Free TARA guide, no signup, sources named and linked
TARA exam day
Arrive minutes early with compliant original photo ID and your Pearson confirmation. Each module lasts minutes, time does not carry over and there are no scheduled breaks.
Know what happens at the centre
TARA is computer-based at a Pearson VUE test centre. Your booking name must exactly match your ID. UAT-UK says candidates may be refused entry if they arrive more than minutes late, so aim for minutes early.
| Bring to check-in | Leave outside | At the desk |
|---|---|---|
| Original accepted government photo ID with signature | Phone, watch, wallet, bag, books and own paper | PC, keyboard and mouse |
| Pearson appointment confirmation | Calculator, dictionary, food and water | Erasable notebook and pen |
| Approved access arrangements shown on booking | Anything not approved | Invigilator help when you raise your hand |
Test the pen before the timer starts. Ask for a replacement or fresh sheets as soon as you need them.
Treat each module as a fresh clock
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and the Writing Task each have minutes. Finishing early does not transfer time. Once you move on, you cannot return.
For each -question scored module, the average budget is:
| Clock | You should have seen | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Questions -; begin | Move if no executable route has appeared | |
| Questions -; begin | Protect the final seven | |
| Questions - | Fill blanks, then use a flag deliberately | |
| All answered | Wrong answers lose no marks |
These checkpoints are a study strategy, not an official timing rule. Test them before using them.
Compress the structure onto the booklet
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: A compact note is enough: '70 done; 120 left; rate 24; 5 min'.
Why the tempting route fails: Dividing by treats Printer C as though it worked during the first five minutes.
Give the Writing Task its own handover
When Problem Solving ends, start a fresh page. Use - minutes to plan. One practical split is seven minutes for definitions and structure, minutes to write and four minutes to edit.
Answer one of three prompts and all three parts of the instruction. Do not exceed words. Dictionaries and electronic spell-checkers are not permitted.
Report an incident while evidence exists
There are no scheduled breaks. If you take an unscheduled toilet break, the clock does not pause unless pause-the-clock breaks were approved in advance.
If the screen freezes, the pen fails, noise becomes significant or illness affects you, raise your hand immediately. UAT-UK says a performance-affecting incident should be reported at the centre or within hours. For Pearson investigation, email within three days.
Run a five-line night-before check
- Confirm the centre, route, appointment and -minute-early target.
- Check the booking name against the exact ID you will carry.
- Save the Pearson confirmation offline or print it.
- Confirm any access arrangements appear on the booking.
- Stop practising early enough to sleep.
Sources
UAT-UK, Test Day. Arrival, ID, prohibited items, equipment, breaks and incident reporting. Read current ruleshttps://esat-tmua.ac.uk/test-day/
UAT-UK, TARA overview. The current fee and three-module format. Read the overviewhttps://esat-tmua.ac.uk/about-the-tests/tara/
UAT-UK, TARA Content Specification. Module lengths, question counts, no negative marking and the Writing Task limit. Read the specificationhttps://uat-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/30103001/TARA_Content_Specification_April2025.pdf
Rules can change. The live UAT-UK page, ID policy and booking confirmation override this August 2026 checklist.