TARA for Oxford Economics and Management

Quick answer

All applicants to Oxford Economics and Management BA must take the TARA for 2027 entry. Oxford applicants complete all three modules in October 2026.

There is one important exception: Oxford states that the Writing Task will not be used in admissions selection for Economics and Management, although applicants must still complete it.

Key dates for 2027 entry

The test window overlaps with the Oxford application deadline, so candidates should book and prepare well before October.

Why does Oxford use the TARA?

Oxford describes Economics and Management as highly competitive and says tutors look for the ability to construct and assess arguments, express ideas clearly and analyse problems logically. The TARA supplies comparable evidence of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving before interview.

It is not an Economics or Management knowledge test. Applicants still need to meet the course requirement of A*AA with Mathematics at A or A*.

How competitive is the course?

The 2024-25 admissions report gives:

Oxford's wider statistics report 19.1 applications per place across 2022-24. Historical figures set context but do not predict an individual's chance of admission.

What do old TSA figures mean now?

Economics and Management previously used the TSA. Historical reports show that Oxford treated reasoning-test performance as meaningful, but TSA scores cannot be converted into TARA targets. The tests use different structures and reporting scales.

Older TSA Critical Thinking questions remain useful supplementary practice. Candidates should first learn the TARA's 22-question, 40-minute modules and current question categories.

How should applicants prepare?

Critical Thinking

Practise identifying conclusions, assumptions, flaws and the effect of additional evidence. Arguments involving causes, incentives or small samples can be useful practice contexts, but no Economics knowledge is required.

Problem Solving

Prioritise percentages, ratios, averages, tables, graphs, measures and multi-step arithmetic without a calculator. This module deserves most of the course-specific preparation time alongside Critical Thinking.

Writing Task

Oxford will not use this module in E&M admissions selection, but candidates must still complete it. Learn the required structure and practise enough to produce a coherent response within 40 minutes; do not allocate it the same preparation time as the two scored modules unless the guidance changes.

TaraPrep's free diagnostic gives immediate Critical Thinking and Problem Solving results in the exam simulator. Those results can be used to decide which module and question types need focused work.

What else is part of the application?

Oxford does not require submitted written work for E&M. Shortlisted applicants attend online interviews in December. The TARA is considered as part of a wider application rather than against a publicly guaranteed cutoff.

Common mistakes

• Treating the TARA as an Economics test
• Spending most preparation time on the unscored Writing Task
• Converting old TSA offer-holder scores into invented TARA targets
• Ignoring the no-calculator Problem Solving pace
• Leaving test booking until the end of September

Official sources

• Oxford Economics and Management course page
• Oxford admissions tests guidance
• Oxford E&M 2024-25 admissions report
• UAT-UK 2027-entry deadlines