TMUA 2027: the test that replaced Oxford's MAT, with dates, format and scores
Find the dates, format, scoring and university requirements for the TMUA, plus how it compares with STEP.
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The TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) is the maths admissions test for 2027 entry at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Durham, Warwick and UCL. Oxford has dropped its own Mathematics Admissions Test (MAT), so Oxford maths and computer science applicants now sit the TMUA too. For 2027 entry there are two sittings: 12 to 16 October 2026, which has now finished, and 4 to 8 January 2027. The test is two multiple-choice papers of 20 questions each, 75 minutes per paper, with no calculator.
Did Oxford replace the MAT with the TMUA?
Yes. Oxford ran the MAT from 2007 to 2025. Its maths department page says that "for the 2026 admissions round, the MAT will not take place, and all applicants will take the TMUA instead." The 2026 admissions round is the one for students starting in 2027.
The change covers Mathematics, Computer Science and all the joint honours courses: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Computer Science and Philosophy. Oxford applicants had to sit the October 2026 test. Oxford uses TMUA scores alongside the rest of the UCAS application to shortlist about three applicants per place, with shortlisting decisions in November 2026 and interviews in December 2026.
If you were preparing with old MAT papers, they still help with problem solving. The question style is different, though, so switch to TMUA papers for timed practice.
Which universities need the TMUA for 2027 entry?
UAT-UK, which runs the test, lists seven universities that use the TMUA for some maths, economics or computer science courses. Whether it's compulsory or just recommended depends on the course, so always check the course page itself.
| University | Courses that use the TMUA (examples) | Required or recommended | Sittings accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Mathematics, Computer Science and joint honours | Required | October only |
| Cambridge | Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics | Required | October only |
| Imperial | Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science | Required | Check the course page |
| LSE | BSc Economics, BSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics | Required (recommended for several other courses, including Mathematics and Economics) | October or January |
| UCL | Economics BSc (Econ) | Required | Check the course page |
| Warwick | Mathematics and related courses | Usually required, or STEP instead | Check the course page |
| Durham | Mathematics | Recommended | Check the course page |
Source: UAT-UK, 2027 course list, Oxford, Imperial, LSE, UCL, Warwick. Last checked: 13 November 2026.
For the A-Level grades these courses ask for, see our guide to UCAS points.
TMUA 2027 dates: October 2026 and January 2027
The October sitting was for everyone, and it was the only option for Oxford and Cambridge. The January sitting is for applicants to the other TMUA universities who apply by the January UCAS deadline. UAT-UK lets you register once per cycle, for either October or January, so if you sat in October you won't be able to sit again in January.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| October sitting | 12 to 16 October 2026 (finished) |
| January booking closes | 6pm GMT, 21 December 2026 |
| January sitting | 4 to 8 January 2027 |
| Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau | 15 to 16 October 2026 or 8 January 2027 |
| Results | 16 November 2026 (October sitting) and 8 February 2027 (January sitting), mid-afternoon in your UAT-UK account |
Source: UAT-UK key dates. Last checked: 13 November 2026.
The test costs £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland and £133 elsewhere. Bursaries cover the full fee for UK candidates in financial need, but you have to apply for one before you book. For the January sitting, bursary requests close at 6pm GMT on 14 December 2026, and access arrangement requests at 6pm GMT on 7 December 2026. For the wider application calendar, see every UCAS deadline for 2027 entry.
TMUA format: two papers, 40 questions, no calculator
The TMUA is a computer-based test lasting 2 hours 30 minutes in total, according to the UAT-UK test page.
- Paper 1, Applications of Mathematical Knowledge: 20 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes. It tests whether you can use the maths you know in unfamiliar problems.
- Paper 2, Mathematical Reasoning: 20 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes. It tests reasoning, proof and simple logic.
You can't use a calculator or a dictionary. Wrong answers lose nothing, so answer every question, even if you have to guess. The questions draw on GCSE and A-Level Maths, and the official content specification on the UAT-UK site lists the exact topics.
Paper 2 catches out a lot of strong A-Level students, because logic isn't taught much in school maths. Here's the kind of question it asks.
Question (1 mark)
Consider the statement: "If n is a prime number greater than 2, then n is odd." Which of the following is the contrapositive of this statement?
A. If n is odd, then n is a prime number greater than 2.
B. If n is not a prime number greater than 2, then n is not odd.
C. If n is not odd, then n is not a prime number greater than 2.
D. n is a prime number greater than 2 and n is not odd.
E. If n is odd, then n is not a prime number greater than 2.
Answer
- Write the statement as "if P then Q", where P is "n is a prime number greater than 2" and Q is "n is odd".
- The contrapositive of "if P then Q" is "if not Q then not P".
