Oxbridge Admissions Test Tutoring
TARA Tutors
Boost your score and enhance your Oxford and UCL application with our experienced, Oxbridge-graduate TARA tutors.
Why Choose Our TARA Tutors?
- Our Oxbridge success rate is 4x the average
- Average mark improvement of 20% after just 4 hours’ tutoring
- 20+ years of experience
- 500+ Oxbridge offers every year
- Experienced Oxbridge-graduate tutors
Our UK & Oxbridge admissions consultancy is delivered by Oxbridge Applications, the unequivocal leader in top UK university application consultancy.
Boost your TARA score
Expert TARA Tutors
Excelling in the Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions (TARA) is crucial for applicants to some of Oxford’s most competitive courses – including PPE and Economics and Management – as well as many courses at UCL.
Our one-to-one tuition connects you with an Oxbridge-educated TARA tutor who knows the test inside out. With a range of score-boosting packages available, you’ll receive tailored support to sharpen your critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical writing skills.
Discover why our students improve their admissions test scores by 20% after just four hours of tutoring.
Book your TARA tutor today and take the first step towards securing your offer.
Partnering with
schools globally
We’ve
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students
Oxbridge success rate
the global average
We work with
Oxbridge-graduate tutors
Average mark improvement of
in admissions tests
Admission Test Tuition
Our TARA Tutoring Packages
Our flexible range of packages are designed to help you excel in the TARA – whatever your current level of preparation. Whether you need a focused boost or comprehensive support, each option includes one-to-one tuition with an Oxbridge-educated TARA tutor, access to our mock test bank, and fully personalised guidance.
Ideal if you want targeted TARA tutoring on specific problem areas, or need a concentrated refresher before your test.
- Four hours of one-to-one tuition with an Oxbridge-graduate TARA tutor
- Access to our exclusive library of mock admissions tests for extra practice
- Sessions arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends
Price: £595
A popular choice for students who want both strategy and practice across multiple test areas.
- Eight hours of one-to-one tuition with an Oxbridge-graduate TARA tutor
- Access to our exclusive library of mock admissions tests for extra practice
- Sessions arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends
Price: £995
An in-depth package of TARA tutoring, designed to maximise your score through sustained practice and guidance.
- Twelve hours of one-to-one tuition with an Oxbridge-graduate TARA tutor
- Access to our exclusive library of mock admissions tests for extra practice
- Sessions arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends
- Best value for students seeking thorough preparation and exceptional performance
Price: £1295
The definitive TARA preparation: an exhaustive programme of one-to-one tutoring and practice, built for students determined to achieve the highest possible score.
- Sixteen hours of one-to-one tuition with an Oxbridge-graduate TARA tutor
- Full access to our exclusive library of mock admissions tests for extra practice
- Sessions arranged at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends
- Our highest level of preparation, for students who are aiming for perfect scores
Price: £1645
4x Your Oxbridge Chances
We are proud of the improvements students make by working with us. Students on our Oxbridge Premier Service have a 4x higher acceptance rate at Oxford and Cambridge than the global average.
Dukes Plus by the numbers:
- The average student improves their admissions test marks by 20% after just 4 hours’ tutoring
- We have 25+ years of experience preparing students for Oxbridge
- Our students receive 500+ Oxbridge offers every year
Our TARA Tutors
Theo holds a BA from Cambridge in Human, Social, and Political Sciences. He has tutored Oxbridge applicants for Dukes Plus for many years. Theo graduated with a rare starred first from Cambridge in Human, Social, and Political Sciences, achieving a first-class result in every examination paper. He subsequently worked as a research assistant to a Professor of Economics and Organisational Theory at UCL. He then completed an MSc in Psychological Sciences from Birkbeck College, University of London, where he finished top of his year with a high Distinction.
- Theo
- Human Sciences, Politics, Economics, Psychology
Gbenga holds a BA from Oxford in Economics and Management. He has tutored many students for the TARA, especially those applying for Economics-related subjects.
- Gbenga
- Economics and Management
Natalie graduated from Oxford with a BA in Psychology, Philosophy, and Linguistics. She specialises in preparing students for the TARA. She has ten years’ experience supporting students in the UK and internationally with university applications, including university and course selection, personal statements and interview preparation. Natalie also specialises in highly personalised, holistic tuition in Psychology and Philosophy across A-Level, IB and AP curricula. Many of her students have special educational needs or mental health conditions that make it difficult for them to engage fully with mainstream schooling, so her support often combines supplementary tuition with tailored full-time homeschooling programmes.
