The TARA is the new admissions test for the 2025-26 admissions cycle, which is currently being used by Oxford University and UCL to select for certain science, maths, and social science courses. Our guide includes what you should know before taking the TARA and how to be successful.
Everything you should know before taking the TARA and how to be successful.
WHAT IS THE TARA?
The TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) is an admissions test introduced in the 2025/26 cycle that is to be used by the University of Oxford and UCL in the coming (2026/27) admissions cycle. The TARA is developed by University Admissions Testing (UAT), the provider that also produces and administrates the TMUA and ESAT.
WHO NEEDS TO SIT THE TARA?
So far, Oxford and UCL are the only universities that have confirmed they will be using the TARA in the upcoming university admissions cycle.
Oxford University have announced the use of the TARA for applicants to the following courses: Economics and Management; History and Economics; History and Politics (still tbc); Human Sciences; Politics, Philosophy and Economics; Experimental Psychology; Psychology, Philosophy ad Linguistics.
UCL is using the TARA for applicants to the following courses: Computer Science; European Social and Political Studies (single and dual degree); International Social and Political Studies; Mathematical Computation; Management Science; Robotics and Artificial Intelligence; Social Sciences: Social sciences with Data Science; Sociology.
HOW IS THE TARA STRUCTURED?
The TARA consists of three modules: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and a Writing Task. Each of the first two sections (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) will last 40-minutes each and will require applicants to answer 22 multiple-choice questions. The Writing Task, however, will also last 40-minutes but will require applicants to select one long-form essay question (from a possible three) to answer within a word limit of 750 words.
CAN I CHOOSE WHICH QUESTIONS I ANSWER IN THE TARA?
Applicants must answer all questions in the first two sections of the paper (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving), but will be able to select one essay question from a possible three in the Writing Task section of the paper.
HOW IS MY SCORE IN THE TARA USED?
Both Oxford and UCL will use the TARA as a standardised format for assessing and benchmarking their applicants. For Oxford, the TARA serves as an additional benchmark prior to deciding which applicants to shortlist for interview, whereas at UCL it will factor into the decision as to whether to make an offer to an applicant. The exam will be focused on aptitude and critical thinking, rather than specific subject area knowledge, so that students taking different qualifications at school can access the syllabus.
The first two sections of the TARA (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) will be marked and given a score between 1 (low) and 9 (high), with results given to one decimal place. This score will then be reported to the university,
The Writing Task will not be given a mark, but instead a copy of your response will be sent to the relevant university admissions tutors (for courses where the TARA is required) to take into consideration alongside the rest of your application.
WHAT IS A GOOD TARA SCORE?
Since this is a brand new test, the October 2025 TARA results are the first set we have seen. This means that, although we now have concrete scores to go on, this is still a very new test and as such results should be considered an indication rather than a solid rule as to the grades required to be invited to interview. Below are the graphs released by UAT-UK with the distribution of grades in both the critical thinking and problem solving sections of the paper (do note that we have no grades for the writing section of the paper):
The scores for the Problem Solving paper show a relatively normal distribution for these kind of papers, with the most common grade of 4.5 slap bang in the middle. This indicates that a score of 6.5 or above would make an applicant really stand out, but anything from 4.0 and above would be unlikely to bias tutors against an application.
The Critical Thinking paper scores tell a slightly different story; with a relatively uneven spread, and a larger proportion of papers scoring 1.0 than we are used to, combined with no scores of 7.5, this paper's distribution is quite uncommon. With the most common score being 4.5, we can say that, as with the Problem Solving section, this is the score at which a candidate is unlikely either to stand our or harm their chances. This more random distribution does, however, suggest that there may be some early teething problems with this section of the paper; we hope that if this is the case, UCL will keep it in mind when giving offers to applicants, and we will see some levelling out of the scores in future years.
DO I NEED TO KNOW SPECIFIC CONTENT?
The TARA is a test of skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, rather than of any particular content knowledge. Although the content is not specific to any school syllabus, the skills that you will be using to take the test will be those taught and practised in your various A-level (or equivalent) studies, such as Critical Reasoning (as practiced in subjects such as English, History, Psychology, etc.) and Quantitative Reasoning (such as in Mathematics, Geography, or Science subjects).
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