TfL topographical assessment
Based on Topographical assessment (Transport for London, undated) and 3 other sources. Checked .
A computer-based TfL assessment with a digital map: three routes worth 66 marks and multiple-choice questions worth 34. The pass mark is 60%. It costs £40.
The test at a glance
| Run by | Transport for London |
|---|---|
| Licences | Private hire |
| Format | On a computer with a mouse, at the Pier Walk assessment centre |
| Marks | 100: three routes worth 66, and multiple choice worth 34 |
| Pass mark | 60% |
| Fee | £40; re-sit £30 |
| Multiple-choice questions | TfL doesn't publish the number; one app says 24 |
| Time limit | TfL doesn't publish it; one app says 70 minutes |
How to book
- The assessment is at TfL's driver assessment centre at Pier Walk. Read TfL's guidance on the centre before you go.
- If you have a condition or disability and need extra support, email assessments@tph.tfl.gov.uk before you book.
- TfL has a short video on what to expect, linked from its assessment page.
- TfL cannot give detailed feedback to each person or give copies of the assessment.
This site isn't TfL. Booking and payment happen on the official site.
About the Topographical test test
The topographical assessment tests whether you can read a map and plan a route. New London private hire drivers need it for a TfL licence. Some applicants may be exempt, such as licensed London taxi drivers: see TfL's page. It is on a computer and you need to be able to use a mouse. TfL runs it at its driver assessment centre at Pier Walk.
It has 100 marks. Three routes are worth 66 marks: a short route, a short route with a road closure, and a long route. You plan each route on a digital map, from a green marker to a red marker. Multiple-choice questions are worth 34 marks. The pass mark is 60%.
You lose route marks if you do not start or end in the correct place, if you plan the route in reverse, if you do not follow the most direct route, or if you follow a route or make a turn that the map symbols do not allow. A skilled assessor marks each route, and a different assessor checks the marking.
Our questions cover the multiple-choice part, and our route tool and mock test let you practise drawing routes. Real multiple-choice questions use a map on screen, and ours do not. In the real test some multiple-choice questions have two answers, and the question makes this clear. All of our questions have one answer. We wrote every question for this site. We are not TfL.
Practise for the Topographical test test
- Topographical mock test
- TfL topographical route practice
- Route planning
- Map symbols
- Places of interest
- Streets
- Road numbers
- Compass points
Download every Topographical test question and answer as a PDF
What TfL doesn't publish
We couldn't confirm these from TfL's own pages, so ask the licensing team if they matter to you.
- The number of multiple-choice questions. One app says 24.
- The time limit. One app says 70 minutes.
- Which map TfL uses. TfL may also ask you to use a map reference page, and we have not seen it.
Topographical test questions people ask
What is the pass mark for the topographical assessment?
60% or above. The assessment is scored out of 100: 66 marks for three routes and 34 marks for the multiple-choice questions.
How much does it cost?
£40 the first time and £30 for a re-sit, according to TfL's assessment page.
How do I lose marks on a route?
For the wrong start or end, for planning the route in reverse, for a route that is not the most direct, and for a route or turn the map symbols do not allow. See TfL's guidelines.
Can I practise the routes here?
Yes. Use our route practice to draw routes on a map, or take the mock test. Our marks are a guide. Watch TfL's short video as well.
Are these the real TfL questions?
No. TfL does not publish its questions. We wrote these from its guidelines and checked the geography on OpenStreetMap.
Sources
- Topographical assessment, Transport for London, undated. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Topographical assessment guidelines, Transport for London, no date printed; PDF file dated 29 April 2026. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Apply for a private hire driver licence, Transport for London, undated. Checked 1 November 2026.
- OpenStreetMap map data, read through Nominatim and Overpass. © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenStreetMap contributors, live data, read on the date checked. Checked 1 November 2026.
Councils update their tests and policies, often yearly. If something here no longer matches your council's guidance, the council is right; please tell us so we can fix it.