University of Oxford: TARA requirements for 2027 entry

Standard undergraduate applicants must use October. PPE with Foundation Year has a separate January application deadline and may use either sitting. Oxford admissions tests (accessed 2026-09-24). Economics and Management and History and Economics have course-specific Writing Task exceptions, explained below.

Format and score context

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving each contain 22 multiple-choice questions with 40 minutes per module. Writing allows 40 minutes for one of three prompts, with a maximum of 750 words. Unused time does not transfer between modules. Calculators are not permitted. Official specification (accessed 2026-09-23).

UAT-UK reports separate Critical Thinking and Problem Solving scores from 1.0 to 9.0. It forwards the writing response to universities without scoring it. There is no test pass mark. UAT-UK TARA guidance (accessed 2026-09-24). This draft supplies no numerical admissions target: no course-specific official competitive score was established in this research. Do not treat a raw practice mark as an official scaled result.

Booking calendar

Book by 28 September 2026, 18:00 UK time, for 12 to 16 October 2026. Where January is permitted, book by 21 December 2026, 18:00 UK time, for 4 to 8 January 2027. You can sit once per cycle. In China, Hong Kong and Macau, the TARA dates are 14 October and 7 January, within the applicable window. UAT-UK deadlines (accessed 2026-09-24).

Editorial preparation advice: begin with the official question guide, review the reason for each error, then try an unseen timed test. For Problem Solving, write down what is being asked before calculating. For Critical Thinking, separate the conclusion from the evidence. Keep time spent and raw accuracy separate in your practice log.

Oxford assesses test performance with other evidence of academic potential and course suitability. Oxford test policy (accessed 2026-09-24).

FAQ provenance: the questions below adapt observed questions about writing exemptions, January sittings, preparation resources, timing and essay preparation, accessed in the research snapshot on 2026-09-23. They are paraphrases, not quotations. Answers use the official sources cited in this page; preparation suggestions are editorial.

Economics and Management

Economics and Management (LN12). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. If this is your only TARA-requiring course, Oxford allows you to end before Writing. The booking still covers the full test. If another course requires Writing, complete it. Course-specific exemption (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Practise translating tables and short quantitative descriptions into one calculation. For argument questions, test whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence. Check all your course choices before dropping essay practice.

Three applicant questions

Psychology (Experimental)

Psychology (Experimental) (C830). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Practise separating an observed association from a causal claim. For each wrong answer, identify the extra assumption you introduced. Include numerical interpretation and a short written argument in your practice rotation.

Three applicant questions

History and Economics

History and Economics (LV11). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. If this is your only TARA-requiring course, Oxford allows you to end before Writing. The booking still covers the full test. If another course requires Writing, complete it. Course-specific exemption (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

The test exemption does not remove the separate requirement for a school or college history essay, due 10 November 2026. Written work (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Practise identifying the conclusion in a short passage before choosing an answer. For numerical questions, label units and compare only quantities that use the same base. Keep submitted school work and test preparation as separate tasks.

Three applicant questions

History and Politics

History and Politics (LV21). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Practise finding the unstated step between evidence and a political claim. In essays, distinguish a reason from an example and answer the strongest objection to your conclusion.

Three applicant questions

Human Sciences

Human Sciences (BCL0). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Alternate argument questions with tables and proportional reasoning. When a question uses evidence about people, check whether it supports the whole population or only the group described.

Three applicant questions

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics course choices

Philosophy and Linguistics (VQ51); Psychology and Linguistics (CQ81); Psychology and Philosophy (CV85). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24) Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24) Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Practise formal argument structure alongside ordinary-language assumptions. Write short counterexamples to overbroad claims, then explain why they matter. Include numerical problem solving even if your preferred subjects are essay based.

Three applicant questions

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (L0V0). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time and use the October booking calendar above. Application and test dates (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: For a writing prompt, define the claim, build the strongest objection and state a qualified conclusion. In numerical practice, compare two plausible methods before choosing the shorter one.

Three applicant questions

Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Foundation Year

Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Foundation Year (L0VF). TARA is required. Course requirements (accessed 2026-09-24).

Complete Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Writing. Module requirement (accessed 2026-09-24).

Apply by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time. Either sitting is permitted; the course page says to take the test before submitting UCAS. Foundation Year guidance (accessed 2026-09-24); UCAS deadline (accessed 2026-09-24).

Score guidance: use the university policy and separate-module explanation above. This research establishes no numeric course target.

Preparation, editorial advice: Begin untimed with percentages, ratios and argument structure. Explain one solution aloud before adding time pressure. Practise completing every part of a writing prompt, rather than trying to fill the word limit.

Three applicant questions