TARA Past Papers
The TARA launched as a computer-based test, so there are no TARA past papers. The practice material UAT-UK actually publishes is larger than that sounds: 21 BMAT Section 1 papers back to 2003 and 16 TSA Section 1 papers back to 2008. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving share their question history with those tests. That is 37 papers, all free, all on UAT-UK’s own servers.
- 22 + 22Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- 750 wordsWriting Task, not scored by UAT-UK
- 3 × 40 minAll three modules are compulsory
- 1.0–9.0Separate scores, one decimal
Why the TARA has no past papers
The live test is sat at Pearson centres. UAT-UK does not release it. The two practice tests on the Pearson landing page mirror the format and the software. They are not a paper archive. For a paper archive you use the tests the multiple-choice modules grew out of.
Which papers should you use?
Start with 2019–2023. Question style moves over twenty years, and the recent papers are the closest match. BMAT Section 1 is split into Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, the same two names the TARA uses, so it is the broader match. TSA Section 1 is the better source for longer Problem Solving items. The Writing Task has no equivalent in either archive. The only official writing material is the specimen test, and the word limit is 750.
Formats do not transfer. BMAT Section 1 in 2023 was 32 questions in 60 minutes. A TSA Section 1 paper was a different length again. The TARA gives you 22 questions and 40 minutes per module. Do not read an old raw score as a TARA pace.
TARA format and how it is scored
All three modules are pre-selected when you book. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are scored separately. The Writing Task is not marked by UAT-UK. There is no pass or fail. The explanation of results uses the same anchors as the other UAT-UK tests: a typical score around 4.5, and about 10% of candidates above 7.0. Oxford and UCL do not publish a cut-off on the UAT-UK pages.
Sittings for 2027 entry are 12–16 October 2026 and 4–8 January 2027. Oxford says its undergraduate applicants sit in October, with the Astrophoria Foundation Year able to sit in January. The fee is £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere. Results are released about four weeks later.
TARA Explanation of Results (PDF)
How to prepare
- Read the specification and the question guide. The guide is the official list of question types: seven Critical Thinking types and three Problem Solving types.
- Sit both Pearson practice tests on a desktop, under the time limit.
- Work backwards through the BMAT and TSA archives.
- Log misses by question type. There is no released TARA paper to calibrate against.
Free official TARA resources
- TARA content specification
- TARA question guide
- Practice tests (Pearson)
- BMAT and TSA archive page
- Oxford admissions tests
Common questions
Are there any TARA past papers?
No live TARA papers are released. UAT-UK publishes 21 BMAT Section 1 papers (2003–2023) and 16 TSA Section 1 papers (2008–2023) because Critical Thinking and Problem Solving share that question history.
What is a good TARA score?
There is no pass mark. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each reported from 1.0 to 9.0. The explanation of results says a typical score is around 4.5, and about 10% of candidates score above 7.0.
How long is the TARA?
Three modules of 40 minutes: 22 Critical Thinking questions, 22 Problem Solving questions, and one Writing Task chosen from three, with a 750-word limit.
Is the Writing Task scored?
Not by UAT-UK. A copy of the response is sent to the universities that require the TARA. You answer one prompt, not all three.
Can I use a calculator?
No. Calculators and dictionaries are not permitted. There is no negative marking on the multiple-choice modules.
Who uses the TARA?
UAT-UK says the TARA is currently used by Oxford and UCL. Oxford’s admissions-tests page lists the TARA alongside the ESAT and TMUA for 2027 entry. Check the course page before you book.