Cambridge TMUA requirements
Yes. University of Cambridge requires the TMUA for Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics. Cambridge applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting. There is no fixed pass mark, so your score is read alongside the rest of your application.
How Cambridge uses the TMUA
Cambridge requires the TMUA for Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics. A strong result strengthens an application that is decided holistically: your predicted grades, personal statement, school reference and interview all count alongside the test. Mathematics applicants also sit STEP as part of their conditional offer. Cambridge applicants take the TMUA in the October window.
Which Cambridge courses requires the TMUA?
Requirements change from year to year. Confirm your exact course on the official Cambridge admissions page.
The TMUA format
The TMUA is 2 papers, and you sit all of them. Every question is multiple choice, with no calculator and no negative marking, so an unanswered question and a wrong one cost you the same.
- Paper 1 — Applications of Mathematical Knowledgerequired20 questions, 75 min
- Paper 2 — Mathematical Reasoningrequired20 questions, 75 min
Key TMUA dates for 2027 entry
- Registration opens: 20 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 28 September 2026 (you must register yourself, through UAT-UK via Pearson VUE)
- Test sitting: 12 October 2026 (October). Cambridge applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting.
- Results: November 2026
Dates are for the current cycle and can change. Confirm them on the official UAT-UK site.
What score do you need for Cambridge?
Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Cambridge reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
How to prepare for the TMUA for Cambridge
The most reliable preparation is the real thing: work through past papers under exam timing, then check every question against a full worked solution so you learn the method, not just the answer. Then drill the specific TMUA question types you get wrong, and shore up any shaky topics in the notes before you sit it for real.
Prepare for the TMUA for Cambridge
Sit full TMUA past papers with worked solutions, then practise the topics you find hardest.
Cambridge TMUA: frequently asked questions
- Do I need the TMUA for Cambridge?
- Yes. University of Cambridge requires the TMUA for Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics.
- Which Cambridge courses use the TMUA?
- Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics. Always confirm the current requirement on the official Cambridge course page before you register.
- When do I sit the TMUA for Cambridge?
- Cambridge applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting.
- How do I register for the TMUA?
- Registration is through UAT-UK (via Pearson VUE). For 2027 entry it opens on 20 July 2026 and closes on 28 September 2026. You must register yourself before the deadline, so do not leave it to your school.
- What TMUA score do I need for Cambridge?
- Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Cambridge reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
- Is the TMUA hard?
- Most students find the TMUA harder than A-level maths: it rewards speed and problem solving under time pressure rather than recall. That is exactly why practice moves the needle. Working through past papers under timing, then studying full worked solutions, is the most reliable way to raise your score.