Checked 23 October 2026. Format, dates, fees and course lists read on UAT-UK’s and Oxford’s pages on 23 October 2026. Check the course page for your year of entry: it is the authority.
The TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) has three modules of 40 minutes each, all compulsory: Critical Thinking (22 multiple-choice questions), Problem Solving (22 multiple-choice questions) and a Writing Task (one essay from a choice of three, at most 750 words). It is run by UAT-UK and, for 2027 entry, required at Oxford for ten courses on UAT-UK’s list (PPE, PPE with Foundation Year, Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, History and Economics, History and Politics, Human Sciences, Philosophy and Linguistics, Psychology and Linguistics, and Psychology and Philosophy) and at UCL for six courses in Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. No subject-specific knowledge is needed (the Problem Solving maths is basic), and no calculator or dictionary is allowed. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored from 1.0 to 9.0; the Writing Task is not marked by UAT-UK but is sent to the universities where you applied for a course that requires the TARA. ProSyllabus is an independent study site, not affiliated with UAT-UK, the University of Oxford or UCL. Every rule and figure here is quoted or summarised from their own pages, read on 23 October 2026.
UAT-UK TARA page and TARA Content Specification, read 23 October 2026.
The three modules at a glance
| Module | What it tests | Format | Time | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Reasoning with everyday written language: understanding and judging arguments | 22 multiple-choice questions, five options, one correct | 40 minutes | 1.0–9.0 |
| Problem Solving | Reasoning with numbers on problems you have not met before | 22 multiple-choice questions, five options, one correct | 40 minutes | 1.0–9.0 |
| Writing Task | Considering different sides of a statement and writing about them clearly | One prompt chosen from three, up to 750 words | 40 minutes | Not marked by UAT-UK; sent to your universities |
From UAT-UK’s TARA page, Content Specification and Question Guide for the October 2026 and January 2027 sittings.
Three rules shape how you use the time. Each module is separately timed, and UAT-UK’s specification says time you do not use in one module is not carried over to the next. Its Question Guide adds that you take the modules in order and cannot go back to a module once you have moved on. And no marks are deducted for wrong answers, so a wrong answer costs nothing: UAT-UK says it is worth attempting every question. The test is taken on computer at a Pearson test centre; you get an erasable booklet for working.
Critical Thinking: the seven question types
UAT-UK’s Question Guide describes Critical Thinking as the evaluation of arguments, in which reasons are put forward as grounds for a conclusion. You are told to assume the reasons given are true. It names seven types of question:
| Question type | What you are asked |
|---|---|
| Identifying the main conclusion | Which statement the rest of the passage is there to support. It can sit at the start, middle or end. |
| Drawing a conclusion | Which statement follows from the information given. |
| Identifying an assumption | Which unstated step the conclusion depends on. |
| Assessing the impact of additional evidence | Which additional evidence might strengthen or weaken the argument. |
| Detecting reasoning errors | Where the reasoning goes wrong: the flaw. |
| Matching arguments | Which other argument has the same structure. |
| Applying principles | Which statement illustrates the general principle the argument relies on. |
Type names from UAT-UK’s TARA Question Guide; the descriptions are our summary.
Our advice: the easiest way to lose marks is to answer from what you believe rather than from the passage. In a main-conclusion question, watch for an option that is really one of the reasons; in an assumption question, for an option the argument would welcome but does not need. Here is one of our own questions of that second type:
Free question · Critical Thinking · Identifying an assumption · original, TARA style
The council's new late-evening bus service will reduce the number of people who drive into the town centre at night. A recent survey found that many of the people who drive into the centre in the evening would rather not, but say they have no choice, because no buses run back to the outlying estates where they live after eight o'clock. The new service will run until midnight. It will begin next month, with buses leaving the centre every half hour.
Which one of the following is an underlying assumption of the argument?
- A The new service will run to the outlying estates where these drivers live.
- B Fares on the new service will be lower than the cost of parking in the town centre.
- C The council will be able to keep paying for the new service for several years.
- D Most people who drive into the town centre in the evening would rather travel by bus.
- E Traffic in the town centre is heavier in the evening than at any other time of day.
