SERU fill in the blanks questions are the part of TfL's SERU assessment that most drivers find hardest. You get a short piece of text with gaps in it and a list of words. You put the right word in each gap. Some words in the list do not belong anywhere. It sounds simple, but one wrong choice can change a rule into nonsense, and the extra words are designed to look right.
This page teaches a method you can use on every one of these questions, with lots of short examples. It is written for drivers who speak English as a second language as well as native speakers. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL. All examples on this page are written by us, not taken from TfL.
What SERU fill in the blanks questions are
TfL's SERU page says the assessment uses multiple-choice questions and "completing sentences by adding missing words". In its notice about the taxi SERU, which TfL says is similar, it describes this style as filling in missing words in a section of text, choosing from a list of words.
Why is it there? The SERU does two jobs. It tests your knowledge of the rules, and it is also TfL's test of your English reading and writing at level B1. B1 is a level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At B1 you can understand the main points of clear, standard text on familiar subjects, like work. The fill in the blanks questions check exactly that.
How many are there?
TfL does not publish the number. Some training websites say 12 to 17 of the roughly 36 questions are sentence completion. We have not found an official source for that, so treat it as a rough guide only. What is clear: there are enough of them to decide whether you pass.
Drag and drop or multiple choice?
Candidates describe dragging words from a list into the gaps on screen. Our practice shows the same task as multiple choice: you see the sentence with a gap and pick the right word from the options. The thinking is identical. You still decide what kind of word fits, test it, and reject the distractors.
Key fact: A fill in the blanks question tests two things at once: the rule from the handbook and correct English. A word that is the right rule but the wrong grammar is still wrong.
The six-step method for SERU sentence completion
Use the same steps every time. After a week of practice, you will do them in seconds.
- Read the whole text first. Do not start filling gaps from the first line. The meaning of a gap often depends on a later sentence.
- Say "blank" in your head at each gap, and ask: what is this sentence trying to say?
- Decide the word class. Does the gap need a noun (a thing or person), a verb (an action), an adjective (a describing word) or a small linking word (a preposition such as in, within, by)?
- Check the details. Singular or plural? Past or present? Does it follow a or an?
- Try the word in place and read the full sentence. Does it sound like natural English and match the rule?
- Cross it off the list. Once a word is used, it is gone. The words you have left often decide the last, hardest gap.
Here is the method on a short example.
Word list: booking, books, within, report, reports, during
"Drivers must ___ any arrest to TfL ___ 48 hours."
- Step 3: the first gap follows must, so it needs a verb. The second gap is before a time, so it needs a preposition.
- Step 4: after must we use the base form of the verb, with no -s. So report, not reports.
- Step 5: "Drivers must report any arrest to TfL within 48 hours." Correct English, correct rule.
- During is the trap: "during 48 hours" is not natural English for a deadline.
Grammar points that decide the answer
You do not need advanced grammar. A small number of patterns appear again and again in rule texts.
Verbs after must, should, may and can
After these words (called modal verbs), use the base form of the verb.
| Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|
| You must carry an assistance dog. | You must carries / carrying / carried |
| You should check the passenger's name. | You should to check |
| A driver may stop to set down. | A driver may stops |
Modal verbs also change the meaning. Must is a duty or a ban. Should is strong advice. May means permission or possibility. If the text describes a legal duty, the gap usually needs must.
Singular and plural
Look at the verb and the words around the gap.
- "The operator keeps a record" (one operator, verb with -s).
- "Operators keep a record" (more than one, no -s).
- "Each passenger ___" needs a singular noun or verb. "All passengers ___" needs plural.
A and an
A comes before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound. If the word before the gap is an, the missing word almost certainly starts with a vowel sound: an operator, an exemption, an assistance dog, an hour.
