TSA CBT practice test: English section

What the real test usually looks like

What TSA says about its test. TSA's careers page says applicants who meet the minimum qualifications may be invited to take a computer-based test to evaluate image interpretation aptitude (TSA). A recent USAJOBS announcement for Transportation Security Officers calls it the TSO Assessment Battery (TAB) and says it evaluates x-ray interpretation aptitude. It says the test is proctored, taken at a testing center, and must be scheduled and completed within 21 days of receiving the instructions to schedule (USAJOBS).

What TSA does not publish. Neither source gives the number of questions, the time limit or the sections. Neither mentions an English section. Some test prep sites describe an older version of the computer-based test that had an English section beside an X-ray section, but TSA does not publish the format, so treat any description of the sections as unconfirmed.

What this practice covers, and what it does not. This is an English section practice test: reading comprehension and vocabulary only. It does not include X-ray images or any image interpretation practice. Image interpretation cannot be practiced fairly without real screening images, and the test you take may be image interpretation only. If your goal is the X-ray part, this page will not prepare you for it. If you want to sharpen your reading and vocabulary for any written test, it can help.

What our mocks cover. Each full mock is 50 questions in 60 minutes: 30 reading comprehension questions, then 20 vocabulary questions, each with four choices, on everyday, workplace and travel safety topics. You can go back to earlier questions before you finish. Every answer is explained.

After the test. TSA's careers page describes a later airport assessment, a structured panel interview, before a tentative offer (TSA).

Question types with worked examples

One worked example for each question type in our mocks, with the trap most people fall into.

1. Finding a stated detail. Notice: "The break room closes at 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays." Question: When does the break room close on Saturday? Answer: 2:00 p.m. Trap: reading the first time you see and stopping. Find the sentence that matches the exact day or detail asked about.

2. Main idea. Ask yourself which choice covers the whole passage, not just one sentence. A choice that is true but only about one detail is usually not the main idea. Trap: choosing the most interesting fact instead of the overall point.

3. Inference. Policy: "Uniforms must be returned within 10 days of leaving the job." Someone left the job 15 days ago and still has the uniform. You can infer that the return is late. Trap: adding facts the passage does not give, such as a fine. Infer only what must follow from the text.

4. Words like "always", "never" and "only". If a passage says something "may" happen or happens "often", a choice that says it "always" happens goes too far. Trap: choosing a strong statement because it sounds confident.

5. Vocabulary in a sentence. "The instructions were AMBIGUOUS, so the team asked for clarification." "Ambiguous" means unclear, which fits the need for clarification. Trap: picking a word that fits the sentence but does not mean the same thing, such as "long". Replace the word with your choice and check the meaning has not changed.

6. Words with similar meanings. "Verify" and "approve" both relate to checking work, but "verify" means to confirm something is true, while "approve" means to agree to it. Trap: picking a related word instead of the closest one.

How to prepare

1. Read your invitation carefully. It is the best guide to what your test includes. Schedule early: the announcement says you must complete the test within 21 days of receiving the instructions to schedule (USAJOBS).
2. Know what this practice is for. It builds English reading and vocabulary skills. It does not practice X-ray image interpretation, which TSA describes as what its test evaluates (TSA).
3. Read the question before the passage. Then you know what detail to look for.
4. Answer from the text. A choice can be true in real life and still not be what the passage says.
5. Build vocabulary in context. Read news articles, workplace notices and safety guides. When you meet a new word, write it in a sentence of your own.
6. Use the replacement check. On vocabulary questions, put your choice in place of the word and read the sentence again.
7. Practice at a steady pace. Our full mocks give 50 questions in 60 minutes, a little over a minute a question. Move past a hard question and come back to it at the end.

How scoring usually works

TSA does not publish its scoring or its pass mark. The USAJOBS announcement says the assessment has a cut score based on the minimum level of proficiency needed, and that you must meet or exceed it to be considered. It does not give the cut score. It also says passing results are kept on record for two years and failing results for six months, and they are used for other positions that need the same assessment during that time (USAJOBS).

Our practice score is the number of our own questions you answered correctly, with a breakdown for reading comprehension and vocabulary, so you can see where to focus. It is a practice score for English reading and vocabulary only: it is not a TSA score, it does not measure image interpretation, and it does not predict whether you will pass.