- Not Q is "n is not odd" and not P is "n is not a prime number greater than 2".
- So the answer is C.
Most lost marks come from mixing up the converse (A, which swaps P and Q) and the inverse (B, which negates both without swapping) with the contrapositive.
What is a good TMUA score?
Scores run from 1.0 to 9.0, to one decimal place, and there is no pass mark. A good score is whatever puts you ahead of the other applicants for your course, so it varies by university and by year.
Warwick is one of the few universities that publishes a figure. Its Mathematics BSc page for 2027 entry says: "In the last admissions cycle, the majority of offers were made to applicants with a TMUA score of 5.0 and above." It adds that some offers went to applicants below 5.0 after looking at their whole profile.
| Warwick Mathematics (2027 entry) | What the course page says |
|---|---|
| Typical TMUA score of offer holders | Most offers made at 5.0 and above in the last cycle |
| When the threshold is set | During the cycle, usually around April |
| If you haven't taken the TMUA | Grade 2 in STEP will be a condition of the offer |
| Typical A-Level offer | A*A* in Maths and Further Maths, plus A in a third subject |
| Contextual offer | A*A*B, with A* in Maths and Further Maths |
Source: Warwick BSc Mathematics. Last checked: 13 November 2026.
Warwick also says that missing its TMUA threshold doesn't guarantee you a STEP offer instead. Oxford and Cambridge don't publish a target score, because they weigh the TMUA alongside your grades, school reference and interview.
TMUA vs STEP: why Cambridge maths applicants need both
The two tests do different jobs, and they happen at opposite ends of the application year.
The TMUA comes first. Cambridge maths applicants sat it in October 2026, and Cambridge uses the result to help decide who to invite to interview. It's a fast, multiple-choice test of accuracy and reasoning.
STEP comes last. It's a set of longer written papers that test how you handle hard, unfamiliar problems and write proofs. Cambridge makes it part of the conditional offer, and the typical maths offer includes grade 1 in STEP 2 and STEP 3, according to Cambridge maths admissions. You sit STEP in June, around your A-Level exams, and results come out in August. OCR runs STEP and publishes the 2027 dates and entry window on its site.
So a Cambridge maths applicant needs a strong TMUA to reach interview, and strong STEP grades to turn an offer into a place. Warwick, by contrast, accepts STEP as an alternative to the TMUA rather than an extra.
How to prepare for the TMUA before January
If you're sitting in January, you have about seven weeks. Here's a plan that fits around school.
- Read the content specification on the UAT-UK site and tick off topics you've already covered.
- Do one past paper untimed to see where you stand. UAT-UK has an archive of papers and worked answers from 2016 to 2023, and says the content and question style haven't changed since the move to computer-based tests.
- Spend a week on logic for Paper 2: "if", "only if", "necessary" and "sufficient", converse and contrapositive.
- Practise mental arithmetic and quick algebra, since you have no calculator and about 3 minutes 45 seconds per question.
- From mid-December, do full papers under timed conditions and review every wrong answer.
The TMUA rewards fluent pure maths, so keep your A-Level work sharp alongside it. Medly AI covers A-Level Maths and Further Maths for every major exam board, with exam-style questions marked step by step and an AI tutor that explains where your working went wrong. Topics like trig identities come up in both A-Level papers and admissions tests.
You can start on Medly's free plan, which includes 5 marked questions, 20 AI tutor messages and 1 uploaded paper a day, with no card needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TMUA replacing the MAT?
Yes. Oxford has stopped running the MAT, and from the 2026 admissions round (for 2027 entry) all Oxford maths, computer science and joint honours applicants take the TMUA instead.
Can I sit the TMUA in January 2027 if I'm applying to Oxford or Cambridge?
No. Oxford and Cambridge applicants had to sit in October 2026. The only exceptions UAT-UK lists are Cambridge mature college applicants and Oxford Foundation Year applicants with a January deadline.
When do TMUA results come out?
Results from the October 2026 sitting are released on 16 November 2026, and results from the January 2027 sitting on 8 February 2027, in your UAT-UK account. They're sent automatically to the TMUA universities on your UCAS application.
Can you use a calculator in the TMUA?
No. Calculators and dictionaries aren't allowed in either paper.
Is there negative marking in the TMUA?
No. You only gain marks for correct answers, so answer every question.
What is a good TMUA score for Warwick?
Warwick says most offers in the last cycle went to applicants scoring 5.0 or above, with some offers below 5.0 after a holistic review. The final threshold for 2027 entry is usually set around April.
Do you need Further Maths for the TMUA?
The TMUA content draws on GCSE and A-Level Maths, so check the official specification for the exact topics. Most of the courses that use it, such as Warwick Mathematics, ask for Further Maths at A-Level anyway.