The TfL Topographical test is the map-reading and route-planning assessment you must pass before Transport for London (TfL) will grant you a London private hire driver licence, often called a PCO licence. It checks that you can read a map, find places and streets, and plan the most direct legal route between two points. Of TfL's three assessments for new drivers, it has the lowest pass rate: only about half of candidates pass.
This hub explains what the Topographical test is, who has to take it, how it is marked, what it costs, how to book and how to prepare. UK Driver Licence Prep is an independent study aid, not part of TfL. Facts come from TfL's Topographical assessment page and its assessment guidelines, checked on 19 October 2026.
What is the TfL Topographical test?
TfL's official name is the Topographical skills assessment. It is one of three TfL assessments for new private hire drivers, alongside the SERU assessment and the speaking and listening test. The word "topographical" here means the layout of places: streets, landmarks, road numbers and the routes between them.
The test is taken on a computer. TfL says you only need a basic understanding of how to use a mouse. You click on a digital map to plan routes and choose answers. A green marker shows where a route starts and a red marker shows where it ends.
You do not need to know London as well as a black cab driver. The test is about map skills: reading what the map tells you and using it correctly. Knowing the main roads and well-known places does help, because some questions ask you to find them.
Key fact: The Topographical test checks map skills, not memory of every street. Three route-planning questions carry 66 of the 100 marks, so planning a correct route matters more than anything else.
Who needs the Topographical test, and who is exempt
Most applicants for a London private hire driver licence must pass it. That includes people who want to drive for Uber, Bolt, Addison Lee or a local minicab firm. You do not need to take it if you belong to one of these groups:
- You were previously licensed as a London private hire driver and you 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.
There used to be an exemption for certain vocational transport qualifications. TfL removed it on 1 February 2020, so it no longer applies. If you are unsure whether you are exempt, check the TfL private hire driver licence page before you book.
London taxi drivers do not take this test because they have already passed the Knowledge of London, which is a far longer qualification. Private hire drivers outside London are licensed by their local council, which sets its own test; see our council taxi knowledge test guide.
The TfL Topographical test format
TfL's guidelines split the assessment into seven sections.
| Section | What it tests | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| Route planning essentials | True or false questions about a route-planning scenario | Route planning |
| Planning a route between two locations | Drawing a direct route on the digital map | Route planning |
| Understanding map symbols | What symbols on the map mean | Map reading |
| Finding places of interest | Locating well-known places on the map | London knowledge |
| Finding specific streets | Locating named streets | Grid references |
| Identifying road numbers | Finding numbered roads, such as A roads | London knowledge |
| Compass points and directions | Directions such as northbound or westbound | Map reading |
The key numbers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route-planning questions | 3: a short route, a short route with a road closure, and a long route |
| Marks for routes | 66 of 100 |
| Multiple-choice questions | Number not published by TfL; worth 34 marks in total |
| Pass mark | 60% or above |
| Session length | 90 minutes, including a short instruction video (On Route, Winter 2024) |
| Where | TfL Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES |
| Fee | £40 first attempt, £30 re-sit (from 9 March 2026) |
| Results | Letter from TfL; breakdown available on request |
Route-planning questions
The three route questions are the heart of the test. In each one you plan a route on the digital map from the green marker to the red marker. One route is short, one is short but has a road closure you must avoid, and one is long. The points for each question are shown on screen during the assessment.
TfL's guidelines list four ways to lose marks on a route:
- Not starting or finishing in the correct place.
- Planning the route in reverse, from the end to the start.
- Not following the most direct route.
- Making a turn or using a road that the map symbols prohibit, such as going the wrong way down a one-way street.
A trained Topographical Assessor marks your routes, and a second assessor checks that marking as quality assurance. Our guide on how to pass the Topographical test gives a step-by-step method for planning routes under time pressure.
Multiple-choice questions
The rest of the test is multiple choice. Some questions have one correct answer and some have two; the question always tells you which. You look at a map on screen, and TfL may also give you a printed map reference page explaining the symbols. The software marks these questions automatically.
TfL does not publish the number of multiple-choice questions. Some training websites say 24 or 25, and one claims the 2026 test moved to a new, fully image-based format. Neither claim is confirmed by TfL, so treat them with care. For the kinds of questions you can expect in each section, see our Topographical test questions guide.
Exam tip: If a multiple-choice question asks for two answers, choose two. Picking only one loses marks even if your one answer is correct.
