The Train Driver
ATAVT Test
A complex traffic scene flashes up briefly. You identify what you saw. Here is what is publicly known about the test, and how to practise before your assessment.
Train Driver Tests is an independent practice platform. Our exercises are original practice based on publicly available descriptions of the ATAVT — they are not the official test, and we are not affiliated with the test's publisher, RSSB or any train operating company. If you're invited to an assessment, the train company will give you the official approved practice materials at least a week beforehand (RSSB candidate FAQ, Q18).
What is the ATAVT test?
The ATAVT (Adaptive Tachistoscopic Traffic Perception Test) is a standardised psychometric test published by Schuhfried and used in transport selection. In UK train driver assessments it is part of the standard RSSB battery alongside tests such as the WAFV vigilance test, Group Bourdon, TEA-Occ, TRP1b and TRP2. It measures perceptual speed and visual scene processing — how quickly and completely your brain can extract information from a complex visual environment in a very short exposure.
According to the publisher, pictures of traffic situations appear briefly on screen, and after each one you choose from five given answers to say what was in it. The test is adaptive — the exposure time changes with your performance — and takes about 10 minutes. The exact settings used in rail assessments are not published. Our practice version shows 20 scenes per session with a fixed 1-second flash, and asks about five categories: traffic lights and their state, cars and larger vehicles, pedestrians, road signs, and bicycles or motorcycles.
The challenge lies in the combination of a short exposure time, a complex image, and multiple independent elements to identify. There is no second chance to view the scene. Candidates who do well are those who have trained themselves to distribute their attention broadly across the full image rather than fixating on any single element.
For train drivers, this maps directly to the demands of the job. A driver approaching a busy level crossing, a platform with people near the edge, or a complex signals gantry must process a large amount of visual information very quickly and accurately. The ATAVT measures this capacity in a standardised way.
How to prepare
Step by step
Learn the element categories before your first practice run
Before you sit your first session, memorise the categories you will be asked about: traffic lights and their state, cars and larger vehicles, pedestrians, signs, bicycles, motorcycles. Knowing what to look for lets you use the brief flash productively.
Use broad attention rather than focusing on one part of the scene
The most common mistake is fixating on the centre of the image. Train yourself to take in the whole scene with a soft, wide gaze — the same peripheral awareness that lets a driver spot a pedestrian stepping off a kerb at the edge of their vision.
Do not second-guess what you saw
Answer based on your first clear impression. Spending too long deliberating leads to lower overall accuracy because you are burning response time on one element at the expense of others.
Build a mental checklist to run during the flash
With practice, you can develop a rapid internal scan order — for example: lights → vehicles → people → signs — that ensures you sweep the whole scene in the available time rather than landing randomly.
Complete at least five full 20-scene sessions before your assessment
Perceptual speed improves with repetition. Five sessions exposes you to 100 scenes and gives your visual processing system the repeated exposure it needs to get faster and more accurate.
Review your accuracy by element after each session
If you consistently miss one category — say, motorcycles or background signs — focus your attention there in subsequent sessions. Per-element scoring lets you identify and fix specific weak points.
What you're identifying
The five categories in our practice version
Traffic lights
Presence and state — red, amber, or green
Vehicles
Cars, lorries, buses and other road vehicles
Pedestrians
People on foot, crossing or at the roadside
Road signs
Warning, regulatory, or informational signs
Bicycles & motorcycles
Cyclists, motorbikes and scooters — one category, easy to miss
FAQ
Common questions about the ATAVT
What does ATAVT stand for?
ATAVT is the Adaptive Tachistoscopic Traffic Perception Test, published by Schuhfried (Austria). It is used in UK train driver selection to measure how quickly and accurately candidates can take in a briefly shown traffic scene.
How long does each scene flash on screen?
Very briefly. The real ATAVT is adaptive: the exposure time changes with your performance, and the publisher gives the test length as about 10 minutes. The exact settings used in rail assessments are not published. Our practice version uses a fixed 1-second flash. The brevity is intentional — the test measures perceptual speed, not memory recall over a long viewing period.
What elements do I need to identify in each scene?
The publisher describes the real test as offering five answer options after each scene, covering things that may have been in the picture, such as vehicles, pedestrians, traffic lights and signs. Our practice version asks about five categories — traffic lights (and their state), cars and larger vehicles, pedestrians, road signs, and bicycles or motorcycles — and scores each one separately so you can see your weak spots.
Can I improve my ATAVT score through practice?
Yes — significantly. The main skill being tested is the ability to rapidly distribute attention across a complex scene without fixating on one part of it. Familiarity with the task helps, and regular practice can help you get more comfortable taking in a scene from a short flash.
Is the ATAVT used across UK train operators?
Yes. The ATAVT is part of the standard train driver test battery set out in RSSB standard RIS-3751-TOM, which GB mainline train companies follow. Companies choose their own pass marks and may add further tests.
What score do I need to pass the ATAVT?
Pass marks are not published. RSSB recommends pass marks, but each train company decides which pass marks it uses. Performing consistently across all elements — rather than excelling on some and failing on others — is the most reliable approach.
The other tests in your train driver test battery
Ready to practice?
ATAVT plus Vigilance Test, Group Bourdon, and TRP1 — one payment, unlimited attempts.