University of CambridgeUCAS G400
Cambridge Computer Science (G400): TMUA Requirements and Prep
For 2027 entry, the University of Cambridge requires every applicant to BA/MEng Computer Science (UCAS code G400) to sit the TMUA, a maths admissions test run by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE. It is a compulsory pre-interview test: Colleges first use the result to help decide interview shortlisting, then consider it alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers. This page collects the official Cambridge policy, the key dates (including the fixed test days for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau), and a practical preparation route.
- 28
- Papers
- 826
- Questions
- 2
- Free to try
Cambridge Computer Science (G400): TMUA at a Glance
- Is the TMUA required for Cambridge G400
- Compulsory: every applicant sits it before interview, and must register in advance
- Which papers you sit
- The TMUA has two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2, 20 multiple-choice questions and 75 minutes each
- Booking deadline (applicants applying to Cambridge by the October deadline)
- 28 September 2026
- Test day (candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau)
- Fixed at 15 or 16 October 2026, inside the 12-16 October test window
- G400 applicants to Peterhouse and Trinity
- Under the official Cambridge policy, also take the CSAT in addition to the TMUA
Compiled from the official 2027 entry position; that position includes no TMUA cut-off or average score. Registration arrangements and admissions policy are governed by the official UAT-UK and Cambridge sites.
4 sections971 words5 min read1 official sources
01
01 The Official Cambridge Requirement: TMUA Is Compulsory for G400
According to the maths admission test page on the official Cambridge undergraduate admissions site (2027 entry), every Computer Science applicant must take the TMUA before interview, and the university states plainly that you must register in advance for the test. Colleges use the result to help decide interview shortlisting, then weigh it alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers.
Course
BA/MEng Computer Science
Computer Science at the University of Cambridge
UCAS code
G400
The UCAS code for Cambridge BA/MEng Computer Science
Test requirement
TMUA compulsory
Taken pre-interview, advance registration required
How the score is used (cam.ac.uk, 2027 entry)
Colleges use the result to help decide interview shortlisting
Then considered alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers
Two things to keep in mind. First, because the TMUA sits before interview, missing registration or the test itself directly affects your application; there is no workaround. Second, the official position summarised here includes no TMUA cut-off or average score, so check any specific number claimed as "the score Cambridge CS needs" against the official site.
02
02 Key Dates and Registration (2027 Entry)
The TMUA is run by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE, with registration handled through the UAT-UK / Pearson VUE system. There are two sittings in the 2027 entry cycle, October and January, but for Cambridge G400 applicants the choice is constrained.
2026 – 2027Timeline
Sep 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
Booking closes, October sitting28 Sep 2026
Booking closes, October sitting
28 Sep 2026
Applicants applying to Cambridge by the October deadline must take the October sitting, and booking closes on 28 September 2026. Put that day in your calendar now.
October test window12-16 Oct 2026
October test window
12-16 Oct 2026
12-16 October 2026: applicants applying to Cambridge G400 by the October deadline must take this sitting.
Fixed test days, mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau15 or 16 Oct 2026
Fixed test days, mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
15 or 16 Oct 2026
For candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau the test days are fixed; you must sit on 15 or 16 October 2026.
January sitting (January-round mature applicants only)4-8 Jan 2027
January sitting (January-round mature applicants only)
4-8 Jan 2027
Under the official Cambridge policy, the sitting on 4-8 January 2027 applies only to mature applicants in the January round. Standard October-deadline applicants cannot use it as a substitute.
Hard deadline Event WindowAcross the cycle, the fixed dates for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau are 15-16 October 2026 or 8 January 2027; the standard Cambridge route only works with the October sitting.
| October sitting | January sitting | |
|---|---|---|
| Test window | 12-16 October 2026 | 4-8 January 2027 |
| Who it applies to (Cambridge G400) | Applicants applying to Cambridge by the October deadline must take this sitting | Under the official Cambridge policy, only for mature applicants in the January round; standard October-deadline applicants cannot use it as a substitute |
| Fixed dates for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau | 15 or 16 October 2026 | 8 January 2027 |
Registration is handled through the UAT-UK / Pearson VUE system. The standard Cambridge route only works with the October sitting, so do not treat January as a fallback.