Show the answer
Answer: A. The drivers say they drive because no bus takes them back to their estates; if the new service does not go to those estates, their reason for driving remains and the argument collapses, so this is required. The argument only needs some drivers, not most, to want to switch. Cheaper fares, the level of traffic and long-term funding might make the service more successful, but the conclusion does not depend on any of them.
An original ProSyllabus question, not a UAT-UK question. It is one of the three free questions in our TARA practice test; try all three free.
A test for assumption questions: put the option into the negative. If the argument falls apart once the option is false, the argument depends on it. If the argument survives, the option may be helpful, but it is not an assumption the argument needs.
Problem Solving: the three kinds of question
UAT-UK’s Question Guide says Problem Solving tests insight into unfamiliar problems, and names three kinds of question, while noting that some questions fit more than one:
| Kind | What it asks of you |
|---|---|
| Relevant selection | Select and use only the information you need, when the question also gives you information that is unimportant, redundant or distracting. |
| Finding procedures | Devise a method to reach the answer when the route to it is not immediately clear. |
| Identifying similarity | Work with information shown in more than one way, such as charts and tables, and spot the similarities or differences. UAT-UK says some questions may involve reflections or rotations of simple shapes, or manipulating 2D and 3D objects. |
Kind names and descriptions summarised from UAT-UK’s TARA Question Guide.
The mathematics is basic and listed in Appendix 1 of the specification: simple fractions, place value and percentages; the four operations; calculations in everyday contexts and the mean; time and the calendar, money and measures (including 1 km = 1000 m and 1 kg = 1000 g); area (including the area of a rectangle), perimeter, and volume (including the volume of a box); and reading tables and graphs. UAT-UK says complex calculations with fractions and decimals are not required. The difficulty is in reading the problem and choosing a method, under time pressure, without a calculator: 22 questions in 40 minutes is under two minutes each.
The Writing Task: three parts and 750 words
You choose one of three prompts and answer only that one. UAT-UK’s Question Guide says each prompt typically presents a short statement and asks you to explain what is meant by it, give a reasoned argument against it, and discuss how far you agree with it. Detailed knowledge of the subject is not expected. The 750-word limit, says the specification, is there “to promote the disciplined selection and organisation of ideas”, and no dictionary or spell-checker is allowed.
| Stage | What UAT-UK’s Question Guide recommends |
|---|---|
| Plan (5 to 10 minutes) | Plan before you write, grouping your ideas around the three parts of the task. |
| Explain the statement | Engage closely with its wording; take a broad and nuanced view of general or abstract terms. |
| Argue against it | Make the counter-argument strong, with a range of points, and leave out irrelevant background. |
| Say how far you agree | Give your view clearly and in enough depth, supported by your earlier arguments; do not just summarise. |
Recommendations summarised from UAT-UK’s TARA Question Guide, June 2026.
UAT-UK does not mark the Writing Task. Its TARA page says a copy of your response is sent to the universities where you applied, for every course that requires the TARA, and its results page says how they use it is at their discretion. So the essay goes to the universities, which decide how to use it; UAT-UK does not score it.
How the TARA is scored
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving each get their own score on a scale from 1.0 (low) to 9.0 (high), to one decimal place. Each question is worth one mark and the score is based on the number of correct answers. UAT-UK’s TARA Explanation of Results for the October 2025 and January 2026 sittings says the scale is designed so that typical candidates score around 4.5 and approximately 10% of candidates score higher than 7.0, and its Prepare page says the median is fixed at 4.5 and the 90th percentile at 7.0. (One paragraph of its Test results page puts the 90th percentile at 9.0; the other two documents both say 7.0.) Its results page explains that answers are analysed with the Rasch model, so that the different versions of the test can be put on one scale, and that for the TARA each module is equated and scaled separately.
No pass mark, and no conversion table
UAT-UK says there is no pass or fail for the TARA, and that it does not provide grade boundaries or a pass mark. Because the scale is set from the year’s candidates, its specimen and practice tests deliberately give feedback on your answers but no score. A count of correct answers out of 22 is a fair guide to your accuracy and pace, but UAT-UK’s pages give no table for turning it into a 1.0–9.0 score, so treat any such table as unofficial.
Results arrive in your UAT-UK account about four weeks after your test, and UAT-UK sends them automatically to the universities where you applied for a course that requires the TARA. UAT-UK gives the dates as Monday 16 November 2026 for the October sitting and 8 February 2027 for the January sitting.
