Free TMUA guide
TMUA timing: 75 minutes and 20 questions
Each TMUA paper has questions and minutes. That is seconds, or minutes seconds, per question on average. The useful skill is deciding when to leave an item so the whole paper gets an attempt.
Use the average as a reference point
Some questions will take less than the average and some will take more. The average prevents one difficult item from quietly consuming the time needed for several accessible items. It is not a promise that every question has the same route.
| Pass | Purpose | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Pass 1 | Collect direct marks and map the paper | Answer when the route is clear; flag a question when the setup is not clear |
| Pass 2 | Work the flagged questions with fresh attention | Choose the shortest viable representation and set a stop point |
| Pass 3 | Return to unresolved items and check answers | Eliminate, estimate or make the best remaining attempt |
Set checkpoints before the paper starts
A checkpoint turns the clock into a decision. For example, after minutes you should have seen every question once, unless a specific accessibility need or test instruction changes your plan. The exact checkpoint matters less than writing it down before the first item.
- At the start, note the paper end time and the times for your first sweep, return sweep and final check.
- On the first sweep, mark a question only when you have a concrete next step or a reason it needs a second pass.
- At the first checkpoint, count unanswered questions, not just questions visited.
- At the final checkpoint, stop opening new branches and prioritise answers, checking and elimination.
Worked example A stop rule protects the rest of the paper
You have spent about minutes on an item and still have two competing setups. The paper has several unanswered questions. Write the two setups in a short note, flag the item and move to the next question.
On return, the note removes the cost of reconstructing the first attempt. If the route is still unclear, use the domain and options to eliminate, then answer before the paper ends.
Why this works: The stop rule protects the total mark opportunity while preserving the useful work already done.
Why the tempting route fails: Continuing because the item is nearly solved is not a plan if you cannot name the next algebraic, geometric or logical step.
Adjust the decision to the paper
Paper 1 often rewards a quick representation and controlled calculation. Paper 2 may require more time to test an implication, quantifier or proof step. Keep the same clock discipline, but change what counts as progress.
| Progress looks like... | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| A useful first line | Equation, diagram, factor or invariant | Implication, quantified claim or case split |
| A reason to flag | Long arithmetic with no check | A direction or domain condition is still ambiguous |
| A return task | Substitute, bound, redraw or compare scale | Test the converse, find a counterexample or audit the first risky line |
Do not use a Paper 1 calculation habit to rush through a Paper 2 argument. Conversely, do not turn a short Paper 1 substitution into a full proof when the options can settle it.
Use the last minutes well
- Answer every question. The current marking rule gives one mark for a correct answer and no penalty for an incorrect answer.
- Check that each answer is recorded against the right question number.
- Return to flags with a stated method: estimate, substitute, eliminate or complete the proof audit.
- Do not erase a defensible answer without a specific mathematical reason.
Sources
TMUA test information. Current public information on the two compulsory papers and their timing. Read the test informationhttps://esat-tmua.ac.uk/about-the-tests/tmua-test/
TMUA Content Specification. The current paper structure, question count, timing and marking boundaries used here. Read the specificationhttps://uat-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03165619/TMUA_Content_Specification.pdf
TMUA technical report. The published assessment context behind the current TMUA reporting and marking information. Read the technical reporthttps://uat-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/07161815/UAT-UK-TMUA-Technical-Report-2025-26.pdf
The checkpoints are a study routine, not an official timing instruction. Follow the test centre's current instructions on the day.