TARA vs TSA: What Changed?

A clear comparison of the TARA and the TSA, including what stayed similar, what changed and what former TSA applicants need to know.

20 May 20267 min read

Quick answer

The TARA and the TSA are related but not identical. The strongest continuity is in Critical Thinking and written argument, but the TARA has its own three-module structure, its own Problem Solving specification, and a different score scale.

The practical conclusion is more precise than "use TSA papers" or "ignore TSA papers". Old TSA material is useful for overlapping Critical Thinking practice, but the TARA specification should control how you prepare for timing, scoring, Problem Solving and the Writing Task.

Why people compare the TARA and TSA

Oxford previously used the Thinking Skills Assessment for several courses that now use the TARA, including Philosophy, Politics and Economics. If you are applying for PPE specifically, see the separate TARA for Oxford PPE guide. This page focuses on the test comparison itself.

Because both tests assess reasoning rather than subject-specific knowledge, it is natural for applicants to ask whether preparation for one transfers to the other.

Some of it does. TSA Critical Thinking questions can still train useful skills: finding conclusions, testing assumptions, spotting flaws and working with unfamiliar arguments. But the TARA is not just a renamed TSA. It changes the structure of the test, separates the reporting of modules, and defines a Problem Solving module that applicants need to prepare for directly.

What stayed similar

Critical Thinking remains central

The TARA Critical Thinking module uses question types that are closely aligned with the established thinking-skills tradition. The labels matter more when you know what each one actually asks you to do:

TARA Critical Thinking area	What it means in practice
Main conclusions	Identify the claim the argument is trying to prove
Drawing conclusions	Work out what follows from the information given
Assumptions	Find the unstated idea the argument depends on
Additional evidence	Decide what new information would strengthen or weaken the reasoning
Reasoning errors	Spot flaws such as overgeneralisation, weak analogy or confusing correlation with cause
Matching arguments	Recognise the same logical structure in a different context
Applying principles	Use a general rule to judge a specific case

This is where older TSA material is most useful. If a TSA question asks you to identify an assumption or flaw, the underlying skill still transfers well.

The Writing Task still values argument

The TARA Writing Task asks candidates to explain a statement, argue against it and state the extent of their agreement. That preserves the importance of concise, balanced written reasoning.

The important continuity is not the exact wording of old TSA essay prompts. It is the skill: define the issue, take a view, consider an objection and write clearly under time pressure.

What changed

The TARA has three clearly separate modules

The TARA consists of:

Module	Format	Time
Critical Thinking	22 multiple-choice questions	40 minutes
Problem Solving	22 multiple-choice questions	40 minutes
Writing Task	One response from three prompts	40 minutes

Each module is separately timed. Candidates cannot carry spare time from one module into another.

Problem Solving is defined more explicitly

The TARA has a separate Problem Solving module with three official question types:

TARA Problem Solving type	What it asks you to do
Relevant Selection	Pick the information that actually matters and ignore distracting details
Finding Procedures	Work out the method yourself rather than applying an obvious formula
Identifying Similarity	Compare patterns, relationships, shapes or representations

These labels are not cosmetic. They tell you how the questions are designed. A Relevant Selection question may contain more numbers than you need. A Finding Procedures question may use basic arithmetic but require several steps in the right order. An Identifying Similarity question may ask you to see that two diagrams, tables or relationships have the same structure even though they look different.

The assumed maths is bounded

The TARA Problem Solving specification is clear that the maths is basic rather than advanced. Candidates should be comfortable with:

Simple fractions, place value and percentages
Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Percentage calculations
Everyday calculations with decimals and fractions
Mean averages
Time, calendars, money and measures
Area, perimeter and volume, including rectangles and boxes

That matters because it changes how applicants should prepare. The task is not to revise advanced algebra, calculus or proof. It is to become fast and accurate with simple tools in unfamiliar situations.

The scoring framework is different

The old TSA Section 1 score was reported on a scale running roughly from 0 to 100, with raw marks converted to account for the difficulty of the test paper. TARA reports Critical Thinking and Problem Solving separately on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale, the same style of reporting used across UAT-UK tests.

That is why old TSA score discussions do not translate neatly into TARA targets. A TSA score of 70 does not have a direct TARA equivalent. The scale, cohort and test structure are different.

The Writing Task is also different in reporting terms. It is not scored numerically by UAT-UK. The response is shared with participating universities that require it.

The test is part of a newer shared system

The TARA was introduced within the UAT-UK system alongside other newer admissions assessments. It is computer-based and delivered through Pearson VUE test centres.

Can TSA papers still help?

Yes. UAT-UK now publishes an archive of TSA and BMAT Section 1 papers specifically because their Critical Thinking and Problem Solving components share a common history with TARA. Use them for the overlapping skills, not as replicas of the live test.

Use TSA material for:

Critical Thinking questions on conclusions, assumptions, flaws, principles and argument structure
General written argument practice, especially planning and clarity
Building stamina with unfamiliar reasoning passages

Do not use TSA material as your whole plan. It will not fully cover:

The TARA 22-question, 40-minute module timing
The official TARA Problem Solving categories
The UAT-UK 1.0 to 9.0 score scale
The exact TARA Writing Task structure
The computer-based Pearson VUE test experience

The best approach is to start with the TARA specification and sample materials, then add TSA questions only where the overlap is clear.

How should former TSA applicants adapt?

The adjustment is mostly about priority. Keep the TSA material that trains real reasoning skills, but stop using the TSA as the organising frame.

Practise TARA timing: 22 questions in 40 minutes for each multiple-choice module.
Use TSA Critical Thinking questions for assumptions, flaws, conclusions and principles.
Prepare Problem Solving from the TARA specification, not from old TSA habits alone.
Drill the bounded maths list until it is fast: percentages, fractions, averages, time, money, measures and basic geometry.
Practise at least a few responses using the TARA Writing Task format, even if old TSA essay practice helped you build argument structure.
Ignore old forum claims that try to convert TSA scores into TARA targets.

The biggest misconception

The biggest mistake is saying, "TARA is basically just the TSA again."

There is meaningful overlap, especially in Critical Thinking, but the TARA is its own test with its own format, timing, specification and reporting. The right conclusion is not "throw away all TSA practice". It is "use TSA practice for the parts that still match, and use TARA material for everything else."

Official sources

These are the primary documents this comparison draws on.

Frequently asked questions

Should I start with TSA past papers or TARA materials?

Start with TARA materials. Once you understand the TARA modules and timing, use TSA Critical Thinking questions as extra practice.

Can I use old TSA score discussions to judge my TARA level?

No. TSA Section 1 used a roughly 0 to 100 scale, while TARA reports Critical Thinking and Problem Solving on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale. Treat old score discussions as historical context, not targets.

Which TSA questions are least useful for TARA preparation?

Questions are least useful when they train timing, scoring expectations or test format rather than the underlying reasoning skill. For TARA, prioritise questions that clearly practise conclusions, assumptions, flaws, principles or written argument.