Which courses need the TARA for 2027 entry
UAT-UK says the TARA is currently used by the University of Oxford and UCL. Its Course List for 2027 entry (last updated April 2026) lists these courses, all with every module compulsory:
| University | Course | UCAS code |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) | L0V0 |
| Oxford | Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Foundation Year | L0VF |
| Oxford | Economics and Management | LN12 |
| Oxford | Experimental Psychology | C830 |
| Oxford | History and Economics | LV11 |
| Oxford | History and Politics | LV21 |
| Oxford | Human Sciences | BCL0 |
| Oxford | Philosophy and Linguistics | VQ51 |
| Oxford | Psychology and Linguistics | CQ81 |
| Oxford | Psychology and Philosophy | CV85 |
| UCL | BSc Computer Science | G400 |
| UCL | MEng Computer Science | G402 |
| UCL | MEng Computer Science and Mathematics | G430 |
| UCL | BEng Mechanical Engineering | H300 |
| UCL | MEng Mechanical Engineering | H301 |
| UCL | MEng Robotics and Artificial Intelligence | H700 |
From UAT-UK’s Course List, 2027 entry (April 2026), which lists each UCAS code. Oxford’s own admissions-tests page lists the last three as one course, Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics. UAT-UK says it is your responsibility to check the course page, and that failing to register for a required test may invalidate your application.
The Oxford course with Foundation Year is the Astrophoria Foundation Year in PPE. Astrophoria’s own page says that, from 2027 entry, applicants to its Foundation Year in PPE must take the TARA, as part of an application that also includes a questionnaire and interviews for shortlisted applicants.
What changed at Oxford, and why
Oxford’s admissions-tests page lists the change under the heading “NEW for entry in 2027”: “From 2026, Oxford will be using admissions tests owned and managed by UAT-UK, in addition to the existing LNAT and UCAT tests for Law and Medicine courses.” The ESAT, TARA and TMUA “will be taken by Oxford candidates where required for admission to their chosen course”. A practical benefit Oxford mentions on that page: “Oxford applicants also applying to other universities which use these tests will only need to take the relevant UAT-UK test once.” It does not publish a longer rationale there, and we do not guess at one.
UAT-UK fills in the background. It was set up in 2023 as a joint venture between Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, aiming to streamline applications to competitive courses, and it first offered the TARA in October 2025. Its TARA preparation page says the Critical Thinking and Problem Solving components “share a common history” with BMAT Section 1 and the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), which is why it publishes those old papers for practice.
October or January: which sitting you can take
| Applicant | Sitting |
|---|---|
| Most Oxford applicants | October only (12–16 October 2026, already past for this cycle) |
| Oxford Astrophoria Foundation Year (including PPE) | October 2026 (now past) or January 2027 |
| UCL applicants | October 2026 (now past) or January 2027; UAT-UK says there is no advantage in either |
From UAT-UK’s TARA, Deadlines and About pages and Oxford’s admissions-tests page, read 23 October 2026. UAT-UK says you can sit only once within an admissions cycle, so if another course you are applying to needed the October sitting, that is the sitting that counts.
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Booking opens for January 2027 | 26 October 2026, 3pm GMT |
| Deadline to request access arrangements | 7 December 2026, 6pm GMT |
| Deadline to request a bursary | 14 December 2026, 6pm GMT |
| Booking closes | 21 December 2026, 6pm GMT |
| Test window | 4–8 January 2027 (in China, Hong Kong and Macau, the TARA runs only on 7 January) |
From UAT-UK’s Deadlines page, key dates for 2027 entry. UAT-UK says it cannot accept bookings after the deadline.
The TARA costs £78 for candidates in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere, according to UAT-UK’s TARA page. UK candidates who meet UAT-UK’s criteria can apply for a bursary, which covers the full cost where granted. Apply for it before you book: UAT-UK says it cannot reimburse you after you have paid for a test. Access arrangements must also be requested before you book, as no adjustments can be made at the test centre. Bring photo ID that meets UAT-UK’s ID policy.
