Is the TARA hard?
Mostly because of time. Each multiple-choice module is 22 questions in 40 minutes, about 109 seconds each. In the first cycle, 742 of 2,626 candidates left a Problem Solving question unreached or answered one in five seconds or less.
The three parts
| Part | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 22 | 40 |
| Problem Solving | 22 | 40 |
| Writing Task | One essay, up to 750 words | 40 |
How the first cohort did
| Module | Average | Middle score | Did not reach every question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.21 | 4.0 | 33 |
| Problem Solving | 4.72 | 4.7 | 217 |
Scores run from 1 to 9. The middle candidate used the full 40 minutes in Problem Solving: speed decides it.
Try one
Worked example A Problem Solving question
A café sells coffee for £2.40 and cake for £1.80. A meal deal of one coffee and one cake costs £3.60. Sam buys three coffees and two cakes. What is the least he can pay?
Why this works: £9.60. Two meal deals cover two coffees and two cakes for £7.20; the third coffee adds £2.40.
Why the tempting route fails: £10.80 ignores the deal. £10.20 uses only one deal. Check every way to group the items before you calculate.