb 2006
Simply put; if you're doing the AS level History course buy this book as it covers a wide, relevant range of topics in sufficient depth.

a good read, 24 Jan 2004
This book offers a good read on US civil rights. It notonly covers African American civil rights it also covers the civil rights of other groups such as Hispanics and the rights of labour. Aimed at the A level market the text unfortunately doesn't address recent scholarship on AfricanAmerican civil rights , in particular on the pre-1945 period. Also coverage of labour rights is scant and seems to have been an afterthought when producing the book.
Although strong on narrative the text lack a strong historical interpretation dimension.

A MUST have book for any A'Level student studying this topic, 31 Jan 2002
This is one of the few books which I have found which gives you not only excellent information and varied views on the struggle African Americans faced in gaining their Civil Rights, but also contains various sections on the other minority groups such as Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics with a view on how they fought for equality. Not only does the book give you all you need to know when it comes to studying American Civil Rights, but it also has very handy exam style questions with model answers to see if you're on the right track! A MUST if you're studying the subject for A'Level - it'll ease the stress at exam time for sure!

20 years old but definitely Worth it!, 04 Oct 2006
This book is very deserving of 5 stars. Despite the fact it was written a while back, it holds true to it's word - it's provides concise and well grounded information on how to study effectively for a social science degree. I'm doing a law degree and found it very useful after my lecturer recommended it. The author teaches at the LSE and I commend him on writing such a good book.



It should be recommended reading for every student., 10 Dec 1999
Having come across Mr Dunleavy's book in my course of study for a Master's Degree, my sole criticism of the it is that it restricts itself to the humanities - of course modes of study for physical and social sciences are different.

Particularly useful are the chapters on essays; examinations and dissertations.

As I could not recommend it highly enough, perhaps it might be useful if there were versions for students of higher degrees and physical sciences.

Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement

"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.

"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.

The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.

The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.

Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.

This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.

Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.

40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5


dissapointed, 29 Sep 2008
this book is out of date and a waste of money-buy the official home office book-once we had got the right book the test was easy to pass

Everything you need and more, 29 Jan 2008
This book and CD are incredibly useful in teaching you everything you need to know for the test including practice tests.

The first chapter explains exactly how the test works and the other chapters contain the official study material. There are also additional Quick Study chapters which lay out the facts that you must know to pass the test.

The practice tests are incredibly handy for building confidence and are a lot better than readiing the study text time and time again.


Invaluable help and highly recommended, 29 Jan 2008
I bought this book to help me study for the immigration test

I liked the idea that it came with a CD with interactive practice tests on it.

The book is a handier size than the official book and contains all of the official study material. The CD quiz works very well. Another reviewer said that there were mistakes, but I couldn't find them. The book doesn't have any questions and answers in it and the questions and answers on the CD quiz all had correct answers.

I used the CD a lot and it really helped me. It took me less than 10 minutes to take the real test and pass it. I would definately recommend this book,
Step 1: Suggest why you bought and/or needed this product to begin with.
Step 2: Special Features of the product. You can write about such things as Value for money, outstanding and unusual features you liked, and how you used it.
Step 3: The overall conclusion of the product - for example, if you would buy it again, the things you loved the most about it and why you would recommend it to others.


A waste of money, 17 Jan 2008
This book is littered with wrong answers. For example, apparently the most common meaning for the acronym MP is Military Police. Given that this question was in the chapter about Parliament and MP was used in other questions to mean Member of Parliament, I think this just about sums up the book. Don't buy this book, it's a waste of money - try the one from the Home Office, which is what we will be doing very shortly.

The best Immigration study guide available, 10 Jan 2008
Don't waste your time on the other books, this is the one to buy. It contains all of the official Home Office text needed to pass the Immigration Test and it has a CD with a set of interactive tests that you can run again and again until you are ready to take the real test. None of the other books have interactive test CDs and there are over 800 questions. All of the other interactive tests that I have seen, require you to logon to a website and pay more money to use them. The book is a good handy size as well, not a great big monster like the Official Home Office book. Well Done!

Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!


Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.

Essential book for your medical school interview preparation, 19 Aug 2008
I bought this book for my son who applied to med school in four difficult universities. The techniques are very well described, backed up with good pertinent examples that can be used to forge one's own answers. The discussions on ethical issues are extremely useful and to the point. I thoroughly recommend it. It may cost a few quids more than other books but it will make a massive difference to your success rate. My son got offers from all the universities he applied to and will be starting at Manchester Medical School soon.

