The process of getting a PCO licence, which is required to drive for hire in London and earn money, is lengthy. It’s not only about having a car that’s PCO-approved and clearing a physical checkup; you’ll also need to clear a DBS check as well as an English proficiency test. After applying for a PCO licence, you will be required to sit a topographical test administered by TfL.
We get a lot of inquiries concerning a procedure called the TfL topographical test, which is also known as the PCO exam. In London, you need to pass three exams before you can become a PCO car driver: an English language exam, a SERU test, and a topographical exam (sometimes known as a map reading exam).
While the name may strike fear in the hearts of PCO rental drivers, the truth is that mastering it is easier than it seems. This post will explain the topographical examination, how to prepare for it, and any other questions you may have regarding the test.
TfL has provided sample questions along with additional advice and resources to ensure that you are fully prepared for the exam, which is included in this blog. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a comprehensive post to help you study for the topographical exam.
What Is It?
To put it plainly, the topography test is just knowing how to read and interpret maps. The test not only measures your ability to comprehend a map and figure out how to get where you need to go but also how well you know your way around London.
The point is to ensure that PCO rental drivers can get from one passenger to the next without using their phone’s navigation app, even though the majority of people do that these days.
TfL’s topographical exam can be completed on paper or online, depending on the testing facility. The test is broken into four parts, and applicants have two hours to finish each part. Components 1, 2, & 4 of the examination consist of a slew of multiple-choice questions.
The lengthiest and most important component of the exam is Section 3, a route planning practice. A score of 60 out of 100 is needed to pass, and you’ll need to be good at reading and understanding simple English.
Who Needs To Take It?
Practically all London private-hire drivers are required to take and pass this exam. However, there are a few notable exceptions:
- Those who have a valid PHV licence and have passed the TfL topographical skills assessment
- PCO rental drivers who have been approved to drive in London
- Certified tour guides in London
Until February 2020, Transport for London would exclude drivers who had a recognised vocational certification in road passenger transportation from taking this exam. After that, only the aforementioned three explanations have been considered valid. Everybody else is required to take the exam.
What Does The Exam Include?
The first thing is to familiarise yourself with the format of the test. There are four parts to the test, and they’re all meant to put your map-reading and driving expertise to the test in a new way.
Following is a breakdown of the four parts:
1. Index-Based Questions
You will be tested on your knowledge of how to use the index in an atlas. Basically, you’ll be put to the test of how well you know your way around London. As part of this examination, you will be provided with an atlas and tasked with locating a number of specified areas.
As part of this examination, you will be provided with an atlas and tasked with locating a number of specified areas. Noting the grid reference as well as the page number where your solution can be found is an important part of the process. The atlas will have every city and town listed in alphabetical order, making it easy to find the location you seek.
2. General Topography
The second section of the test has questions testing your geographical knowledge. You’ll be given an atlas and instructed to find a certain spot on it as your initial starting point, just like in the first session.
The next step requires you to name a new place and give general directions there. This part is easy; all you have to do is decide whether the location of the final location is north, south, east, or west of the point of departure.
3. Route Planning
Here, you’ll be asked to look at a map and figure out the quickest way to get from one place to another. There may be many ways to get from one place to another, but the best option is to do it in the shortest amount of time and in accordance with all applicable traffic laws (such as not crossing double lines or driving the wrong way on one-way streets).
The fact that you can’t display the path to any nearby areas is yet another difficulty in Section 3. You need to get to the exact coordinates of your final destination. Even if customers in a PCO rental car may agree to be dropped off at a neighbouring place, you will need to answer every question correctly on this test.
Be mindful that this area is the most important. Thus checking for obvious mistakes is essential. There are some critical errors that will result in a failing grade are:
- You take the longer route instead of the direct one.
- There are specific map symbols that you are misunderstanding. (like one-way streets and roundabouts)
- You don’t make it to your intended location.
4. Compass Point Questions
In the final component of the topographical skills exam, you’ll be asked to use compass bearings to solve problems based on given scenarios. To give an example, if you leave Point A and walk three blocks to the east and two alleys to the north, where would you end up? You will have to find your final destination using the atlas and figure out which way to head with respect to where you are now.
What Do You Need To Know To Pass This Exam?