Prepositions of time
Deadlines in the handbook use a few fixed words.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| within | at any point before the limit ends | report within 48 hours |
| by | no later than a point in time | renew by the expiry date |
| before | earlier than an event | book before the journey starts |
| for | length of time | the licence lasts for three years |
| until | up to a point, then stops | wait until the passenger is inside |
The passive voice
Rules often describe what is done rather than who does it. Look for is, are, must be before the gap; the missing word is then usually a past participle (the -ed or third form of the verb).
- "Every journey must be booked through a licensed operator."
- "Lost property should be returned to the operator."
- "The discs must not be removed."
Exam tip: If you see be just before a gap, test the -ed or past participle form first. "Must be book" is never correct English.
Word partners: collocations from the rules
Some words almost always appear together. These pairs are called collocations, and they are the fastest way to fill a gap. Here are patterns that run through the handbook's rules (our own phrasing, not TfL text):
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| pre-booked through an operator | Every journey must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. |
| report to someone within a time | Report it to TfL within 48 hours. |
| plying for hire | A PHV must not ply for hire. |
| apply for an exemption | Drivers can apply for a medical exemption. |
| at all times | Wear your badge at all times when working. |
| in an emergency | Call 999 in an emergency. |
| free of charge / at no extra cost | Carry assistance dogs at no extra cost. |
| comply with | Comply with the conditions of your licence. |
| responsible for | The driver is responsible for children under 14 wearing seat belts. |
Build your own list as you practise. Every time an explanation shows you a word pair, write it down.
Worked examples
Each example below has a short text, a word list and a full explanation. Cover the answer, try it yourself, then check.
Example 1: a safeguarding text
Word list: alone, frightened, police, operator, hotel, cheerful
"A teenager is travelling ___ late at night to a ___ and looks ___. The driver should tell the ___ and the police."
- Gap 1: alone. "Travelling alone" is a common phrase, and a child travelling alone at night is a warning sign.
- Gap 2: hotel. After a, we need a singular noun for a place.
- Gap 3: frightened. After looks, we need an adjective. Cheerful is also an adjective, but it would not be a reason for concern, so it does not fit the meaning.
- Gap 4: operator. The sentence ends "and the police", so police cannot go in the gap. A private hire driver reports to their operator and the police.
Example 2: an equality text
Word list: exemption, refuse, charge, carry, medical, religious
"Drivers must ___ assistance dogs and must not ___ extra. A driver can only be excused with an ___ certificate issued for a ___ reason."
- Gap 1: carry. After must, base verb.
- Gap 2: charge. "Charge extra" is the word partner. Refuse is a verb too, but "must not refuse extra" makes no sense.
- Gap 3: exemption. After an, a word starting with a vowel sound.
- Gap 4: medical. Only a medical reason is accepted. Religious is the trap: it is the right word class but the wrong rule.
Example 3: a driving text
Word list: wait, stop, set, bus, taxi, red
"On a ___ route you may ___ briefly to let a passenger get in or out, but you must not ___ there."
- Gap 1: red. "Red route" is the London term.
- Gap 2: stop. Stopping briefly to pick up or set down is allowed.
- Gap 3: wait. Waiting is the thing you must not do. If you swap stop and wait, the sentence still sounds like English but states the wrong rule.
That last point is the key lesson: always check that the finished sentence states the rule correctly, not just that it sounds right.
Common mistakes
- Filling gaps in order without reading ahead. You use a word early that you needed later.
- Choosing a word because it appears in the handbook. Distractors are often real handbook words in the wrong place.
- Ignoring tiny words. A, an, the, is, are and must are clues, not filler.
- Not reading the finished sentence. Always read it once with your words in place.
- Practising only multiple choice. Sentence completion needs its own practice time every day.