The only book you'll ever need for getting into medical school, 02 May 2008
Using this book got me 2/4 offers for medicine (after using it for 2 interviews). The book does exactly what it says on the cover. It goes into extensive detail on how to answer a range of questions, from explaining how to tackle ethical scenarios, euthanasia and abortion issues to detailing government influence in healthcare and even describing how teamwork, communication and leadership plays out in a healthcare setting.

Absolute Brilliance, 28 Mar 2008
Very informative and up to date book which doesn't give the answers straight away, but implores you to think of them yourself, and then helps with the finer points and structure of your answer. With two offers under my belt now, I am very grateful for this book which really improved my confidence when I walked into the interview room-And I firmly believe that it was the 'clincher' for me this year. I would definately reccomend this book!
Thankyou so much!
Andrew

A really useful book for any high school student applying for medicine, 06 Feb 2008
I bought this book in the hope to get better not just interview skills but also better for any medicine interviews I may get. I know that someone mentioned that this book is better suited for a medical graduate applying for a residency post- but I do not think that it should be thought of as a disadvantage. The interviewer are going to be looking for students that they feel would graduate and get an internship- therefore they would use a lot of the questions in the book- depending on how hard they will be on you. Another thing that I really liked about this book is that it teaches you how to answer the questions,rather than just giving you a cliched example for you to learn off by heart. These are my reasons for giving it 5*s

Stretching, comprehensive - an ideal preparation tool for any medical school interview, 17 Jan 2008
I bought this book for my two children. My son is applying for the second time this year, having failed to get in last year when he tried to prepare on his own. One of his main worries was that last year he had been asked a number of questions that he had found difficult such as what he thought of the changes to the way doctors are being trained or how to choose between two difficult patients who want a liver transplant. Peninsula med school even asked him how he would deal with a terminally ill man with an unemployed wife and a very small child, who refused chemotherapy, knowing that he would then die 2 months later. My son was worried that he would face the same problems this year. The book was very good in helping him think about the NHS and the ethical issues and in explaining in detail how to approach all these tricky situations.

My daughter is applying at graduate level, being in the process of completing a bioscience degree. She is more comfortable with ethics than my son (probably more mature in that respect too, having undertaken a degree already) but her biggest worry was how to sell herself i.e. her motivation for medicine and her personal qualities. She found the book extremely useful too, as it gave her a range of ideas to think about, and the examples provided, although sometimes slightly long, were a mine of information both to derive good content for her answers and to structure them.

Medical school interviews have definitely become far more difficult than when I started medicine myself and this book is an invaluable preparation tool. The questions that it deals with range from standard to stretching, and as such it covers the different types of questions that you can be asked.


very helpful, 06 Aug 2008
I have just taken my test last Friday and I passed first time! I finished the test in less than 2 minutes. I bought this book just to see how i was doing after having finished studying the original purple study guide book provided by the home office.
This book has been very helpful. You also get free access to their website when you buy this book. Compared to other websites the questions in this book and their website are very similar to the questions in the real test and there are no nonsense questions. Most questions are purely based on the study guide and I haven't seen any wrong answers to questions.
For as long as you don't miss anything from chapters 2-6, you will definitely pass the test.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to take the test.

helped pass at first attempt, 28 Jul 2008
This book was invaluable in helping me pass. The official home office book is too difficult to read and study from. But this book really breaks it down to the basics of what you need to know and is perfect for people who have English as a second language. It helped me to pass at the first attempt and I'm sure everyone else will find it helpful too. You cant go wrong with this.

This will make this test straightforward!, 17 Mar 2008
I found this material excellent - it condensed everything I needed to know into a very simple easy to understand format.

In particular, the online resources that are available upon purchasing this book are worth the asking price alone - a varied set of questions will ensure that you're fully prepared to pass this exam on first attempt!



Not satisfied , 06 Feb 2008
I am not satisfied with this buy. It is not value for money especially when it is priced up by the postage.

Invaluable help and highly recommended, 26 Jan 2008
My son in law used this book before taking the test and passed first time. His biggest problem was understanding the questions. The wording of the questions takes some understanding (even for me and I am English) and seemed designed to confuse or trip you up. After working through this book he was ready for anything. It was invaluable as I am sure had he not used it the questions themselves would have tripped him up as in the actual test they are exactly the same. Unless your english language skills are first class read the book before attempting the test.

Excellent for AS History, 23 Feb 2006
Simply put; if you're doing the AS level History course buy this book as it covers a wide, relevant range of topics in sufficient depth.

a good read, 24 Jan 2004
This book offers a good read on US civil rights. It notonly covers African American civil rights it also covers the civil rights of other groups such as Hispanics and the rights of labour. Aimed at the A level market the text unfortunately doesn't address recent scholarship on AfricanAmerican civil rights , in particular on the pre-1945 period. Also coverage of labour rights is scant and seems to have been an afterthought when producing the book.
Although strong on narrative the text lack a strong historical interpretation dimension.