Although the TfL topography examinations are less extensive than black taxi examinations, you will still be required to demonstrate a wide range of knowledge, including:
- Postal zones, neighbourhoods, and neighbourhoods with significant hospitals in and around London.
- Distances from London to the surrounding counties, including Sussex, Berkshire, and Kent. You should also be familiar with the names of the important towns in these regions’ respective counties.
- Highways such as the M20, M11, and M4 branch out from the M25. Exactly which freeway to take to go to the nearest major city. As an example, the M4 is the correct response if you’re asked to identify the primary motorway to go to Reading.
- Planning trips inside Greater London and Central London, as well as trips further beyond (greater than 30 miles outside of Central London) to the surrounding counties.
Some organizations do provide training, but the costs for their programmes are usually exorbitant. It is also highly recommended that you purchase a printed version of the Official Atlas of London for private study.
It is recommended that you visit TfL’s authorized topographical skills exam page if you want more basic information about the examination or if you want to learn about the approved examination venues.
If you want to prepare for the test, you can start by going to Uber’s online topographical preparation webpage. It has thousands of practice questions and videos explaining the format of the test so you can feel more comfortable when you take the real exam. This webpage also includes instructions for scheduling a test appointment at Uber’s Ignition centre, one of TfL’s authorised testing locations.
Why Is It Important To Prepare For The Exam?
To become a PCO car driver in London, one must first clear the TFL Topographical exam. More than half of those who take the Topographical exam without preparation usually don’t do well on their first try.
Your test results won’t be available for another two weeks, and rescheduling another exam could take an additional two weeks after that; all that hassle with no guarantee that you’ll pass the first time. Moreover, reapplying to TFL and paying any applicable fees will be required if you fail the exam on the second attempt. This could cost you money and add months to the time it takes to get your licence.
How Do You Book The Topographical Skill Test?
As soon as TfL receives your application for a PCO licence, they will send you a letter as well as an email confirming the day and time of your topographical skills examination. This will take place in one of the TfL offices, probably in West Kensington or Baker Street.
Taking the actual exam requires a scheduled appointment. Send an email to tphdriverassessments@tfl.gov.uk or call 0343 222 4444 to reach the TfL Topographical Department with any questions you may have about making a reservation.
How Much Does It Cost?
The initial test is £36, and retaking it will cost you an additional £16. No need to stress out if you don’t pass the topography test, as many drivers worry about. However, you only have two chances to get it right, and you must succeed the first time. A new PCO licence application will be required otherwise.
What Happens After The Exam?
Based on how swiftly you can answer their questions, the topographical skills exam will take between 30 minutes and an hour. The results of the exam will be communicated to you after a short period has passed following its conclusion.
After a potential PCO car driver has been evaluated and found to meet all requirements, they will be required to take the rest of the necessary steps. After that, in a matter of weeks, they will be issued their PCO licence.
The whole thing can take approximately sixteen weeks to complete. For official PCO rental driver status, passing the topographical skills exam is crucial. The test isn’t particularly challenging, but applicants for PCO car driver positions still need to do their preparation.
As mentioned before, PCO car drivers in London’s private hire industry must pass three examinations administered by Transport for London to earn a PCO licence, and the topographical exam is one of them. The topographical exam is a necessary prerequisite for any prospective PCO rental driver in Greater London, whether for Uber or one of its competitors like Bolt.
Once you’ve understood what you need to do to pass the necessary tests to become a PCO car driver, the next thing to do is to find a reliable PCO car for hire in London. With so many options out there, it can be extremely overwhelming to find a reliable provider of PCO cars. However, one company that stands out amongst the rest is G&M Direct Hire.
We have been working in this industry since 2008 and have helped more than 3000 thousand drivers join the PCO car-for-hire industry in the last fifteen years. We offer a wide range of PCO cars, including electric vehicles and fuel-powered cars. Our team of experts is highly skilled and can help anyone with their unique PCO car requirements, allowing us to guarantee 100% customer satisfaction.
If you’re in search of PCO car hiring in Leyton, PCO car hiring in Barking, PCO car hiring in Feltham, PCO car hiring in Wandsworth, PCO car hiring in Whitechapel, or PCO car hiring in Barnet, we do it all. Contact us today, and we’ll help you get started with your PCO career in no time.