Arbel, TSA CBT expert at JobTestPrep.
Have a question? Contact me at: ask_arbel@jobtestprep.com
The TSA Computer Based Test (CBT) takes 2.5 hours and is divided into five sessions with breaks between them.
There are 100 images in the X-ray Object Recognition Test (ORT) section and 50-60 questions in the written section. The test is taken at a TSA testing center (you can't take it at your own home).
The test’s goal is to find the candidates that will ensure travelers' safety across the country. Along with good English skills, they must also attain a great aptitude for quickly recognizing objects. These items range from dangerous or forbidden items to harmless objects such as electronics, phones, toys, or shoes. Similar tests are used by GardaWorld and other security service companies.
Now, let's go over each test section so that you know exactly what to expect.
The TSA X-Ray Test Section: Overview, Sample Questions, and Tips
On the X-ray portion, also known as the image interpretation test, you will inspect luggage images. You will be asked to find various types of items buried in the luggage that have gone through the X-ray machine.
Firstly, some questions are objectively hard:
Secondly, there is a strict time limit. You will have only 15 seconds to look through the luggage and find objects such as weapons, bottles, drugs, or electronics.
And lastly – the TSA CBT exam is super long. It is an exhausting 2.5 hours, which makes it difficult to stay fresh and focused throughout the whole time.
Can you see a weapon in this X-ray scan?
There is a knife in the bag but it’s at a 90 degrees angle. You can recognize it by the screws connecting the blue blade to the handle.
Some items can appear at an angle that makes them almost impossible to recognize. To prepare yourself for those images, you need to go over all the popular items and learn their shape from different angles. This kind of preparation is crucial to passing the exam.
In the TSA CBT practice pack, you’ll get a guide that will show you the items in various directions along with practice questions as well.
Is there a grenade in this bag?
In this question there is a grenade. When identifying an object that may be a grenade, look for the most prominent features of the grenade – the lever and safety pin. The grenade in this question is masked by a pot.
When the bag is cluttered, the objects can overlap, making it difficult to distinguish between them. The best approach for coping with these kinds of images is to look for the unique features of the target item. You need to become an expert in identifying the parts of a range of weaponry and other popular targets.
Can you identify a pen in this X-ray image?
Scan this suitcase and decide whether:
In this question, there is a gun with a full magazine inserted. To recognize it you can use a few factors:
The handle of the bag is used to cover its barrel, which appears dark blue–black since it is metallic.
The grip appears blue and has bullets inside.
The cases of the bullets appear brighter than the tips.
Understanding the meaning of colors is extremely helpful in preparing for the X-ray section since it allows you to become familiar with the characteristics of the targeted objects. The color indicates the density of the scanned items. The denser the material, the darker it will appear.
In the TSA practice pack, you’ll find more accurate questions for this category that mimic the real exam. So you won’t encounter any surprises on your TSA exam!
To get a good grasp of the X-ray section and become a master at identifying objects in these images, visit our thorough TSA X-ray test guide.
So, after you got all these useful strategies to face the X-ray object recognition test, let’s move on to discuss the writing skills section.
What to Expect on the TSA Writing Skills Assessment?
The TSA Written Skills Assessment, also known as the TSA CBT English test, is a multiple-choice test with 50-60 questions given with strict time constraints. This section evaluates your proficiency level in English using three categories:
The TSA CBT reading comprehension section evaluates your speed-reading ability, general attention to detail, and overall grasp of the language. Each question contains a short paragraph followed by multiple-choice questions.
The task itself is not very complicated, but you need to practice reading quickly to successfully answer each question correctly within approximately 90 seconds.
🕑 Let’s try to solve this question in under 90 seconds:
>It's little wonder Russians are toasting oil: These are boom times. Global oil prices have increased tenfold since 1998, and Russia has pulled ahead of Saudi Arabia as the world's top crude oil producer. The Kremlin's budget now overflows with funds for new schools, roads, and national defense projects, and Moscow's nouveau riche are plunking down millions of dollars for mansion-scale "dachas."
The Russians now produce crude oil because:
The correct answer is (C).
According to the passage: "There's little wonder Russians are toasting oil: These are boom times. Global oil prices have increased tenfold since 1998." Russia has been producing oil as the prices rise.
Here, your vocabulary knowledge and spelling capabilities will be assessed. You will be given a word and asked to find its synonym or opposite word from several options.
To succeed in this section, you need to revise lists of common synonyms, antonyms (words having opposite meanings), homophones (words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings), and commonly misspelled words.
Try this question:
IMPERIOUS is the opposite of:
The correct answer is (C) subservient.
Imperious means "domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing," so the antonym is subservient. Arrogant is a similar word but not a synonym. Quiet and stormy are not related. Therefore, the correct answer is subservient.
On those questions, you will be provided with a sentence structure and asked to fill in the blanks. The twist is that you will be provided with a list of word pairs. Some will be appropriate for the blanks but with spelling errors, while other pairs will not be correct at all.
Here is an example:
By ________ the fossil remains of animals, paleontologists can learn much about their ________.
The correct answer is (B).
By examining the fossil remains of animals, paleontologists can learn much about their appearance.
In the preparation pack, you’ll find 19 tests with answers and detailed explanations necessary to increase the speed and accuracy of your reading, grammar skills, and word usage.
For additional sample questions and practice tips, visit our TSA CBT English test guide.
To ensure you score high on the TSA test and get into the “Best Qualified” category, consider using these valuable preparation resources:
A 19-question TSA sample test with X-ray and English questions that resemble the actual test, to start to get a feel for the exam.
After the calculation of your test score, you will be placed into one of 3 categories:
If you got into the TSA CBT Test “best qualified” category, then you have done extremely well. Scoring high is crucial because those who are placed in the best-qualified category have the highest chance of getting the job they want.
The other applicants might have to wait for a job offer for several months up to 2 years.
You may think you can just take the TSA exam again, but that’s not possible. You can’t retake the test during the waiting period to improve your score.
To get a really high score, you must understand all question variants and also how to avoid all the traps that most candidates fall into.
We recommend putting in effort to ensure that you pass the test with the highest score you can achieve. Give yourself the competitive edge you need to get a job offer quickly.
To get to the TSA CBT test, your first step is to apply for a position online. If your application is accepted, you will go through stages of screening to become a transportation security administration agent, which include:
Your final score is based on the number of correct answers. There is no penalty for wrong answers. So, if you're not sure what is the correct answer is, and you are running out of time - take an educated guess. Leave no answer blank on the X-ray test or the writing skills test.
Only US citizens who are at least eighteen years old and have a valid high school diploma or equivalent will take the TSA-CBT examination.
Only 30% of test-takers pass the TSA CBT test. In certain cases, those who pass the exam will be asked to retake it to prove that they passed because of their visual and cognitive ability and not by chance.
After you pass the TSA CBT, you'll receive a Contingent Job Offer and you'll get 14 days to complete several forms, such as the E86 National Security Questionnaire. Additionally, the TSA will run a credit check on you. You must pass this step to advance to the next hiring stages.
If you fail the TSA exam once, you must wait six months before applying for any TSO positions. If you fail the TSA CBT twice, you won’t be able to take the exam again. This means that you will no longer be able to apply for a TSO position.
A TSO paid approximately $17 per hour. It changes slightly between different airports.
You can dress “smart casual” for your TSA CBT test. You need to look professional and presentable. However, there's no need to dress up. It's fine to wear a shirt and tie.
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