TSA CBT Test Practice & Prep
Free TSA sample questions and a focused prep plan for the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) hiring assessment — covers both the legacy CBT (English + X-ray) and the newer TAB (image matching, connect the dots, shape folding).
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What is the TSA CBT Test
The TSA hiring assessment for the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) role now exists in two versions: the legacy TSA CBT (X-ray Object Recognition plus a Writing/English section) and the newer TSA TAB (three shorter sections: Image Matching, Connect the Dots, and Shape Folding), which has been rolling out since about 2023. Candidates learn which version they are taking from the Pearson VUE scheduling email — the phrase "This assessment is not an English language proficiency assessment" indicates the new TAB. TSO applicants take the assessment after passing the initial online application and before the medical evaluation, background investigation, and interview. Note: X-ray color-coding descriptions in our practice items reflect common dual-energy scanner conventions; on-the-job color schemes can vary by scanner model and agency training.
Try free sample questions
Five real-format questions covering the two sections you'll see on test day. Pick an answer, then check the worked explanation.
The complete TSA CBT Test prep pack
One focused course, built for the exact test. Full-length timed practice tests that mirror the real exam, worked explanations for every question, and a day-by-day plan that walks you from diagnostic to test day.
If you sit the test and don't feel prepared, email us within 30 days and we'll refund you. That's the guarantee.
- 2 full-length timed TSA CBT practice tests (English + X-ray)
- Full-length practice tests with step-by-step explanations
- English proficiency refresher — grammar, vocabulary, reading
- X-ray color-code guide (organic, inorganic, dense metals — common dual-energy schemes)
- TSO hiring pipeline walkthrough — what happens after the CBT
- 30 days of access, on any device
Test format
Two versions are in circulation: the legacy CBT (X-ray + English/Writing, up to ~2.5 h) and the newer TAB (Image Matching, Connect the Dots, Shape Folding — 25–45 min). Your Pearson VUE scheduling email indicates the version — the line "This assessment is not an English language proficiency assessment" means the new TAB.
| Section | Questions | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy CBT — X-ray Object Recognition | 100 | Up to ~2.5 h total for the CBT | Identify prohibited and permitted items in simulated X-ray images. Split into sessions with breaks. |
| Legacy CBT — Writing / English Skills | 55 | Part of the ~2.5 h session | Reading, grammar, and vocabulary — approximately 50–60 questions. |
| New TAB — Image Matching, Connect the Dots, Shape Folding | 3 | 25–45 min total | Three shorter sections replacing the CBT airport by airport. No English, no X-ray interpretation; spatial reasoning (2D → 3D). |
Scoring explained
TSA does not publish exact cut scores. You receive a pass or fail per section, and you must pass every graded section to move forward.
Applicants who pass move to a structured interview, a medical evaluation, a drug screening, and a background investigation covering employment, education, and criminal history. Color vision is assessed during the medical evaluation stage, not in the computer test. The assessment is the first knock-out gate — most applicants who don't continue are cut here.
If you fail, TSA typically imposes about a 6-month waiting period before retest. Check your applicant portal for the current policy.
How to prepare
On the legacy CBT the X-ray section decides most results. Applicants who trained for it — knowing the common dual-energy color coding cold and drilling many images — pass. Applicants who wing it usually don't. If your scheduling email indicates the TAB, focus on spatial-reasoning drills instead (image matching, connect the dots, shape folding).
- Learn the color code — in common dual-energy X-ray color schemes: orange for organic, blue-green for inorganic, dark for dense metals. One evening.
- Drill X-ray images — 30 minutes a day for two weeks. Speed and accuracy both matter.
- Refresh English — subject-verb agreement, prepositions, vocabulary. 20 minutes a day.
- Time yourself — you get only seconds per image; commonly reported at around 15 seconds. Practice at that pace.
- Learn the hiring pipeline — the interview and medical follow fast if you pass. Be ready.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
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