- Natalie
- Psychology and Philosophy
Trey holds a first-class BA in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, as well as an MA with Distinction in Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory. He also received the programme’s Outstanding Achievement Award for achieving the highest overall grade. Although Trey has supported applicants across a range of social science subjects, his particular areas of expertise are political philosophy and twentieth-century critical theory. His master’s dissertation examined the concept of freedom in the work of G. W. F. Hegel and Jacques Rancière. Trey began his PhD in October 2024 and is enthusiastic about sharing his passion for the subject with new students.
- Trey
- Human Sciences, Politics, Philosophy
Sam has undergraduate and masters degrees in Modern History from Oxford, and also qualified as a lawyer before returning to History. As well as tutoring for admissions tests in History, Law, and Classics, Sam prepares applicants for interview and is a mentor with the Premier Service. He is especially interested in the history of late antiquity and the fall of Rome, but enjoys discussing and encouraging any historical passion.
- Sam
- History, Law, Classics
Ned graduated from the University of Oxford in 2021 with a degree in History. Since joining Dukes Plus in 2023, Ned has tutored many students through admissions tests for History and related subjects, as well as other aspects of the admissions process. During his studies, he specialised in modern American and Indian history, with a particular interest in how literature surrounding the Partition of India can help societies process collective trauma. His academic achievements were recognised with prizes from the Royal Economic and Social History Society, alongside his college’s Principal’s Prize and an Exhibition in History. He achieved first-class results across a broad range of papers, covering subjects such as neoliberalism and postmodernism, as well as the Spanish conquest and colonisation of Latin America. Ned concluded his undergraduate studies by presenting a paper at the University of Warwick’s *Margins to Centre* conference. His presentation examined how Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel *Cracking India* explores and processes the trauma of Partition in South Asia.
- Ned
- History
Reviews for Our Oxbridge Application Support
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★★★★★ ★★★★★
Our son received outstanding support from Oxbridge Applications with his recent successful Nat Sci application. The service was seamless, responsive and highly professional from start to finish, covering all aspects of the process, including personal statement, ESAT and interview preparation, and college choice. We truly believe OA helped our son become a stronger candidate and to draw out his talents to the best advantage. Highly recommended. Many thanks to all the team.
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★★★★★ ★★★★★
I would like to express my gratitude for the invaluable support provided by Oxbridge Application for my son. The tutors are exceptionally well-prepared, highly competent, very dedicated and professional. Thanks to their guidance, my son has successfully acquired the skills needed to excel in the admission test and develop the confidence and abilities required to perform well in the interview. An outstanding support!
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★★★★★ ★★★★★
We really valued the responsive service and deep expertise offered by Oxbridge Applications, involving several subject experts and coordinated by the wonderful Kiran. The packages were flexible (with no hard sell) and the experience realistic. An Oxbridge application was new to us as a family so the support was invaluable.
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★★★★★ ★★★★★
I had the most wonderful experience with Oxbridge Applications and know that I became a much stronger applicant due to their help. I am particularly grateful to Alicia and my mentor Kat, as they were so supportive and guided me through every step of my application! The advice, knowledge, and also confidence that they provided me with was invaluable, and I could not recommend Oxbridge Applications enough. Not only were they crucial to developing my interview skills, technical competency, and general knowledge of my subject, but also the many hours of tutoring made me absolutely certain of my love of my degree subject and I am all the more overjoyed by the prospect of studying it at Oxford this October as a result.
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★★★★★ ★★★★★
Theo and his team offered an outstanding service for our daughter who decided, very late, to make an Oxbridge application. They managed to make time for her and gave her excellent guidance and advice throughout the process. We recommend Oxbridge Applications without hesitation.
Effective Prep from Experienced TARA Tutors
Key Features of our TARA Tutoring Programme
Each course of tutoring begins with an initial assessment, allowing your TARA tutor to identify your strengths and target areas for improvement. Based on this, we create a tailored study plan, ensuring that your preparation is focused and strategic.
Section 1 of the TARA tests critical thinking skills. Our TARA tutors guide you through each type of question, covering analytical reading, logical evaluation, and evidence-based reasoning. With timed practice and step-by-step answer guides, you’ll learn how to efficiently navigate this section.
Section 2 assesses your problem-solving skills. Our tutors build your numerical fluency and pattern recognition, and help you develop efficient strategies for tackling unfamiliar problems.
The final section of the test is a writing task. Our TARA tutors teach you how to structure your responses, select and defend your arguments, and refine your writing style. You’ll practise with sample prompts and receive detailed feedback to sharpen your skills.
All our TARA tutors are Oxbridge graduates with a proven track record of Oxford and UCL admissions success. They have extensive experience with the TARA and similar tests, like the old TSA.