Practising SERU fill in the blanks
Our PHV SERU bank includes over 1,000 sentence-completion questions, each with an explanation of the grammar and the rule. Where to start:
| Practice | What it gives you | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SERU diagnostic | 20 mixed questions, including sentence completion | Free |
| Quick practice | 20 questions with explanations | Free |
| SERU mock 1 | Full paper with sentence completion and reading questions | Free |
| Driver behaviour section | Rule-heavy section with many word-partner gaps | Pro |
| Mocks 2 to 10 and all sections | The full bank | Pro, from £6.99 a week (pricing) |
Read our free SERU English skills note alongside this page: it has a vocabulary table and reading practice. If you also need the speaking and listening part of TfL's English requirement, see the TfL English test page.
Help in your own language
Our app shows every explanation in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Somali, Romanian and Polish. The questions stay in English, as they are in the real SERU, but you can understand why an answer is right in the language you think in. The app and the website are separate purchases.
If you have dyslexia or another condition that affects reading, ask TfL about reasonable adjustments when you book, by emailing assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk with professional evidence.
Exam tip: Ten sentence-completion questions a day for three weeks is better than a hundred the night before. The patterns need time to become automatic.
Your study plan
- Today: take the free SERU diagnostic and count how many sentence-completion questions you got wrong.
- Days 2 to 7: learn the six steps and the grammar tables on this page. Do ten sentence-completion questions a day from quick practice, reading every explanation.
- Week 2: start your own word-partner list. Read the SERU questions and answers page for the other question styles.
- Week 3: sit SERU mock 1 under the timer. Check whether sentence completion is still your weakest area.
- Before booking: aim for 85% on three mocks in a row. The SERU test format page explains what to expect on the day, and the SERU mock test page explains how our mocks work.
10 free PHV SERU practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. You must not park partially or wholly on the ___ in London.
- A. motorway
- B. roundabout
- C. bridge
- D. pavement
Show answer
D. pavement
The Highway Code says you must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, except in limited circumstances. Pavement parking blocks pedestrians and wheelchair users. Park at the kerb.
2. You do not own a licensed PHV. Should you still know the licensing rules for PHVs?
- A. Yes, every PHV driver should know them
- B. No, they are only for vehicle owners
- C. Only if you plan to buy a car
- D. No, they are only for operators
Show answer
A. Yes, every PHV driver should know them
The handbook says that even if you do not own a licensed vehicle, you should know about the PHV licensing requirements.
3. A passenger with a guide dog wants to sit in the front. Where should the dog go?
- A. In the footwell with the passenger
- B. On the back seat, on its own
- C. In the boot, with the luggage
- D. In the driver's footwell
Show answer
A. In the footwell with the passenger
The assistance dog should stay with the passenger, in the footwell.
4. A bus stop by the kerb has no wide yellow or red line. Should you use it to pick up?
- A. Only if you are a taxi
- B. Avoid it if you can, as it may delay buses
- C. Yes, and you may wait there
- D. Yes, bus stops are the best pick-up points
Show answer
B. Avoid it if you can, as it may delay buses
You should avoid picking up or dropping off at bus stops, as this can delay buses and may not be allowed. Where there is a wide yellow or red line, you must not stop at all. Choose another place.
5. Having a CCTV camera may reduce your insurance ___.
- A. premiums
- B. journeys
- C. claims only
- D. licences
Show answer
A. premiums
Having CCTV may reduce insurance premiums because recordings can be useful evidence in a dispute. A premium is the amount you pay for insurance. The camera itself is an extra cost.
6. A passenger with a visual impairment needs to find the building entrance. What is good practice?
- A. Drive off quickly
- B. Ask someone passing to help
- C. Offer to guide them to a safe place
- D. Point and say 'over there'
Show answer
C. Offer to guide them to a safe place
On arrival, offer to help them out and guide them to a safe place before leaving.
7. How should you treat an assistance dog?
- A. As a friendly pet that you can play with
- B. As luggage that goes in the boot
- C. As a second passenger with its own seat
- D. As a working animal; do not stroke or feed it
Show answer
D. As a working animal; do not stroke or feed it
Assistance dogs are highly trained working animals. Do not stroke, feed or distract them.
