Test of Mathematics for University Admission
The Test of Mathematics for University Admission is a test used by universities in the United Kingdom to assess the mathematical thinking and reasoning skills of students applying for undergraduate mathematics courses or courses featuring mathematics like Computer science or Economics. It is usually sat by students in the UK; however, students applying from other countries will need to do so as well if their university requires it. A number of universities across the world accept the test as an optional part of their application process for mathematics-based courses. The TMUA exams from 2017 were paper-based; however, since 2024 it has transitioned to being administered through a computer, where applicants may use a Whiteboard notebook to write their working out.
History
The test was developed by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing and launched in 2016. It was designed to assess the key skills that students need to succeed on demanding university-level mathematics courses, and assist university mathematics tutors in making admissions decisions.Durham University and Lancaster University began using the test in 2016, with the University of Warwick, the University of Sheffield and the University of Southampton recognising the test in 2017, and the London School of Economics and Political Science and Cardiff University in 2018
Research indicates that the test has good predictive validity, with good correlation between candidates' scores in the test and their performance in their exams at the end of first year university study. There is also correlation between A-level Further Maths performance and performance in the test.
Changes
Before 2024, the test was administered by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing, but since the 2024 round, it has been administered by Pearson Vue instead. Candidates now complete the exam in a Pearson test center, when the previously would have sat the test at their school or at a registered test centre. Under the new format, mathematical working is completed in booklets of laminated paper using whiteboard markers, where candidates may request new booklets for writing in when needed.Test format and specification
The Test of Mathematics for University Admission is a paper-based 2 hour and 30 minute long test, which is to be completed without dictionaries or calculators. It has two papers which are taken consecutively:Paper 1: Mathematical Thinking
Paper 1 has 20 multiple-choice questions, with 75 minutes allowed to complete the paper. This paper assesses a candidate's ability to apply their knowledge of mathematics in new situations. It comprises a core set of ideas from Pure Mathematics. These ideas reflect those that would be met early on in a typical A Level Mathematics course: algebra, basic functions, sequences and series, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration, graphs of functions. In addition, knowledge of the GCSE curriculum is assumed.
Paper 2: Mathematical Reasoning
Paper 2 has 20 multiple-choice questions, with 75 minutes allowed to complete the paper. The second paper assesses a candidate's ability to justify and interpret mathematical arguments and conjectures, and deal with elementary concepts from logic. It assumes knowledge of the Paper 1 specification and, in addition, requires students to have some knowledge of the structure of proof and basic logical concepts.