Topographical skills assessment: exam guide
1,401 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
The topographical skills assessment is the map and route-planning test in the TfL private hire driver application. You plan routes on a digital map and answer multiple-choice questions about maps and places. Around half of candidates pass, so preparation really matters. This guide explains who must take it, how it is marked, what it costs, and how to get ready.
Who must take it
Most private hire driver applicants must pass the topographical skills assessment. You do not need to take it if you belong to one of the exempt groups:
- You were previously a licensed PHV driver and you already passed a TfL topographical test
- You are a licensed London taxi driver (All London or Suburban)
- You are a professional London tourist guide, for example a Blue Badge guide
An older exemption based on vocational qualifications (such as certain transport courses) was removed on 1 February 2020, so that route no longer applies.
The format
The assessment is computer-based, and you only need a basic understanding of how to use a mouse. You answer questions by clicking on a digital map and choosing options. On the map, a green marker shows the start location and a red marker shows the end location.
The session lasts 90 minutes according to TfL's On Route magazine (Winter 2024), and it begins with a brief instructional video. Assessments run under exam conditions, and your phone must be switched off.
The assessment has seven sections:
| Section | What it tests |
|---|---|
| Route planning essentials | True or false questions about a route-planning scenario |
| Planning a route between two locations | Drawing a direct route on the digital map |
| Understanding map symbols | Recognising what symbols on the map mean |
| Finding places of interest | Locating well-known places on the map |
| Finding specific streets | Locating named streets on the map |
| Identifying road numbers | Finding numbered roads, such as A roads |
| Compass points and directions | Knowing directions, such as northbound or westbound |
The route-planning questions
There are three route-planning questions, and together they are worth the majority of the marks:
- One short route
- One short route with a road closure
- One long route
Read each question carefully so you understand exactly what is being asked. In its guidelines, TfL gives an example that asks for the most direct route between two points while a named street is closed, so the closure is a central part of the task, not a detail.
You can lose marks for:
- Not starting or ending in the correct place
- Planning the route in reverse
- Not following the most direct route
- Making a turn or following a route that map symbols prohibit
A skilled Topographical Assessor marks your routes, and a second, different assessor then checks the marking as a quality assurance step. The points available for each question are shown within the assessment itself.
Key fact: The three route questions carry 66 of the 100 marks. Always start and end at the correct markers, and check the map symbols before you click.
The multiple-choice questions
The remaining questions are multiple choice. Some have one correct answer and some have two; the question tells you clearly which type you are answering. You will look at a map on screen, and you may also be given a printed map reference page that explains what the map symbols mean.
Key fact: Read each multiple-choice question before answering. If it asks for two answers, selecting only one will lose marks.
Marks and the pass mark
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Total marks | 100 |
| Route-planning questions | 66 marks |
| Multiple-choice questions | 34 marks |
| Pass mark | 60% or above |
The multiple-choice part is marked automatically by the assessment software, and the routes are marked by assessors. Both marking steps go through quality assurance checks before results are released.
Fees and booking
| Item | Fee from 9 March 2026 | Fee before 9 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | £40 | £36 |
| Re-sit | £30 | £16 |
You apply through the TfL Taxi and Private Hire online portal at tph.tfl.gov.uk. TfL then invites you to book your assessments, and candidates often sit the topographical assessment on the same day as the SERU and the speaking and listening assessment. Payment is taken on the day by card, and American Express is not accepted.
If you need reasonable adjustments, email assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk with an outline of your condition and supporting evidence from a relevant professional. Do this when you book.
On the day
The assessment takes place at the TfL Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, in North Greenwich near The O2. The nearest Tube station is North Greenwich.
- Arrive at the time shown in your booking letter.
- Bring valid original photo ID and the means to pay.
- If you arrive late, or your ID is not acceptable, you will not be allowed to sit the assessment.
On arrival you check in at reception and are escorted to the assessment floor. The admin team confirms which assessments you are sitting, takes payment, gives you an identification number and takes your photo. If you sit more than one assessment, a short break is available between sessions.
Results, feedback and re-sits
TfL cannot provide detailed individual feedback or copies of the assessment. However, the assessors can supply a breakdown of your results on request, which is useful for targeting revision before a re-sit. If you sit several assessments in one visit, you receive one report showing the score for each.
TfL's published pass rate for the topographical assessment is 51%. The figures come from a Freedom of Information response: between 1 January 2023 and 29 April 2024, 31,947 assessments were delivered and 16,897 were passed.
Key fact: Only about half of topographical assessments are passed, so practise route planning before you book.
How to prepare
- Read the TfL Topographical assessment guidelines, which describe every section of the test.
- Watch TfL's short video about what to expect in the topographical assessment.
- Your invitation letter contains QR codes linking to preparation materials. TfL strongly recommends reviewing them before you attend.
- Practise planning direct routes between two points on London maps, including routes that avoid a closed street.
- Learn common map symbols, and practise describing directions using compass points.
Scenario
You are asked to plan the most direct route from a park in west London to a station in central London, and the question states that a main shopping street on the obvious route is closed. A good answer starts at the green marker, ends at the red marker, follows a legal alternative that is still reasonably direct, and avoids any turn the symbols prohibit. Starting at the red marker by mistake would lose marks immediately.
A four-week study plan
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Map basics | Learn map symbols and compass points; practise finding streets, places of interest and road numbers |
| 2 | Short routes | Plan direct short routes on a London map; check each one is legal and sensibly short |
| 3 | Closures and long routes | Re-plan routes avoiding closed streets; plan longer routes and check start and end points every time |
| 4 | Practice and admin | Use the QR-code materials from your invitation; do timed practice; confirm booking, ID, travel and payment card |
Quick check
- How many route-planning questions are there, and how many marks are they worth? (Three questions; 66 marks out of 100)
- What is the pass mark? (60% or above)
- Name two ways a route answer can lose marks. (Wrong start or end point; route in reverse; not the most direct route; a prohibited turn or route)
- How long does the assessment session last? (90 minutes)
- Which colour marker shows the start location? (Green)
Exam tips
- Check the green and red markers before planning any route; starting or finishing in the wrong place costs marks.
- Read every question twice, especially road closures and two-answer multiple-choice questions.
- Use the printed map reference page for symbols rather than guessing.
- Keep routes simple and direct; clever detours lose marks for not being the most direct route.
- Watch the clock: three route questions and all the multiple-choice questions must fit into 90 minutes.
- Ask for a breakdown of your results if you fail, so your re-sit revision targets the right sections.
- Arrive early with original photo ID and a payment card; late arrivals are turned away.