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🇺🇸 United States · Civil Service
TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) Syllabus
The X-ray image interpretation and English skills test required of applicants for TSA Transportation Security Officer jobs.. The complete TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) outline — 6 subjects, 24 chapters and 92 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
3 chapters · 12 topics · 16 sub-topics
Prohibited Items and Threat Recognition5 chapters · 20 topics · 18 sub-topics
English Language Proficiency4 chapters · 15 topics · 4 sub-topics
Aptitude and Cognitive Skills4 chapters · 14 topics
TSO Duties, Procedures, and Job Knowledge4 chapters · 16 topics · 5 sub-topics
Test Preparation and Hiring Process4 chapters · 15 topics · 5 sub-topics
TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) flashcard decks
304 question-and-answer cards across 6 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Prohibited Items and Threat Recognition carries 20 topics while X-ray Image Interpretation (XIIT) Fundamentals carries 12. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT).
The ~80 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus?
TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) covers 6 subjects: X-ray Image Interpretation (XIIT) Fundamentals, Prohibited Items and Threat Recognition, English Language Proficiency, Aptitude and Cognitive Skills, TSO Duties, Procedures, and Job Knowledge and Test Preparation and Hiring Process. Together they contain 24 chapters and 92 named topics.
How many topics does the TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus contain?
The full TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) outline breaks down into 24 chapters, 92 topics and 48 sub-topics. Prohibited Items and Threat Recognition is the largest single subject with 20 topics across 5 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus?
Roughly 80 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 4 weeks.
Are there TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) flashcards?
Yes — 304 question-and-answer flashcards across 6 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the TSA Computer-Based Test (TSA CBT) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United States and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
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