Preparing for the SERU Assessment: Key Areas and Sample Questions
26 July 2024
If you're preparing for the SERU (Safety, Equality, and Regulatory Understanding) assessment for private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers in London, it's crucial to understand what to expect and how to best prepare. This blog post will help you get ready for the test by focusing on key areas of driver behaviour, regulatory requirements, and safety practices, and by providing sample questions to guide your study.
Understanding the SERU Test
The SERU assessment, administered by Transport for London (TfL), evaluates your knowledge and adherence to the standards expected of PHV drivers. The test is computer-based, with 36 questions to be answered in 45 minutes. You’ll need to use a mouse to navigate through the questions, which include multiple-choice and sentence completion formats. The questions are based on the Private Vehicle Handbook, specifically focusing on section 5 regarding driver behaviour.
Key Areas for SERU Test Preparation
Driver Behaviour Expectations
Service Quality: Learn how to consistently provide a professional and courteous service to all passengers.
Handling Complaints: Understand the proper procedure for addressing and resolving passenger complaints.
Passenger Safety: Be aware of how to ensure passengers’ safety and comfort, including the responsible handling of their personal information.
Regulatory Requirements
Licensing and Documentation: Know the requirements for maintaining a valid PHV license and all necessary documentation.
Vehicle Standards: Familiarize yourself with vehicle safety checks and maintenance requirements.
Compliance with Local Laws: Be informed about the local regulations and laws that affect private hire vehicles.
Safety Practices
Safe Driving: Study best practices for safe driving, including how to manage various road conditions and emergency situations.
Emergency Procedures: Prepare for different emergency scenarios and know the appropriate actions to take.
Sample Questions to Test Your Knowledge
SERU Test Multiple Choice Questions
What is the most appropriate action to take if a passenger expresses dissatisfaction with your service?
A. Ignore the complaint and continue driving.
B. Politely acknowledge the complaint and attempt to resolve the issue.
C. Argue with the passenger to defend yourself.
D. Report the complaint to TfL immediately without addressing the passenger's concerns.
Answer: B. Politely acknowledge the complaint and attempt to resolve the issue.
Which document must you always carry with you while driving a private hire vehicle?
A. Proof of insurance.
B. Vehicle maintenance log.
C. Personal identification card.
D. PHV driver’s license.
Answer: D. PHV driver’s license.
What should you do if you notice a minor defect in your vehicle that does not affect safety?
A. Ignore it until the next service.
B. Report it to the vehicle owner or maintenance provider and schedule repairs.
C. Attempt to fix it yourself without informing anyone.
D. Continue driving as long as the defect does not seem severe.
Answer: B. Report it to the vehicle owner or maintenance provider and schedule repairs.
SERU Test Sentence Completion Questions
Passengers should always be treated with __________ to ensure a positive experience.
Answer: respect.
If you receive a complaint from a passenger, it is essential to handle it __________ and professionally.
Answer: calmly.
You must ensure that all relevant __________ are in order and up-to-date to comply with TfL regulations.
Answer: documents.
Additional Tips for Success
Review the Private Vehicle Handbook: Focus on 10 section of TPH Handbook, which covers (Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding) . This will give you a solid understanding of what is expected.
Practice Time Management: You will have 45 minutes to complete 36 questions on SERU Test. The SERU assessment is computer-based; you will use a mouse but not a keyboard during the test. There are Multiple choice questions, short passage Multiple choice questions and sentence completion questions. All of the questions in the SERU assessment are based on the TPH Private Vehicle Handbook.
Familiarize Yourself with the Test Format: The SERU test is computer-based and requires only mouse use, practice navigating similar formats to get comfortable with the interface. It's highly recommended to complete a SERU mock test
By concentrating on these key areas and practising with sample questions, you'll be well-prepared to tackle the SERU assessment confidently. Good luck with your preparation, and here's to acing your test! (reference the images is taken from Tfl site for your help)