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TSA X-Ray Test (CBT): What to Expect & How to Ace It

This page will walk you through the TSA X-Ray test which is a key component of the TSA CBT Test.

Below, you’ll find all the information that you need to know to begin prepping for the tsa exam and increase your chances of acing it.

Let’s dig in!

The X-ray is the most challenging section of the exam. With accurate prep, you’ll learn to identify any object quickly and accurately

X-ray Test Intro

There are several requirements for taking the test, including:

18 years of age.
United States Citizenship.
Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
Maintain high cognitive and visual abilities.

The test is 25 minutes in length with six sections, with each section including 18 x ray images, totaling 100 questions.

Each question is presented in the form of scanned luggage, where one has to show whether or not the x ray image displayed contains a dangerous object. Every answer will have two possible options marked as 1 or 2.

1: The object is dangerous. 2: The object poses no threat.

You will have just 15 seconds to identify each object, like in real-time at the airport. It is important to note that a wrong answer does not deduct an individual’s score, so you can guess to avoid leaving a blank if unsure.

Oh, and one more important item. Due to the sensitivity of the job at hand, some test takers are required to retake the test multiple times to ensure that their passing was not just a fluke. The concept is to ensure that you passed as a result of visual and cognitive ability and not by guessing.

Make sure you are prepared for the X-Ray portion of the test using X-Ray drills and a comprehensive CBT study guide.

TSA X-Ray Practice Drills and Test Instructions

Prior to beginning the TSA x ray exam, you will receive a rundown of different objects to explain how they may appear on the X-ray.

For example, dangerous objects may include knives, grenades, guns, and other weapons that could be harmful.

Next, you will have 30 seconds to memorize the list, which is a test of your cognitive abilities.

Additionally, you will also be eligible to take two TSA X-Ray practice drills before starting to the real exam.

Visit the free TSA X-Ray practice page to see X-Ray sample questions.

X-Ray Colors are Key

Ensure you pass the TSA Test with a high score and avoid waiting for 6 months to retake the test

The X-ray test is also known as the Object Recognition Test and has been found by many to be the most challenging aspect of the computer-based test.

The TSA designed the test to help detect dangerous objects in the bags of individuals through an X-ray scan instead of physically opening it. The X-ray portrays each object in a different color depending on its density, including:

Blue: The densest objects are blue in color and include heavy metals:

Metals
Hard Plastics
Alloys
Dense Ceramics

Aside from guns, as you can see in the picture, wires, batteries, and even sunglasses can show up blue. It is important to note that the machine will feature weapons in blue, so that is the first color you should look for.

Green: The next less dense ones appear in green; like plastics and light metals:
softer plastic

Less dense alloys.
Inorganic materials like silver, sulfur, diamonds. Artificial diamonds, for instance, are core components of laser weapons.

As you can see in the picture, ceramics, plastic, and toys will show up as green, while electronics will feature as either blue or green due to the mix of dense and semi-dense materials.

Orange: The least dense materials are portrayed in orange and include:

Fabric
Food
Liquids

Just like weapons will show up in blue, explosives or drugs will show up in orange, making this color perhaps the most dangerous of them all. Remember, these are often made up of organic products.

Advanced Machines Means Harder to Define Colors

Some advanced X-ray machinery can even have additional colors, to help the officer better identify everything in the case. This includes:

Brown: Since military explosives are made from slightly inorganic materials it would usually appear as orange, so brown helps lower the ambiguity.
Yellow: This color will help you to observe the presence of glass, which can either be used for illegal imports or worse.
Violet: While this is color is used less to fight terror, it can help detect illegal smuggling of gold, silver, or platinum.

Shapes and Angles

Now that you have a general understanding of the meaning of the various colors that you must detect, it’s now time to talk about shapes and positions.

The way that an object is packed can sometimes make it very hard to figure out its true identity.

With that said, the bad guys are not going to make your life easy and will use every trick in the book to bypass security.

Objects Angle and Position

Take a look at this example, the terrorist or criminal has hidden a knife at a 90-degree angle and at the very edge of the bag.

