TARA: The Replacement for the TSA

The TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) is no longer offered. Cambridge had already stopped using it, and from 2027 entry Oxford has replaced its own admissions tests with tests run by UAT-UK, so the courses that used to require the TSA now require the TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions). The TARA is a two-hour, computer-based test run by UAT-UK, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 2023 by Cambridge and Imperial. It is taken at Pearson VUE test centres around the world and is currently used by Oxford and UCL for a range of courses. According to UAT-UK, its Critical Thinking and Problem Solving modules share a common history with the TSA. 

Test Format

Modules One and Two: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
 

Each module is a 40-minute multiple-choice test with 22 questions. Like Section One of the TSA, they test students on their reading and comprehension skills, as well as numerical, spatial and logical reasoning. Calculators and dictionaries are not allowed.
 

Each question has one correct answer, and there is no negative marking, so it is worth attempting every question. The two modules are scored separately on a scale from 1 (low) to 9 (high), reported to one decimal place. The scale is set each year according to the ability of that year’s candidates, with the median fixed at 4.5. This means that the same raw score may yield a different final score depending on the year in which the test was taken. 

There is no pass or fail mark for the TARA, so you should aim to score as highly as you can.
 

Module Three: Writing Task
 

This module involves a 40-minute essay with a maximum of 750 words. Candidates choose one of three essay questions. In writing the essay, pay close attention to the question and make sure that you are answering the question (as opposed to a question which you prepared for). Adopt a clear and logical structure in your essay. Candidates are not expected to have any specialised knowledge in relation to the questions asked.

In contrast to the multiple-choice modules, the Writing Task is not scored by UAT-UK. Instead, a copy of your response is sent to the universities that you are applying to, so you will only receive scores for Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

Oxford Courses Requiring the TARA (2027 Entry)

Cambridge does not use the TARA. At Oxford, the following courses require the TARA for 2027 entry:

• Economics and Management
• History and Economics
• History and Politics
• Human Sciences
• Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
• Psychology (Experimental)
• Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics

Note: PPE with Foundation Year also requires the TARA. Geography and Chemistry, which used to require the TSA, no longer have an admissions test. Some UCL courses, such as Computer Science, also require the TARA, so check the UCL course page if you are applying there.

Preparing for the TARA

You should focus most of your efforts on the two multiple-choice modules, because they are the only scored parts of the test, but do not neglect the Writing Task, which the universities will read. Although the questions are difficult, they follow a certain structure (this applies to the critical thinking questions in particular). Once you know what type of question it is, you will be able to tackle it accordingly. The following is a brief summary of the critical thinking question types, carried over from the TSA, that you might get in the TARA:
 

1) Summarise the conclusion of a passage:
 

These questions are comparatively easy. They require candidates to read the passage clearly, and summarise the conclusion. The main skill tested here is your ability to process relevant information and determine whether the answer is an accurate reflection of what is written in the passage. 

One useful tip is to read the opening or closing sentences. These tend to be fairly accurate summaries of the entire passage. In addition, it is useful to summarise the passage first without looking at the answer choices so as to avoid selection bias. 

2) Identifying the main flaw:

These questions require candidates to analyse the arguments in the passage and identity logical inconsistencies. For these questions, it is often helpful to read the passage over a few times. Look for statements that seem far-fetched or illogical given the context of the passage.

3) Identifying the underlying assumption:

Many statements are made with certain assumptions in mind. The candidate’s task is to identify the assumption that the writer has adopted in forming his argument. More often than not this is a subconscious assumption that is not explicitly stated in the passage, which is why students typically find assumption questions to be the most difficult. Skim the passage quickly to look for leaps in logic between sentences or within sentences. Read the passage more than once if needed. 
 

Once you select an answer, try to apply the assumption identified back to the passage. The correct answer, when read in conjunction with the passage, should make more sense than the other options.

4) Choosing which option best illustrates the key argument:
 

These questions require students to identify the key idea or concept in a passage and then select an answer which best illustrates it. Pay attention to the subtleties involved. For instance, if a concept is “hard work should be rewarded” it does not follow that “laziness demands punishment” and any answer choice that suggests this may not be the best answer.
 

5) Choosing which option is the best analogy for an argument used in the passage

6) Choosing the piece of information that would most weaken or strengthen the writer’s argument:

Questions like these are relatively easy. Typically, two of the options given in a ‘strengthen’ question may in fact oppose the argument and vice versa. In a question where you are asked to pick an answer which would most weaken an argument, a few choices might in fact have the opposite effect. The key to tackling such questions is to have a good grasp of what the actual argument is.

FAQ
 

Q: Where can I find TARA practice tests and past TSA papers?

A: UAT-UK provides free TARA practice tests, as well as past TSA Section One papers (2008–2023) and BMAT Section 1 papers that can be used for practice. You can find them at the following website:

esat-tmua.ac.uk/tara-preparation-materials/

Q: When and where do I register for the TARA?

A: You register yourself by creating a UAT-UK account and then booking a test at a Pearson VUE test centre of your choice. For 2027 entry, registration opened on 1 June 2026, booking ran from 20 July to 28 September 2026, and the tests took place from 12 to 16 October 2026. Oxford applicants (other than Foundation Year applicants) must take the October sitting. The test costs £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere, and bursaries are available for eligible UK candidates. Full details can be found at: esat-tmua.ac.uk/about-the-tests/tara/. 

Q: When are the TARA results released?

A: Results for the October 2026 sitting are released on 16 November 2026 through your UAT-UK account, and they are sent automatically to the universities whose courses require the TARA.