What Happens If You Fail the Train Driver Psychometric Test?
Quick answer
Under RSSB's rules from 7 December 2024, new candidates get three attempts at the standard psychometric assessment, and anyone who sat any part of it before that date gets two. A second attempt can take place at least 1 year after the first failed attempt; a third only 5 years after the first failed attempt and at least 1 year after the second. Results are valid for five years. Targeted practice on your weak areas — particularly sustained attention and rule retention — can help you prepare for a resit.
Failing the train driver psychometric test is one of the most deflating outcomes in the train driver application process — especially because the consequences can extend further than you might expect. Your result doesn't just affect your application with one operator. It can affect your eligibility across the entire industry for years. Here's exactly how the system works, and what your options are.
Test results are recorded and shared
This is the single most important thing to understand before you sit the train driver assessment: your results are not just between you and the operator you're applying to.
Records of all candidate assessments are maintained centrally. Under RSSB standard RIS-3751-TOM, which governs UK train driver selection, test results are valid for five years from the date of the assessment — and participating operators can check whether you have a result on record before offering you an assessment slot.
In practice, this means a failed result at one operator can effectively put you on hold across the industry for the duration of the validity period, or until the waiting period specified in the standard has elapsed.
How many attempts are you allowed?
Under RSSB's rules from 7 December 2024, new candidates get three attempts at the standard psychometric assessment, and anyone who sat any part of it before that date gets two. A second attempt can take place at least 1 year after the first failed attempt; a third only 5 years after the first failed attempt and at least 1 year after the second. After the final failed attempt, you cannot have any more attempts at the process (RSSB candidate FAQ, Q19–20).
Individual operators may apply additional restrictions beyond the RSSB minimum. It is worth checking the specific policy with any operator you are applying to.
The practical implication: your first attempt matters enormously. A candidate who sits unprepared and fails is not in the same position as a candidate who hasn't sat yet — they have used one of a limited number of attempts and may face a waiting period before they can try again.
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Shortened Vigilance test, 5-scene ATAVT, and a TRP1 taster — no account needed.
Which tests are most commonly failed?
Not all tests in the train driver test battery present equal difficulty for the average candidate. The Vigilance test catches many candidates off guard — not because it is conceptually complex, but because the long sustained-attention demand (widely reported as about 30 minutes) is genuinely hard to perform at without specific preparation. Many candidates who are fully capable of passing in normal circumstances underperform simply because they have never experienced the full-length format before.
The ATAVT is the second most commonly challenging test. The brief-flash format is disorienting the first time, and candidates who walk into it without prior exposure often freeze or develop poor selection habits under pressure.
The TRP1 tends to trip up candidates who approach it as a reading comprehension exercise rather than a memorisation task — they understand the passage but cannot recall the specific numbers when the questions appear.
What should you do if you've failed?
If you have recently failed the train driver assessment, the first step is to establish exactly where you stand. Work out which attempts rule applies to you (two attempts if you sat any part before 7 December 2024, three if not) and when your next attempt could take place, and contact the operator if you're unsure.
Use whatever time you have productively:
- ✓Identify which test(s) caused the failure — if you know, focus your preparation there specifically
- ✓Build genuine stamina for the Vigilance test through repeated full-length practice sessions — this is the most time-dependent improvement and cannot be rushed
- ✓Practise brief-flash scene tasks until the format feels familiar rather than disorienting
- ✓Work through multiple TRP1 sets, actively practicing the read-then-recall method rather than passive reading
- ✓Approach your next attempt with the format already deeply familiar — surprise is the enemy of performance on any timed test
If you haven't sat yet — prepare before your first attempt
If you are reading this before your assessment, you are in the best possible position: you can still ensure your first attempt is a prepared one.
The train driver test battery tests skills that are directly trainable. Sitting a full-length Vigilance practice before your assessment day means the long session will not be new to you, and seeing a brief-flash scene task before the ATAVT means the format is less of a surprise.
You only need to get this right once. Make your first attempt count.
Frequently asked questions
Do test results transfer between train operators?
Yes. Test results are recorded centrally and are valid for five years. Operators can check whether you have a result on record before offering you an assessment slot.
How long do I have to wait after failing the train driver test?
Under RSSB's rules from 7 December 2024, new candidates get three attempts at the standard psychometric assessment, and anyone who sat any part of it before that date gets two. A second attempt can take place at least 1 year after the first failed attempt; a third only 5 years after the first failed attempt and at least 1 year after the second.
Can I appeal a train driver test result?
Yes. RSSB's guidance on the standard says you can appeal by contacting the train company you applied to. Raise it with them as soon as you can, and give specific details if you think something went wrong on the day, such as a technical fault or a problem with the test conditions.
Will failing the assessment at one operator affect my application to a different operator?
Potentially yes, for the duration of any mandatory waiting period. Results are held centrally and operators participating in the RSSB standard can check candidate history.
Is it possible to improve enough to pass on a second attempt?
Yes — particularly for the Vigilance test, ATAVT, and TRP1, where performance improves significantly with targeted practice. The key is understanding what specifically caused the failure and addressing it directly.