What Is the TARA and How to Prepare for It

The TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) is a newer admissions test used by the University of Oxford and UCL across a range of subjects. Unlike a subject exam, it tests general thinking skills and written communication — which means many students aren't sure how to prepare. Here's a clear guide.

What the TARA involves

The TARA has three compulsory 40-minute modules: Critical Thinking (multiple choice), Problem Solving (multiple choice), and a Writing Task — one essay of up to 750 words, chosen from three options. No calculator or dictionary is allowed. It's administered by UAT-UK through Pearson VUE test centres.

How it's scored

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored on a scale from 1.0 to 9.0. The Writing Task isn't given a score — instead, your essay is sent to the universities to read as part of your application. There's no pass or fail; results are considered alongside everything else.

How to prepare for each part

• Critical Thinking: learn to identify assumptions, flaws and what does or doesn't follow from an argument.
• Problem Solving: practise extracting the key information from data and reasoning to an answer quickly.
• Writing Task: build a repeatable method for planning, structuring and arguing a point clearly in the time available.
• Do everything under timed conditions — three 40-minute modules back to back is demanding.

“Because the TARA has no syllabus, technique and timed practice are almost the entire game.”

When to start

With autumn and early-winter sittings, give yourself a couple of months. Reasoning and writing improve gradually with feedback, so steady practice beats cramming — and always confirm the exact test and dates on your course page.

Get expert help

Beyond Tutors offers one-to-one online TARA preparation — thinking-skills coaching and structured writing feedback. See our TARA tutoring page, or book a free trial to begin.