TARA for 2027 entry

TARA, without the guesswork

Three timed modules test argument reading, numerical reasoning and concise writing. No subject knowledge is required.

Interpret your score Official TARA details

What the test actually asks of you

TARA assumes very little knowledge. The difficulty comes from reasoning carefully, quickly and without familiar school templates.

Critical Thinking

Read an argument in everyday language, identify what it claims, then judge whether its reasons establish that claim.

Problem Solving

Create a route through an unfamiliar numerical problem. The official knowledge floor is basic arithmetic, measures, space, tables and graphs.

Writing Task

Choose one proposition and communicate different sides clearly in no more than 750 words.

UAT-UK does not score it. Your response is sent to universities that require TARA.

Built on the science of learning

Your errors guide what you see next Revisit problems just before you'd forget Mixed practice that sharpens exam recognition. Slower today, stronger on results day We name your error, never just 'wrong'Start where you are Master each step, or test out if you're ready

Dates that can close your application

Account creation and booking are separate. Access arrangements and bursaries close earlier than test booking.

October 2026

12-16 October

Account creation opened: 1 June, 15:00 BST
Booking opens: 20 July, 15:00 BST
Access arrangements: 14 September, 18:00 BST
Bursary requests: 21 September, 18:00 BST
Booking closes: 28 September, 18:00 BST

Standard Oxford applicants must use this sitting.

January 2027

4-8 January

Requests reopen: 5 October, 15:00 BST
Booking opens: 26 October, 15:00 GMT
Access arrangements: 7 December, 18:00 GMT
Bursary requests: 14 December, 18:00 GMT
Booking closes: 21 December, 18:00 GMT

UCL applicants and eligible Oxford Foundation Year applicants can use this sitting.

TARA costs £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland, or £133 elsewhere. A UAT-UK bursary can cover the full UK fee. Regional delivery dates can be narrower, so check the official deadlines before booking.

Read a TARA score honestly

A score of $4.5$ is around the cohort midpoint. About $10\%$ score above $7.0$ . Universities publish no pass mark or course cutoff.

$4.5$ around the median

$7.0$ about the top 10%

Interpret your score

Practise the whole TARA sequence

Six fixed papers each pair a 22-question Critical Thinking module with a 22-question Problem Solving module. Every module has its own 40-minute clock and topic breakdown.

The Writing Task coach gives you nine original prompts, a five-minute plan, a 40-minute writer and an honest structural self-review. It does not mark your response.

Start with the eight free TARA guides, or see the complete course and current checkout status on the pricing page.

Check the primary sources

Requirements can change by cycle and course. Use UAT-UK for the test, Oxford for Oxford courses, and UCL for UCL courses as the final check.