The bad guy knows that this angle is very difficult to detect and that the eyes of the officer will naturally focus in on the middle area.

Learning how to mentally break down the suitcase into sections is very helpful. The suitcase can be scanned by breaking them down into horizontal or vertical quarters, making it easier to scan every part of the luggage to identify dangerous objects.

Therefore, keep an open mind and be keen on every part of the suitcase, as terrorists will use every trick in the book to circumvent your watchful eye.

Overlapping Items

That round item in the lower left-hand corner certainly looks suspicious, but as you can see, the bag is very cluttered, with items overlapping each other. This makes it very difficult to discern the exact nature of the object.

While it is impossible for us to go through every weapon out there in this short piece, we wanted to provide you with a specific example that will help you search for weapons by recognizing their parts. As you say above in the grenade example, this can be a difficult task unless you can find a distinctive part of the weapon that you can use as a guide.

Parts of the Revolver that are Giveaways.

Slide: The slide, made of steel or heavy metal, covers all or part of the barrel and is the densest part of the weapon, which means it will come up in a dark blue.
Grip: The grip is the weapon’s handle; although it may show up in different colors, it has a distinct shape, which should offer a good clue.
Barrel: The barrel is generally designed from high-strength metal, which will always show up as a strong blue.
Magazine Spring: The spring is a very distinct and should be a dead giveaway on the X-ray.

Familiarizing Yourself with Firearms is Key

Parts of the Revolver that are Giveaways.

Slide: The slide, made of steel or heavy metal, covers all or part of the barrel and is the densest part of the weapon, which means it will come up in a dark blue.
Grip: The grip is the weapon’s handle; although it may show up in different colors, it has a distinct shape, which should offer a good clue.
Barrel: The barrel is generally designed from high-strength metal, which will always show up as a strong blue.
Magazine Spring: The spring is a very distinct and should be a dead giveaway on the X-ray.

The 4 X-Ray Traps

As we wrap things up, let’s bring everything we talked about together into a concise list. To successfully pass the X-ray test and keep the country safe after getting hired, keep these six points in mind.

Angles: The same type of object can appear in different suitcases at different angles, thus making it hard to discern.
Materials: The bad guys are smart; they are not always going to use hard metals, which they know will show up in blue. This makes screening more difficult.
Shape: The enemy will try to confuse you by making their weapon in a strange shape, so you must be vigilant.
Overcrowding: Remember that the more crowded a suitcase, the harder it is to identify objects.

Thus, it is super important to be attuned to the colors, know how to mentally rotate objects in order to discern them, and understand how to look for key features that would highlight a dangerous object.

Time is Critical on the X-Ray Test

Often the candidate is tense and begins to panic because of the short time they have to answer each question. This causes extra stress and leads many to fail:

Make sure you practice your TSA practice test under the same time restraints as the actual test.
Get a good night’s sleep before the test, as this will help calm your nerves.
Keep a positive attitude on test day.

The TSA X-ray test is quite complex because of its importance to national security.

Take the time to prepare with accurate and timed practice tests to ensure the best results on test day.

Increase Your X-Ray Vision with This Review

Compartmentalizing: Use your mind to logically divide the image into as many parts as neede,d either vertically or horizontally. This allows for more effective scanning.
Configurations: IIt’svery important to remember that while the objects may stay the same in different images, their configurations may change, thus making the objects less recognizable.
Colors: Sometimes, layering or overcrowding in the case will make it hard to discern between shapes and edges that would usually help reveal the weapon’s identity. To solve these cases, you must become an expert in the variety of differences between the intensity and shades of colors.
Don’t lose points: While this last tip cannot help you on the job, it can help you pass the TSA Computer-Based test. At some points you will not be able to find the image before the clock runs out. In these cases, it’s better to take an educated guess than leaving a blank answer even if you don’t know what is the correct answer.

What Should I Wear to The TSA Test?

There are no specifications about what you should wear when doing the TSA CBT test; you can come in jeans and a t-shirt or wear business attire; it does not matter.