All of our TARA tutoring packages come with access to our exclusive library of full mock tests, for the highest level of realistic practice and preparation.
Feedback is key. After each lesson, tutors review your progress, tracking it against TARA benchmarks. This continual assessment allows us to refine your study plan as you advance, focusing on areas that need extra attention.
What’s Included in Our Packages?
Learn from someone who’s been there
One-to-one lessons with an Oxbridge-educated tutor with extensive experience of the TARA, focused on exactly the question types you’ll face in the test.
Understand what you need to do to improve
Your TARA tutor identifies the knowledge and technique gaps which are dragging your score down. Every hour of tuition is focused on making the decisive improvements which will boost your score.
Practise until it’s second nature
With every tutoring package, you’ll get access to our library of mock TARA papers: full-length, highly realistic, and written by our most senior tutors. Practise under exam conditions to develop the test familiarity, speed, and accuracy you need for an exceptional performance.
Benefit from first-class tuition
Our tutees have rated 500 hours of recent admissions test tutoring 5 stars.
how it works
Start your tutoring in four simple steps
You’ll go from choosing your package to starting lessons with your hand-picked tutor in just a few days. Here’s how it works.
01
Choose your package
Choose your preferred package and complete your purchase online. Have a question? Contact us and our friendly team will be happy to help.
02
Tell us what you need
You will receive instant email confirmation, plus a form to fill out with a few extra details – this ensures we match you with the perfect tutor.
03
Meet your tutor
We hand-pick the best TARA tutor for your needs and introduce you to them, usually within 3 working days of receiving your completed form.
04
Start your lessons
Arrange your online lessons at times that suit you. Our tutoring is available in multiple time zones, including evenings and weekends.
Do I Need a TARA Tutor?
Competition for places at Oxford and UCL is extremely strong, and a high TARA score can significantly strengthen your application. The TARA is designed to assess how applicants think under pressure, rather than simply testing subject knowledge, which makes focused preparation particularly important.
A TARA tutor helps students develop the skills required across all sections of the test. With expert tips on time management and exam technique, we help you score highly in all parts of the TARA.
Balancing A-Levels or IB study alongside university applications can limit the time available for admissions test preparation. A tutor provides a clear structure, targeted practice, and regular feedback, helping students use their preparation time effectively and build confidence ahead of the exam.
While some students succeed through independent study, many benefit from personalised, expert support. At Dukes Plus, our experienced TARA tutors have a record of helping students improve their scores – the average student improves by 20% after just 4 hours of tutoring.
Customer Stories
Try Our TARA Practice Paper
Getting ready for the TARA?
Try our TARA practice paper, designed by Oxford admissions experts and covering all three sections.
It’s the perfect way to begin your TARA preparation.
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FAQs
Booking is quick and simple:
- Choose your preferred package (4, 8, 12, or 16 hours of tutoring) and make your purchase
- You will receive an instant email confirmation with a form with a few more details to fill out – please complete this
- We’ll hand-pick the TARA tutor who best meets your requirements, usually within 3 working days
- You can arrange online lessons at times that suit you directly with your tutor
Of course. If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them. You can contact us here and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) is a test required for certain courses at the University of Oxford, including PPE and Economics and Management, and UCL. It assesses critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to communicate ideas effectively under timed conditions.
The TARA is required for applicants to certain courses at UCL and Oxford. For 2027 entry, these are:
- University of Oxford: Economics and Management, History and Economics, History and Politics, Human Sciences, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Psychology (Experimental), Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics
- UCL: Computer Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Our TARA tutors draw on their years of experience to offer insider advice and guidance on answering all three sections of the test. Tutors can teach efficient approaches to time management, logical reasoning, and essay structuring, all aimed at maximising your score.
Most students benefit from starting preparation a few months before the test. This allows time to build skills gradually while balancing schoolwork and other aspects of the university application process.
We have four different TARA tutoring packages to choose from: 4, 8, 12, or 16 hours. All tutoring is taught 1-1 with a highly experienced Oxbridge-graduate tutor, and comes with access to our exclusive library of full-length mock tests.
Yes! We use the same virtual learning environment as top universities like Oxford so you can be sure the remote learning will be effective and engaging.
Absolutely. If you need targeted support for the critical thinking, problem solving, or writing sections, our tutors will focus on that area. They’ll help you develop the skills and strategies you need to perform well on whichever part you’d like to improve.
While it’s possible to prepare independently, many students find that tutoring significantly boosts their performance. Our students improve their Oxbridge admissions test scores by an average of 20% after just 4 hours of tutoring.
Partner Schools
We’re partnered with over 1,100 schools
Delivered by Oxbridge Applications
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