Pass mark and pass rate
The TfL Topographical test pass mark is 60%. Because the routes carry 66 marks, you cannot realistically pass on the multiple-choice section alone: even a perfect 34 leaves you 26 marks short. You need to plan at least some of the routes well.
TfL's Freedom of Information response FOI-0168-2425 gives the Topographical pass rate as 51%: 16,897 passes from 31,947 assessments between 1 January 2023 and 29 April 2024. The same response gives 73% for the SERU and 91% for speaking and listening.
| TfL assessment | Pass rate (FOI-0168-2425) |
|---|---|
| Topographical skills assessment | 51% |
| SERU assessment | 73% |
| Speaking and listening | 91% |
Why is the pass rate so low? From what candidates and trainers report, the common causes are starting at the wrong marker, ignoring a road closure, missing a no-entry or one-way symbol, and running short of time on the long route. All of these are about method, not intelligence, which is good news: method can be practised.
Key fact: About one in two Topographical attempts fails. Each re-sit costs £30 and another trip to North Greenwich, so it pays to practise before you book.
Topographical test fees
| Item | Fee (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | £40 | TfL Topographical page |
| Re-sit | £30 | TfL Topographical page |
| Before 9 March 2026 | £36 first attempt, £16 re-sit | TPH Notice 05/26 |
You pay at the centre on the day by card. TfL does not accept American Express. Some older websites still show £36 and £16; the higher fees have applied since 9 March 2026. The full cost of the licence, including the application and grant fees, is covered in our PCO licence guide.
Booking the Topographical test
How booking works
- Apply for a private hire driver licence on the TfL taxi and private hire portal.
- Wait for TfL to invite you to book your assessments.
- Book the Topographical test through the portal. Many people book it on the same visit as the SERU and the speaking and listening test.
- Read your invitation letter. It contains QR codes linking to TfL's preparation materials, and TfL strongly recommends that you review them.
If you need reasonable adjustments because of a disability or condition, email assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk when you book, with a short outline of your condition and evidence from a relevant professional. Don't wait until the day.
On the day
The test takes place at the TfL Driver Assessment Centre, 14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES, a short walk from North Greenwich station. TfL's Pier Walk guidance explains the check-in process.
- Arrive at the time on your booking letter.
- Bring original photo ID and a payment card.
- Switch your phone off. The assessment runs under exam conditions.
- If you arrive late, or your ID is not acceptable, you will not be allowed to sit.
Staff check you in, take payment, give you an identification number and take your photo. If you are sitting more than one assessment, there is a short break between sessions.
Results and re-sits
TfL sends a results letter. If you sit several assessments on one visit, you get one report showing the score for each. TfL cannot give detailed feedback or copies of the assessment, but the assessors can give you a breakdown of your results on request. Ask for it if you fail, because it shows whether you lost marks on routes or on multiple choice. Then book a re-sit through the portal.
How the Topographical test fits into the PCO licence
The Topographical test is one step in a longer process. A typical order for a new applicant is:
- Apply online and pay the application fee.
- Get an enhanced DBS check and a Group 2 medical.
- Complete TfL's free Safeguarding Awareness course.
- Pass the SERU, the speaking and listening test and the Topographical test.
- Pay the grant fee when TfL approves your licence.
Our PCO licence guide covers every step in order. If you are applying to drive for Uber specifically, see how to become an Uber driver in London. The English side of the process is explained in our TfL English test guide.
Exam tip: Book the Topographical test only when you are ready for it. Sitting all three assessments on one day saves travel, but not if you fail one through lack of practice.
How to prepare for the Topographical test
Use TfL's own materials
Start with the free official resources:
- The Topographical assessment guidelines, which describe every section.
- TfL's short video, "What to expect when taking your topographical assessment", linked from the TfL page.
- The QR-code preparation materials in your invitation letter.
Practise the multiple-choice side
Our free Topographical diagnostic has 10 questions in 15 minutes and shows which areas need work. Then sit Topographical mock 1: 30 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes with 18 needed to pass. Every answer has an explanation. Read the free Topographical exam guide alongside it. The Topographical test practice page explains how our mocks are built.
Be clear about what web practice can and cannot do. Our questions cover map scales, symbols, grid references, compass directions, route rules and London places. They do not simulate the three route-drawing tasks, which carry 66 marks. For those, practise on a real London map: pick two places, mark a start and an end, plan the most direct legal route, then repeat with an imaginary road closure. Our app has a map trainer on a made-up practice town for this skill.
