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Transport for London (TfL) recruits across Underground and rail operations, buses, engineering, technology, finance, project delivery and many corporate teams. Official careers pages describe TfL as working to improve how London moves. Vacancies can sit on more than one job board while systems update, so search carefully.

For apprentice, graduate and intern campaigns, TfL publishes a three-step path: online application, a two-stage strengths-based online assessment, then an assessment centre. Stage one introduces TfL through multimedia and asks you to rank preferred responses to hypothetical scenarios. Stage two uses programme-realistic scenarios with ranking and some video answers. Assessment centre activities typically combine an interview with a group exercise, presentation or technical task. Assessment centre dates for a programme are fixed; invitations usually ask you to confirm within 48 hours.

Operational and professional vacancies outside early careers may use different tests, interviews or technical screens. London Underground operational hiring can differ from graduate strengths packs. Treat each advert as authoritative.

This guide covers TfL recruitment-assessment intent, including graduate, apprentice and operational-role variation. It is not Network Rail recruitment, not a TOC Train Driver Assessment page, and not Civil Service Fast Stream.

The 30 questions below are original educational exercises on urban transport judgement, passenger care and service numeracy. They are not official TfL, Cappfinity or JobTestPrep items, and they do not reproduce live assessment content.

Key Takeaways

  • TfL early-careers routes publish a three-step path: application, two-stage strengths online assessment, assessment centre.
  • Graduate, apprentice, intern and operational vacancies are not identical. Confirm the route on your advert.
  • TfL is not Network Rail and is not a mainline TOC under RIS-3751-TOM train-driver psychometrics.
  • Strengths ranking and video answers reward honest alignment with TfL values, not forum scripts.
  • Third-party PrepPacks are optional familiarisation only and cannot guarantee progression.

Quick facts

TfL early-careers assessment snapshot (verify against your programme invitation)
Item Detail
Employer Transport for London (TfL)
Early careers online focus Strengths and values alignment; ranking and video elements
Published early careers steps Application, two-stage online assessment, assessment centre
Assessment centre booking Confirm promptly; programme dates are usually fixed
Inclusive recruitment Disability Confident; reasonable adjustments available
Distinct from Non-TfL TOC driver routes, Network Rail Early Careers and Civil Service tests

Confirm your campaign instructions before buying any prep product.

Official early careers process notes

From TfL’s published how-to-apply guidance for apprentice, graduate and intern roles:

  • You can normally apply for one programme per recruitment campaign.
  • Stage one response ranking must feel honest; TfL advises not overthinking and answering as you would in real life.
  • For video questions, TfL recommends taking no longer than about five minutes to prepare each one.
  • Assessors at the assessment centre may not have seen earlier video answers, so reuse strong examples if needed.
  • Outcome feedback calls with assessors are described after assessment centre decisions in the published guidance.
  • Guaranteed interview under Disability Confident in high-volume early careers campaigns is described as requiring a pass mark in first-stage assessments. That is a Disability Confident process note, not a universal public cut score for every TfL role.

Help pages also cover competency interviews using STAR-style examples for many other roles. Vision, values and benefits pages support motivation answers, but live competencies still come from your role pack. Do not invent a universal TfL question count or timer for every vacancy.

How to prepare

Preparation may help you understand published early-careers stages, practise honest ranking responses, rehearse short video answers, and build light numeracy comfort. Do not invent TfL experience, game strengths tools with extreme personas, or treat practice scenarios as operational instructions.

  1. Read TfL Careers and the apprentice and graduate how-to-apply page if that is your route.
  2. Practise ranking responses that put customer safety, inclusion and calm service recovery first.
  3. Rehearse short video answers with a clear structure and natural delivery.
  4. Build light numeracy comfort with passenger volumes, percentages and roster minutes.
  5. Use Cappfinity or other official prep hubs only where TfL links them in your invitation.
  6. Treat third-party PrepPacks as optional familiarisation after official materials.

Optional third-party TfL practice

Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

If you want additional strengths-style and scenario drills after reading official TfL materials, an independent UK TfL graduate and early-careers assessment practice can help candidates practise comparable formats.

JobTestPrep UK is an independent third-party preparation provider. It is not Transport for London or an official assessment publisher. Product coverage is TfL-oriented familiarisation and may not match every graduate, apprentice or operational vacancy. Check the current UK price and access period on the product page before purchase. Preparation cannot guarantee a pass, assessment centre invitation or job offer.

Practice questions

Educational practice only. Not official TfL or JobTestPrep items.

Service and network numeracy

1. A station records 1,200 entries between 08:00 and 09:00. Gates close for six minutes during a disruption. Assuming constant demand in that hour, about how many entries might be deferred during those six minutes?