8. Two passengers of the same sex hold hands in the back of your car. What should you do?
- A. Tell them to stop holding hands
- B. Treat them with the same respect as anyone
- C. Ask them questions about their relationship
- D. Make a joke about them to lighten the mood
Show answer
B. Treat them with the same respect as anyone
You should never make comments or jokes about someone's sexual orientation. Treat all passengers with respect and professionalism. Drivers who behave unacceptably face action by TfL or the police.
9. Why must the operator be told when you do not carry out a booking?
- A. It must fine the passenger for the problem
- B. It must report every refusal to TfL
- C. It is responsible for the booking it accepted
- D. It will pay you for the time you lost
Show answer
C. It is responsible for the booking it accepted
Because the operator accepted the booking, it must arrange another driver or tell the passenger it is cancelled.
10. What is a fixed penalty notice (FPN)?
- A. A certificate showing you passed SERU
- B. A letter from your operator about a booking
- C. A permit to park in a bus lane
- D. A notice that can bring a fine and penalty points for an offence
Show answer
D. A notice that can bring a fine and penalty points for an offence
A fixed penalty notice is given for some traffic offences. It can include a fine and penalty points on your licence, as an alternative to going to court.
Frequently asked questions
+What are the fill in the blanks questions in the SERU?
They are short texts with missing words. You choose each missing word from a list, and the list has more words than gaps. TfL describes them as completing sentences by adding missing words.
+How many fill in the blanks questions are in the SERU?
TfL does not publish how many. Some training sites say between 12 and 17 out of about 36, but we have not seen any official figure, so treat those numbers as unverified. Expect a good share of the paper.
+How do I pass SERU sentence completion?
Read the whole text first, decide what kind of word each gap needs, look for words that normally go together, try your word in the sentence, and cross off words you have used. Practise this method daily until it becomes automatic.
+Is SERU fill in the blanks a grammar test?
Partly. The SERU is TfL's reading and writing test at B1 level, so grammar matters: verb forms, singular and plural, prepositions. But the right word also has to match the rule in the handbook, so you need both the grammar and the knowledge.
+Do the SERU missing words come from the handbook?
The texts are based on the rules in the PHV Driver's Handbook, so the missing words are often key terms from it, such as operator, booking, report or exemption. Knowing the handbook's vocabulary makes these questions much easier.
+Can I practise SERU fill in the blanks for free?
Yes. Our free SERU diagnostic, quick practice and mock 1 include sentence-completion questions with explanations. Pro adds the rest of our bank, which has over 1,000 sentence-completion questions.
+What if my English is not strong?
Start with short daily practice and learn the common word patterns on this page. Our app explains every answer in nine languages, including Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic and Romanian, while the questions stay in English as in the real test. You can also ask TfL about reasonable adjustments if you have a condition such as dyslexia.
Study offline on your phone too
The UK Driver Licence Prep app has the same questions, works offline, and explains every answer in Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Somali, Romanian or Polish, plus a map trainer for the Topographical.
Keep reading
- Free SERU Mock Test (TfL Private Hire)Take a free SERU mock test: 36 TfL-style questions in 50 minutes with explanations. How to use mocks, review mistakes and know when to book.
- SERU Questions and AnswersSERU questions and answers by handbook section, with explanations, the four question styles and a free printable PDF answer sheet. Start practising free.
- How Many Questions Are in the SERU Test?How many questions are in the SERU test, the pass mark, the time limit and open book status, with every figure traced to its TfL source.
- TfL English Test for Private Hire DriversThe TfL English test for private hire drivers: B1 level, the 15 to 20 minute speaking and listening test, how SERU covers reading and writing, and fees.
- SERU Handbook: How to Study the PHV Driver's HandbookThe SERU handbook explained: which version to read, where TfL publishes the PDF and audio, what each of the 10 sections covers and a 3-week reading plan.