Learn the map symbols and main roads
Spend time on the symbols for one-way streets, no entry, banned turns, bus lanes, pedestrian zones and road closures. Then learn London's main A roads, the river crossings and the major stations and landmarks, so you can find them quickly on screen.
Practice on UK Driver Licence Prep
| Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Free diagnostic | 10 questions, 15 minutes |
| Free full mock | Mock 1: 30 questions, 90 minutes, 18 to pass |
| Question bank | 623 multiple-choice questions |
| Printable worksheet | Topographical questions with answers |
| Pro | Mocks 2 to 10, every topic, every study note |
Pro costs £6.99 per week, £11.99 per month or £22.99 for three months and covers every test on the site, including the SERU. See pricing. There is no pass guarantee: practice prepares you, and the result is yours.
Your study plan
- Today: take the free Topographical diagnostic and note your weakest topic.
- This week: read TfL's guidelines and our free Topographical exam guide. Learn the map symbols.
- Next week: plan one short route, one route with a closure and one long route on a London map every day. Check the start, the end and every turn.
- Before booking: sit the free Topographical mock 1 under the timer and aim for 85%.
- Then: book through the TfL portal, and prepare for the SERU test at the same time if you are sitting both on one visit.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the TfL Topographical test?
It is TfL's Topographical skills assessment, a computer-based test of map reading and route planning that most London private hire driver applicants must pass. You plan routes on a digital map and answer multiple-choice questions on symbols, places, streets, road numbers and compass directions.
+How many questions are in the Topographical test?
There are three route-planning questions worth 66 marks in total, plus a set of multiple-choice questions worth 34 marks. TfL does not publish how many multiple-choice questions there are. Some websites say 24 or 25, but that is not confirmed by TfL.
+What is the pass mark for the TfL Topographical test?
You need 60% or above. The test is marked out of 100, so that means at least 60 marks across the route questions and the multiple-choice questions combined.
+How long is the Topographical assessment?
TfL's licensee magazine On Route (Winter 2024) says Topographical assessments last 90 minutes. The session starts with a short instruction video.
+Who is exempt from the Topographical test?
You do not need to take it if you were previously a licensed private hire driver and passed a TfL topographical test, if you are a licensed London taxi driver, or if you are a professional London tourist guide such as a Blue Badge guide. The old exemption for vocational qualifications ended on 1 February 2020.
+How much does the Topographical test cost?
From 9 March 2026 it costs £40 for a first attempt and £30 for a re-sit, paid by card on the day. American Express is not accepted. Before that date the fees were £36 and £16.
+What is the Topographical test pass rate?
TfL's Freedom of Information response FOI-0168-2425 gives a pass rate of 51%: 16,897 passes from 31,947 assessments between 1 January 2023 and 29 April 2024. It has the lowest pass rate of the three TfL assessments.
+Can I use an A to Z or my own map in the Topographical test?
You work from the digital map on screen, and TfL may give you a printed map reference page that explains the map symbols. TfL does not say that you can bring your own map or atlas, so plan to use only what the centre provides.
+Do Uber drivers need the Topographical test?
Yes, if they drive in London. Uber drivers in London need a TfL private hire driver licence, and the Topographical assessment is one of its requirements unless you fall into an exempt group.
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 TfL Topographical Test PracticeFree TfL Topographical test practice: a 30-question mock, map scales, grid references, route rules and London places, plus how to practise routes.
- TfL Topographical Test QuestionsWhat TfL Topographical test questions look like in all seven sections, with worked examples, grid and compass sums, and a free printable question sheet.
- How to Pass the TfL Topographical TestHow to pass the TfL Topographical test: why half of candidates fail, how route marks are lost, a 90-minute time plan and 2- and 4-week study plans.
- SERU Test: The TfL SERU Assessment ExplainedWhat the TfL SERU test covers, how it works for private hire and taxi drivers, fees from March 2026, and free SERU practice tests.
- How to Get a PCO Licence in LondonHow to get a PCO licence in London in 2026: eligibility, every step in order, the TfL tests, fees from June 2026, renewal and scams to avoid.
- How to Become an Uber Driver in LondonHow to become an Uber driver in London in 2026: the TfL PCO licence, a licensed car and insurance, operator sign-up, costs and timings. Independent guide.