A. 60 B. 100 C. 120 D. 200

Correct answer: C Explanation: 1,200 per 60 minutes = 20 per minute; 6 x 20 = 120 deferred at that average rate.

2. Bus route load:

Trip Passengers
1 48
2 52
3 44
4 56

What is the mean load?

A. 48 B. 50 C. 52 D. 54

Correct answer: B Explanation: Total 200; 200 / 4 = 50.

3. A control cell clears 75 of 300 open incident tickets before midday. What percentage is cleared?

A. 20% B. 25% C. 30% D. 35%

Correct answer: B Explanation: 75 / 300 = 0.25 = 25%.

4. Night overtime is paid at £22.50 per hour for 3.2 hours. What is the pay for that overtime block?

A. £68.00 B. £70.00 C. £72.00 D. £74.00

Correct answer: C Explanation: 22.50 x 3.2 = 72.

5. Journey time falls from 40 minutes to 34 minutes after a timetable change. What is the percentage reduction?

A. 12% B. 15% C. 18% D. 20%

Correct answer: B Explanation: Reduction = 6; 6 / 40 = 0.15 = 15%.

6. Spare tablet stock starts at 90. Issue 28 units, return 6, scrap 4. Remaining?

A. 60 B. 62 C. 64 D. 66

Correct answer: C Explanation: 90 - 28 + 6 - 4 = 64.

7. Revenue collected: £1,250 morning, £980 afternoon, £640 evening. What is the daily total?

A. £2,780 B. £2,850 C. £2,870 D. £2,920

Correct answer: C Explanation: 1,250 + 980 + 640 = 2,870.

8. Lift downtime is shared 2:5 between planned work and fault repair. Combined downtime = 210 minutes. How many minutes of fault repair?

A. 60 B. 90 C. 120 D. 150

Correct answer: D Explanation: Parts = 7; each = 30; fault = 5 x 30 = 150.

9. Crowding sensor samples: 62%, 71%, 68%, 75%. What is the mean percentage?

A. 68% B. 69% C. 70% D. 71%

Correct answer: B Explanation: Sum = 276; 276 / 4 = 69.

10. A campaign budget of £45,000 spends £9,000 on accessibility improvements. What share of the budget is that?

A. 15% B. 18% C. 20% D. 25%

Correct answer: C Explanation: 9,000 / 45,000 = 0.20 = 20%.

Ranked-response judgement (choose the single most defensible first action)

These items train calm urban-operations judgement. Live TfL assessments may ask you to rank several options; here you select the strongest opening move.

11. A customer collapses on a busy concourse while other queues form.

A. Continue selling tickets so queues shrink. B. Secure help via the emergency response process you have been trained to use, keep the person safe and manage the crowd away from risk. C. Ask nearby customers for a medical diagnosis online. D. Film the incident for your personal portfolio.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Life-threatening events take priority over queue metrics and content creation.

12. You see a bag left unattended near a ticket gate cluster.

A. Kick it to see if it is heavy. B. Follow local unattended-item reporting and keep people clear without making the area more chaotic. C. Open it to identify the owner. D. Post a photo asking the network if anyone owns it.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Unattended items need official handling, not public speculation or DIY searches.

13. A service alteration announcement is delayed and customers look frustrated at a gate line.

A. Argue that they should have checked an app earlier. B. Give clear current advice you know is accurate, stay calm and escalate for a formal announcement if information is still incomplete. C. Invent a new destination to end the conversation. D. Leave the gate area empty of staff.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Honest, calm information beats blame or fabrication.

14. A colleague suggests skipping a accessibility equipment check because the station “looks quiet”.

A. Skip the check to stay on schedule. B. Complete the required check; accessibility failures harm customers who rely on the equipment. C. Mark it done without checking. D. Blame cleaners if auditors ask later.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Required safety and accessibility checks are not optional convenience tasks.

15. Two customers argue loudly on a platform edge during boarding.

A. Join the louder side. B. Create space from the edge, de-escalate without escalating risk and call for trained support if needed. C. Push them onto the train to clear the platform. D. Ignore the edge proximity.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Platform-edge conflict is a fall and train risk; distance and trained help come first.

16. You do not know the answer to a detailed interchange question.

A. Guess confidently. B. Say you will confirm, check an authorised source or ask a colleague, then return with accurate guidance. C. Tell the customer their question is unimportant. D. Walk away without acknowledging them.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Accurate confirmation protects customer journeys more than a fast wrong answer.

17. During a ranking-style practice item, your honest preference conflicts with what a forum says “TfL wants”.

A. Copy the forum profile exactly. B. Answer consistently with how you would genuinely act within professional standards. C. Random-click to finish fast. D. Have a friend complete the ranking.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Strengths assessments look for authentic alignment; coached fake profiles are brittle.