How to prepare
UAT-UK says no subject-specific knowledge is needed. Its TARA page recommends reading the specification and answering the specimen test under timed conditions, and its Prepare page recommends doing the practice tests under timed conditions. It publishes, free: the Content Specification, the Question Guide with a worked example of every question type, specimen and practice tests in the Pearson test player you will use on the day, and BMAT Section 1 and TSA Section 1 past papers with answer keys on its TARA Preparation Materials page. UAT-UK says all questions should be viewed on a desktop, not on mobile devices.
| Stage | Material | How |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Learn the question types | UAT-UK’s Question Guide | Read the worked example for each of the ten types and note how the right answer is found. |
| 2. Meet the test player | UAT-UK’s specimen tests in the Pearson player | Untimed first, then read the explained answers. |
| 3. Build speed | TSA and BMAT Section 1 past papers | Timed sections; log every wrong answer by question type. |
| 4. Full runs | UAT-UK’s practice tests, then fresh questions | Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and the Writing Task in that order, 40 minutes each. |
Our suggested order, not UAT-UK’s.
Once you know UAT-UK’s papers, a fresh set tells you more about where you stand. Our TARA practice test has a full Critical Thinking module and a full Problem Solving module, 22 original questions each, with a 40-minute clock in the full test player, an explanation for every answer and your score by question type, plus a Writing Task practice prompt. It reports a count of correct answers, not a 1.0–9.0 score. The three free questions include the one above. The TARA exam page has the format and dates in brief.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TARA test?
The Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions, run by UAT-UK. It has three 40-minute modules: Critical Thinking (22 multiple-choice questions), Problem Solving (22 multiple-choice questions) and a Writing Task. Oxford and UCL use it for some courses.
Which Oxford courses need the TARA?
For 2027 entry UAT-UK’s Course List names PPE (and PPE with Foundation Year), Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, History and Economics, History and Politics, Human Sciences, Philosophy and Linguistics, Psychology and Linguistics, and Psychology and Philosophy. Check your course page.
Which UCL courses need the TARA?
For 2027 entry: BSc and MEng Computer Science, MEng Computer Science and Mathematics, BEng and MEng Mechanical Engineering, and MEng Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, according to UAT-UK’s Course List.
Is there a pass mark for the TARA?
No. UAT-UK says there is no pass or fail and it publishes no grade boundaries. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored from 1.0 to 9.0; UAT-UK’s Explanation of Results for the 2025–26 sittings says typical candidates score around 4.5 and about 10% score above 7.0.
Is the TARA Writing Task marked?
Not by UAT-UK. A copy of your response is sent to the universities you applied to for courses that require the TARA, and how they use it is up to them.
Can Oxford applicants take the January TARA?
Most cannot: UAT-UK says most Oxford applicants must sit in October. The exception is the Astrophoria Foundation Year, which has a January deadline. UCL applicants could choose either sitting; with October past, January 2027 remains for those who have not yet sat the TARA this cycle.
When is the next TARA?
4–8 January 2027. Booking opens on 26 October 2026 at 3pm GMT and closes on 21 December 2026 at 6pm GMT, according to UAT-UK.
How much does the TARA cost?
£78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere, according to UAT-UK. Eligible UK candidates can apply for a bursary that covers the full cost before booking.
Is the TARA the same as the TSA?
No, it is a different test, but UAT-UK says its Critical Thinking and Problem Solving components share a common history with the TSA and BMAT Section 1, and it publishes their past papers as extra practice.
More in this series
Sources
- official — UAT-UK: TARA (format, sittings, scoring, fees, registration), read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: TARA Content Specification, for assessment in October 2026 and January 2027
- official — UAT-UK: TARA Question Guide, for assessment in October 2026 and January 2027
- official — UAT-UK: TARA Preparation Materials (practice tests, BMAT Section 1 and TSA Section 1 past papers), read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: Prepare (specimen and practice tests; how the score scale is set), read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: Test results, read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: TARA Explanation of Results, October 2025 and January 2026
- official — UAT-UK: Deadlines, key dates for 2027 entry, read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: About UAT-UK, read 23 Oct 2026
- official — UAT-UK: Course List, 2027 entry (last updated April 2026)
- official — University of Oxford: Admissions tests, read 23 Oct 2026
- official — University of Oxford, Astrophoria Foundation Year: Admissions tests, read 23 Oct 2026
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
