Should I sit the TMUA in October or January?
For 2027 entry the TMUA runs in two windows, October 2026 and January 2027. Which one you can use, and which one you should use, depends mostly on where you are applying.
Who must sit in October
Cambridge and Oxford applicants must sit in the October window. This is because their admissions timelines run earlier, alongside the 15 October UCAS deadline. If you are applying to either, the choice is made for you: book October and plan your preparation around it.
Who can choose
Applicants to the other universities that use the TMUA, currently Imperial, LSE, Warwick, Durham and UCL, may sit in either October or January. Both Warwick and Imperial state there is no advantage to one window over the other, so the decision comes down to your own circumstances.
Does the timing affect my score?
No. Scores are equated across sittings, which means a score from January represents the same level of performance as the same score from October. One window is not marked more generously than the other, and there is no strategic reason to prefer a "harder" or "easier" paper, because that difference is removed by the scaling.
How to decide
If you are free to choose, weigh two things:
- Preparation time. The January window gives you extra weeks to prepare, which can help if you are also sitting other admissions tests or want more time with the reasoning content of Paper 2.
- When results are needed. October results are released on 16 November 2026 and January results on 8 February 2027. Check that your chosen window fits how and when each university considers scores in its process.
Remember that you sit only once per cycle and only your first score counts, so you cannot use one window as a practice run for the other. Treat whichever date you pick as the real thing.
Plan around your date
Once you have chosen, work backwards so your timed practice peaks in the final weeks. Use our past papers under exam conditions and follow the full plan in how to prepare for the TMUA. You can review every key date on the official UAT-UK deadlines page and confirm your course requirements on our university pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose when to sit the TMUA?
It depends on where you apply. Cambridge and Oxford applicants must sit in October. Applicants to Imperial, LSE, Warwick, Durham and UCL may choose the October or January window.
Is the October or January TMUA easier?
Neither. Scores are equated across sittings so that a given score means the same regardless of when you sat, and UAT-UK does not favour either window. Choose based on your application, not on difficulty.
Can I sit both the October and January TMUA?
No. You can sit the TMUA only once per admissions cycle, and only your first score counts.