TARA Problem Solving: Complete Guide

A complete guide to the TARA Problem Solving module, including the three official question types, maths knowledge required and timing advice.

19 May 20265 min read

Quick answer

The TARA Problem Solving module tests how well students reason with numbers, data and unfamiliar situations. It contains 22 multiple-choice questions and lasts 40 minutes.

The module assumes only a defined set of basic mathematical skills, but students must apply them flexibly and without a calculator.

What does the Problem Solving module test?

Problem Solving is about finding a route through a new problem when there is no ready-made method already provided. Students may need to:

Decide which information is relevant
Build a method from the information given
Compare data shown in different forms
Work accurately with simple arithmetic, percentages, measures and graphs

The difficulty usually comes from the reasoning process, not from advanced maths.

TARA Problem Solving format

Feature	Detail
Questions	22 multiple-choice questions
Options	Five options per question
Time	40 minutes
Marks	One mark per correct answer
Calculator	Not permitted
Negative marking	No

There is only one correct answer to each question. Students should attempt every question because wrong answers are not penalised.

The three official Problem Solving question types

The official TARA Question Guide names three main kinds of Problem Solving question.

Question type	What it asks students to do
Relevant Selection	Choose the information that actually matters
Finding Procedures	Devise a method to reach the answer
Identifying Similarity	Compare relationships across representations or shapes

Some questions may involve more than one of these skills at once.

1. Relevant Selection

Relevant Selection questions include extra information, just as real-world problems often do. The task is to ignore distractions and use only what helps solve the problem.

Students should ask:

What is the question really asking for?
Which numbers or facts affect that answer?
Which details are present but unnecessary?

This skill is easy to underestimate because the arithmetic may be simple after the right information has been chosen.

2. Finding Procedures

Finding Procedures questions ask students to invent the route to the answer. The required maths may be basic, but the method is not handed to them.

For example, a question might require a student to:

Remove one component from a total
Split the remainder in a ratio
Apply different percentage changes
Add the revised values back together

The challenge is seeing the sequence of steps clearly.

3. Identifying Similarity

Identifying Similarity questions ask students to compare patterns, relationships or representations. This can include:

Matching a chart to another chart
Comparing data shown in different forms
Recognising rotations or reflections
Understanding relationships in two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes

These questions reward attention to structure rather than surface appearance.

What maths does the TARA expect?

The official content specification gives a clear list of the mathematical knowledge required.

Number concepts

Simple fractions
Place value
Percentages

Numerical operations

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Percentage calculations
Everyday calculations with decimals and fractions
Mean averages

Quantities

Time and calendars
Money
Measures

Space and spatial reasoning

Area
Perimeter
Volume

Tables and graphs

Extracting information from graphs and charts
Extracting information from tables

Students are also expected to know common metric relationships such as:

Relationship	Value
1 km	1000 m
1 m	100 cm
1 cm	10 mm
1 kg	1000 g

What does "no calculator" mean in practice?

Students do not need advanced calculations, but they do need confidence with arithmetic under time pressure. The best preparation is not only to practise the right topics, but to practise doing them neatly and efficiently by hand.

Useful habits include:

Estimating before calculating
Writing units beside values
Keeping ratio working organised
Checking whether the answer size is sensible

What makes this section difficult?

The most common problem is not the maths syllabus itself. It is that students may:

Use irrelevant information
Miss an intermediate step
Misread a chart or table
Calculate accurately from the wrong starting point
Spend too long trying to force one method

How should students approach the module?

Read the final question carefully before processing all the data
Mark the information that matters
Decide on a method before starting long calculations
Keep rough work structured
Use estimation to catch unreasonable answers
Move on if a question is taking too long

What should students practise?

The best preparation combines:

Timed mixed practice
Focused work on the three question types
Short daily arithmetic drills
Review of the official maths list
Reflection on method, not just the final answer

TaraPrep separates focused Problem Solving questions from the mental-maths trainer. Use the trainer for slow arithmetic and the question bank for selection, procedure and representation errors; they solve different problems.

Official sources

If a student gets a question wrong, they should ask whether the issue was:

Understanding the task
Choosing the information
Choosing the method
Carrying out the arithmetic
Checking the answer

Frequently asked questions

Does TARA Problem Solving require advanced maths?

No. It uses a defined set of basic mathematical skills, but asks students to apply them in unfamiliar ways.

Can students use a calculator?

No. Calculators are not permitted.

What are the official Problem Solving question types?

The guide lists Relevant Selection, Finding Procedures and Identifying Similarity.