SERU stands for Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding. It is one of the assessments TfL requires before you can be licensed as a private hire driver in London.
The SERU assessment checks two things at the same time. First, it checks that you can read and write English to the level TfL requires, which is equivalent to level B1. Second, it checks that you understand important safety, equality and regulatory matters that affect private hire drivers.
Alongside SERU you will also take a separate speaking and listening assessment. Both must be passed to show you can communicate in English at the right level.
Our mock sets are built to match the real format, so there are no surprises on the day. Each set has three types of question:
A sentence with words missing. You choose the correct word for each gap from a list. All gaps must be right to score the marks.
A question with several options. Some questions ask for one answer, some ask for two. You pick the correct option or options.
A short passage of text, then a question about it with three answers. The answers look similar, so you must read carefully and choose the most correct one.
The best preparation is to read the official handbook, practise the mock sets until you are comfortable, and get help with any grammar or reading you find difficult. Our 6-hour Sunday class covers exactly this: grammar, exam technique, and how to find answers quickly in the handbook.
Knowing the syllabus is only half of it. Our guide to what happens on exam day covers the assessment centre, what ID to bring, checking in, the order we recommend sitting the three exams, exactly how SERU and Topographical are marked, and how results and resits work.
Read the exam day guideTfL publishes the private hire driver's handbook, which the SERU assessment is based on. You can download it directly from TfL below. We recommend reading it alongside your practice.
Download the TfL handbook (PDF)This opens the handbook on TfL's own website. London Paragon College does not host or own this document.
Start with a free test, then get full access to all 10 sets.