TARA exam day
Arrive minutes early with original photo ID and your Pearson confirmation. Each module lasts minutes, with no breaks.
At the centre
Your booking name must match your ID exactly. Arrive more than minutes late and you may be turned away.
| Bring | Leave outside | Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Original government photo ID with signature | Phone, watch, bag, calculator, food and water | Computer, erasable notebook and pen |
| Pearson confirmation | Anything not approved | Help when you raise your hand |
Test the pen before the timer starts.
Three separate clocks
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing each get minutes. Spare time does not carry over, and you cannot go back.
| Clock | Where you should be |
|---|---|
| Starting question | |
| Starting question | |
| Filling any blanks | |
| All answered. Wrong answers lose nothing. |
Keep booklet notes short
Worked example Three printers
Printer A makes pages per minute and B makes . They work together for minutes. Printer C then joins at pages per minute. How many further minutes are needed to reach pages?
Why this works: This note is enough: '70 done; 120 left; rate 24; 5 min'.
Why the tempting route fails: has Printer C working from the start.
The Writing Task
Start a fresh page. Plan for minutes, write for , check for . Stay under words. No dictionary or spell-checker.
If something goes wrong
Raise your hand straight away. Report the incident at the centre or within hours, and email Pearson within three days. Write down the case number. A toilet break does not stop the clock unless it was approved in advance.