18. A lift outage stranding wheelchair users is reported to you while non-urgent cleaning is also waiting.

A. Finish cleaning first because it was listed earlier. B. Prioritise arranging assistance and outage communication for affected customers. C. Tell customers that lifts “never work”. D. Hide the outage notice.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Customer safety and inclusion needs outrank routine housekeeping.

Checking and information accuracy

19. PIS message draft: “Northbound service suspended between Green Park and King’s Cross.” Display board shows “Southbound”. What is wrong?

A. Station spelling only B. Direction word mismatch C. Nothing D. Time zone missing

Correct answer: B Explanation: Northbound versus southbound is a critical direction error.

20. Duty timesheet: 06:40-14:10 typed as 06:40-14:40. Which field drifted?

A. Start B. End C. Break code D. Both start and end

Correct answer: B Explanation: Only the finish time moved by 30 minutes.

21. Asset tag LU-TFA-1987 appears in stock as LU-TFA-1897. Flag the issue.

A. Exact match B. Digits 19/87 vs 18/97 order/quantity change inside the number C. Wrong prefix LU D. Missing hyphen style only

Correct answer: B Explanation: The numeric block differs (1987 vs 1897).

22. Crowding counts for Car A/B/C: 42 / 38 / 41. Someone totals 131. Correct total?

A. 111 B. 121 C. 131 D. 141

Correct answer: B Explanation: 42 + 38 + 41 = 121.

23. Procedure: “Report hate crime incidents immediately through the approved channel.” Statement: Under this wording alone, waiting until end of month is fine if the shift was busy.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: B Explanation: “Immediately” rules out deferred monthly reporting.

24. Note: “Station X closes its ticket hall between 00:30 and 05:00.” Statement: Station Y has identical hours under this note alone.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: C Explanation: The note names Station X only.

Further operational judgement

25. You overhear confidential customer personal data discussed loudly beside a queue.

A. Add your own gossip. B. Prompt a move to a private setting and follow local data-handling reporting if exposure occurred. C. Live-stream the conversation. D. Write names on a public whiteboard.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Protect personal data and correct the setting quickly.

26. A teammate claims credit for your accessibility improvement idea in a group exercise.

A. Interrupt aggressively and sabotage the exercise. B. State your contribution factually and keep collaborating; raise conduct privately afterward if needed. C. Quit the exercise in silence. D. Invent false credit for revenge.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Assessors value assertive clarity without wrecking team delivery.

27. Rain causes wet floors at a station entrance.

A. Leave it unmarked because “customers should watch their step”. B. Arrange warning and cleaning through local process and keep routes as safe as practicable. C. Joke about falls on social media. D. Block exits entirely without authority.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Slip risks need practical mitigation and clear warning.

28. You cannot attend a fixed assessment centre date for a TfL early careers programme after confirming.

A. Ghost the centre and reapply next week for the same fixed slot. B. Contact recruitment as soon as possible using the official channel; do not assume dates can move. C. Send a friend in your place. D. Arrive a different day without telling anyone.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Published guidance says programme dates are fixed; communication is still essential.

29. A minor trip hazard exists behind staff-only doors with no public access right now.

A. Ignore all hazards that customers cannot see. B. Make it safe or report it; workforce injury still matters. C. Dare colleagues to jump it. D. Hide the hazard with cardboard only and leave.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Colleague safety is part of operational discipline.

30. Best approach to strengths questions about “working under pressure”?

A. Invent extremes that do not match your behaviour. B. Choose consistent answers that reflect real strengths and professional standards. C. Always pick the softest option to look kind. D. Always pick the toughest option to look brave.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Consistency and authenticity beat gaming either pole of a false persona.

Official resources

FAQ

Does every TfL job use the two-stage strengths online test?

No. The two-stage strengths online assessment is described for apprentice, graduate and intern routes. Other vacancies may differ.

Can I apply for several early careers programmes in one campaign?

TfL states you can apply for one programme per recruitment campaign in the published early careers guidance.

Are assessment centre dates flexible?

For the early careers process described publicly, dates are fixed for each programme and candidates are asked to confirm attendance quickly after invitation.

Is this page enough for London Underground driver selection?

Not by itself. Driver and operational processes can differ from early careers strengths packs. Use your advert and, for TOC-style routes, the Train Driver Assessment guide where relevant.

Should I rehearse scripted ranking answers from forums?

Prefer honest professional judgement. Strengths tools often look for coherent values, not forum templates.

Next steps

Return to the UK Assessment Tests hub for more UK employer guides.