Topographical Skills Assessment training in London
Build confidence with route planning, map symbols and the skills you need for the TfL assessment.
The Topographical Skills Assessment is the map reading test every private hire applicant takes during the TfL licence process, and our in-centre training gets you ready for it. We run group sessions at our London training centre where you practise every section of the assessment, plan routes on the same kind of digital maps the real test uses, and find out which habits are costing you marks before test day.
What the Topographical Skills Assessment covers
To become a licensed PHV driver, all applicants need to pass the TfL Topographical Skills Assessment. It is a computer based test of how well you read a map, so being comfortable with an on-screen map is part of the preparation.
TfL's own assessment guidelines list the sections. Route planning is the heart of the test: three routes to plan on screen, worth 66 of the 100 marks. The multiple-choice sections test the supporting skills and carry the remaining 34:
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Route planning essentials
True or false questions based on a route planning scenario.
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Planning a route between two locations
Three routes on a digital map, 66 marks in total.
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Understanding map symbols
Multiple choice, part of the 34 marks.
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Finding places of interest
Multiple choice, part of the 34 marks.
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Finding specific streets
Multiple choice, part of the 34 marks.
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Identifying road numbers
Multiple choice, part of the 34 marks.
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Compass points and directions
Multiple choice, part of the 34 marks.
The assessment is scored out of 100 marks, and a minimum of 60% is required to pass.
View TfL's topographical assessment guidelines
Expert training, every section covered
Our team of expert trainers offers topographical training that prepares you for your assessment. With our training program, we cover all sections of the topographical assessment and ensure thorough preparation by using exam-style questions. Our focus is on the route questions, and you practise on the same kind of on-screen maps the real test uses.
Sessions cost £99.00. Book online in a couple of minutes.
Book a sessionHow our group sessions run
Sessions take place at our training centre at 1a Brayford Square, London E1 0SG, close to Stepney Green, Whitechapel and Shadwell stations. You train in a small group with one of our trainers, so there is time to ask questions and get help with the sections you find hardest.
A session works through the assessment section by section. The route planning questions get the most time. You plan routes on digital maps, we mark them the way TfL's assessors do, and you find out exactly where marks go: start point, end point, direction, directness, and turns the map symbols prohibit. The multiple-choice sections get the same treatment with exam-style questions on symbols, street finding, road numbers and compass directions.
By the end you will have practised every section, seen your marked routes, and know precisely what to sharpen before your assessment.
Book a sessionNeed to rearrange? Cancel at least 48 hours before your session for a full refund.
What to bring
Just yourself and a way to take notes. We provide the maps, the practice questions and the equipment for the session. Everything you practise on stays at the centre, so there is nothing to set up and nothing to carry home.
Booking a session
Pick a date that suits you on our booking page and reserve your place online. Sessions run from our centre at 1a Brayford Square, E1 0SG. We also offer one-to-one training: to book one, call us on 07311 261386 or use the contact form below and we will get back to you.
Booking and taking the real assessment
TfL runs the assessment itself. You cannot book it through us: after submitting your licence application, sign in to TfL's Taxi and Private Hire Portal to choose an available assessment centre, date and time, and pay TfL's fee. The test currently costs £40 for a first attempt and £30 to re-sit. Assessments take place at TfL's driver assessment centre at Pier Walk in Greenwich.
Our job is the part before that: making sure you walk in knowing the test's shape and having already planned the kinds of routes it will ask of you.
For how the assessment fits into the rest of the licence process, read our guide to the topographical assessment.
How to prepare for the topographical assessment
The single biggest mistake candidates make is treating the route planning section like general map reading. It is marked strictly: each route is scored on whether you identify the correct start point and destination, take a direct and legal path, note the road numbers you travel on, and avoid turns the map symbols prohibit. Practising that marking scheme, not just eyeballing routes, is what lifts scores.
Since TfL modernised the assessment in 2026, everything runs on screen, so comfort with digital maps matters as much as paper map skills ever did. Our guide to the 2026 changes explains what shifted. In a session we put you on the same kind of on-screen mapping and mark your routes the way the assessors do, so the format holds no surprises on the day.
Give yourself time. Candidates who train a week or two before their assessment slot have the space to act on feedback; booking training the day before leaves no room to fix the habits that are costing marks.
Topographical assessment FAQs
Who has to take the topographical assessment?
Nearly all private hire applicants. TfL considers every applicant, with limited exemptions (for example drivers who already hold a full DVLA Group 2 licence). If you are unsure whether you are exempt, ask TfL or your training provider before booking anything.
What is the pass mark?
The assessment is scored out of 100 and you need at least 60% to pass. Route planning carries most of those marks, which is why our sessions spend the most time there.
What happens if I fail?
You can re-sit the assessment. TfL charges a re-sit fee (currently £30 against £40 for a first attempt), and you will need to book a new slot through the Taxi and Private Hire Portal. Most candidates who fail the first time tell us route planning was where they lost marks, exactly what a training session targets before your re-sit.
Can I take the assessment online?
No. TfL runs the assessment in person at its driver assessment centre under exam conditions. What changed in 2026 is the test's format (fully digital, on-screen mapping), not where you sit it. Training with us is in person at our centre too, which mirrors the on-screen experience you will get on the day.
When should I book training?
Before you book your assessment slot with TfL, ideally with at least a week between training and test day. That gap gives you time to practise what the session surfaces and arrive with the marking scheme fresh in your head.
Do you offer one-to-one topographical training?
Yes. Alongside our group sessions we run one-to-one training focused entirely on the areas you want to strengthen. One-to-one sessions cannot be booked online: call us on 07311 261386 or use the contact form below and we will arrange a time with you.
Ready to train for the real thing?
In-centre group sessions at our London training centre, covering every section of the assessment with expert trainers. One-to-one sessions available on request.