The practical takeaway is simple: put the 28 September 2026 booking deadline and your own test day in your calendar now, and do not count on January as a fallback.
03
03 How to Prepare with FrontierVUE
Start by fixing the format in your head. Cambridge uses the TMUA score at the shortlisting stage, so plan the whole preparation backwards from the mid-October 2026 test day.
Paper structure
Paper 1 and Paper 2, 20 multiple-choice questions each
Timing
75 minutes per paper, 150 minutes in total
What Paper 1 tests
Applications of mathematical knowledge
What Paper 2 tests
Mathematical reasoning and logic
Score scale
1.0 to 9.0
The official Cambridge position summarised here gives no TMUA cut-off or average
Where Cambridge uses the score
At the interview shortlisting stage
Plan backwards from the mid-October 2026 test day
FrontierVUE offers 18 sets of TMUA past papers (2015-2023, including the official specimen) and 10 mock papers, 971 questions in total, each with a detailed explanation and a Chinese translation; the two most recent past papers are free to try. Start practising at the TMUA practice hub, and see the TMUA exam overview for the full picture. Here is a route you can follow directly.
01Step 1
Diagnose and patch gaps
Read the Paper 1 guide and the Paper 2 guide, check yourself against the syllabus guide, and work through the logic and proof guide, which deserves dedicated time of its own.
02Step 2
Timed full papers
Schedule with the revision plan, sit full past papers and mocks under timed conditions, and correct habits with the time management guide and the common mistakes guide.
03Step 3
Final week
In the final week, read the scoring guide and the test day guide so nothing procedural surprises you.
The guides referred to above: Paper 1 guide, Paper 2 guide, syllabus guide, logic and proof guide, revision plan, time management guide, common mistakes guide, scoring guide and test day guide.
04
04 Special Notes for Cambridge CS Applicants
Before choosing a College and settling your preparation schedule, applicants to Cambridge Computer Science (G400) have two more things to check.
Peterhouse and Trinity set an extra test
Under the official Cambridge policy, G400 applicants to these two Colleges also take the Computer Sciences Aptitude Test (CSAT) in addition to the TMUA. Before choosing a College, decide whether you have the capacity to prepare for a second test.
The TMUA shapes the interview shortlist
This is not a score used only after you get an interview; Colleges use it when deciding whom to shortlist. Plan your preparation backwards from the test day in mid-October 2026, not from interview or offer dates.
Sources and independence: FrontierVUE is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson VUE or the University of Cambridge. Registration arrangements and admissions policy are governed by the official UAT-UK and Cambridge sites; this page reflects the official 2027 entry position.
SAME UNIVERSITY
Other University of Cambridge pages for the TMUA
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the TMUA for Cambridge Computer Science (G400)?
Yes. For 2027 entry, Cambridge requires every G400 applicant to sit the TMUA before interview, and you must register in advance. Colleges use the result to help decide interview shortlisting, then consider it alongside the rest of the application when deciding offers.
I am in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau. Which TMUA sitting should I take for Cambridge G400?
If you apply to Cambridge by the October deadline you must take the sitting on 12-16 October 2026; for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau the test days are fixed at 15 or 16 October, and booking closes on 28 September 2026. The 4-8 January 2027 sitting is only for mature applicants in the January round and cannot substitute for the standard route.
What extra test do Peterhouse and Trinity require for Computer Science?
Under the official Cambridge policy, G400 applicants to Peterhouse or Trinity also take the Computer Sciences Aptitude Test (CSAT) in addition to the TMUA. Factor this extra preparation load into your College choice.
What does the TMUA cover, how long is it, and how is it scored?
The TMUA has two papers of 20 multiple-choice questions each, 75 minutes per paper and 150 minutes in total. Paper 1 tests applications of mathematical knowledge, Paper 2 tests mathematical reasoning and logic, and results are reported on a 1.0-9.0 scale.
FrontierVUE is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson, OCR, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, or any official admissions-test owner.
Start preparing for the TMUA for Computer Science
28 TMUA papers and 826 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.