A MUST have book for any A'Level student studying this topic, 31 Jan 2002
This is one of the few books which I have found which gives you not only excellent information and varied views on the struggle African Americans faced in gaining their Civil Rights, but also contains various sections on the other minority groups such as Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics with a view on how they fought for equality. Not only does the book give you all you need to know when it comes to studying American Civil Rights, but it also has very handy exam style questions with model answers to see if you're on the right track! A MUST if you're studying the subject for A'Level - it'll ease the stress at exam time for sure!

20 years old but definitely Worth it!, 04 Oct 2006
This book is very deserving of 5 stars. Despite the fact it was written a while back, it holds true to it's word - it's provides concise and well grounded information on how to study effectively for a social science degree. I'm doing a law degree and found it very useful after my lecturer recommended it. The author teaches at the LSE and I commend him on writing such a good book.



It should be recommended reading for every student., 10 Dec 1999
Having come across Mr Dunleavy's book in my course of study for a Master's Degree, my sole criticism of the it is that it restricts itself to the humanities - of course modes of study for physical and social sciences are different.

Particularly useful are the chapters on essays; examinations and dissertations.

As I could not recommend it highly enough, perhaps it might be useful if there were versions for students of higher degrees and physical sciences.

Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement

"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.

"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.

The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.

The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.

Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.

This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.

Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.

40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5


dissapointed, 29 Sep 2008
this book is out of date and a waste of money-buy the official home office book-once we had got the right book the test was easy to pass

Everything you need and more, 29 Jan 2008
This book and CD are incredibly useful in teaching you everything you need to know for the test including practice tests.

The first chapter explains exactly how the test works and the other chapters contain the official study material. There are also additional Quick Study chapters which lay out the facts that you must know to pass the test.

The practice tests are incredibly handy for building confidence and are a lot better than readiing the study text time and time again.


Invaluable help and highly recommended, 29 Jan 2008
I bought this book to help me study for the immigration test

I liked the idea that it came with a CD with interactive practice tests on it.

The book is a handier size than the official book and contains all of the official study material. The CD quiz works very well. Another reviewer said that there were mistakes, but I couldn't find them. The book doesn't have any questions and answers in it and the questions and answers on the CD quiz all had correct answers.

I used the CD a lot and it really helped me. It took me less than 10 minutes to take the real test and pass it. I would definately recommend this book,
Step 1: Suggest why you bought and/or needed this product to begin with.
Step 2: Special Features of the product. You can write about such things as Value for money, outstanding and unusual features you liked, and how you used it.
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A waste of money, 17 Jan 2008
This book is littered with wrong answers. For example, apparently the most common meaning for the acronym MP is Military Police. Given that this question was in the chapter about Parliament and MP was used in other questions to mean Member of Parliament, I think this just about sums up the book. Don't buy this book, it's a waste of money - try the one from the Home Office, which is what we will be doing very shortly.

The best Immigration study guide available, 10 Jan 2008
Don't waste your time on the other books, this is the one to buy. It contains all of the official Home Office text needed to pass the Immigration Test and it has a CD with a set of interactive tests that you can run again and again until you are ready to take the real test. None of the other books have interactive test CDs and there are over 800 questions. All of the other interactive tests that I have seen, require you to logon to a website and pay more money to use them. The book is a good handy size as well, not a great big monster like the Official Home Office book. Well Done!

Inspirational and engaging, 05 Sep 2008
I'm on my third reading of Could Do Better, and I already know I'll end up reading it again someday. I am reading it primarly as a PGCE student, and I love Beadle's accessible writing and wry humour. His book is a pleasure to read, and I am doing my best to commit his methods to memory.

Getting it right, 18 Feb 2008
How can Phil lose? As soon as kids know he's a former rock musician, he's on his way. Who better than someone with the highest street- cred and `teacher of the year' to offer guidance to parents?

We know that whilst parents are the most important influence on a child's development, getting it right at school is almost equally important. Phil gets it just right with his wealth of experience, great writing style and sense of humour.

So, learn to help them at home, and help them at school!


Can't do any better!, 27 Sep 2007
This is an excellent book, written by a brilliant teacher. I read it as a parent and a teacher and was extremely impressed by Phil Beadle's style, approach and outlook. It is a truly fantastic book giving excellent help and guidance to parents. The education system is changing at such a rapid rate and let's face it we are all just trying to do the best by our children. Many thanks should go to Phil Beadle!