DRIVING THEORY TEST EXPLAINED
The driving theory test comprises two parts – the theory test and the practical driving test. The theory test was introduced by the government in order to improve understanding of safe driving. Its role is to establish if you’ve understood the rules of the road and have a thorough knowledge of driving.
How is the theory test structured?
The theory test itself is made of two parts. The first part consists of 50 multiple-choice questions which tests your knowledge of driving practices. The second part is a video-based hazard perception test which assesses your ability to respond to hazardous situations on the road. Both parts are taken on the same day.
Who sets the theory test?
The driving theory test is administered by the DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency), a government agency that provides driver education and sets the theory and practical tests for cars and other vehicles. The DVSA is different to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) which is responsible for keeping a database of drivers and vehicles in the UK and issuing licences. Both of these organisations are governed by the Department of Transport.
Please note, if you’re a resident of the Republic of Ireland you will need to sit the Irish theory test.
When can I do my theory test?
You can do your theory test from the age of 17 onwards. You must have a provisional licence to take the test.
Can I do my theory test before taking driving lessons?
Although it is possible to sit the theory test before having any practical driving experience, it is advised that you start your practical lessons first. The content you need to cover for the theory test will make more sense after you have some experience on the road.
Can I sit my practical test before doing my theory test?
No. You must sit and pass your theory test before you’re able to do your practical test. The DVSA states that you must take your theory test certificate to the practical test.
What’s the theory test pass mark?
- The driving theory test pass mark is 43/50 for the multiple-choice test and 44/75 for the hazard perception test.
The motorcycle theory test pass mark is 43/50 for the multiple-choice test and 44/75 for the hazard perception test.
The HGV / LGV theory test pass mark is 85/100 for the multiple-choice tests and 67/100 for the hazard perception test.
The PCV theory test pass mark is 85/100 for the multiple-choice tests and 67/100 for the hazard perception test.
How long is a driving theory test?
The whole theory test for car and motorcycle candidates will take about an hour and a half to complete. This consists of:
15-minute practice session before the start of the test (optional)
57 minutes for the multiple-choice section
3-minute break
20 minutes for the hazard perception test (including the introductory video)
The test is longer for HGV/LGV and PCV candidates and will take about two and a half hours to finish:
15-minute practice session before the start of the test (optional)
1 hour 55 minutes for the multiple-choice section
3-minute break
25 minutes for the hazard perception test (including the introductory video)
Multiple-Choice Theory Test
How many questions are there?
There are 50 questions for driving theory test and motorcycle theory test candidates.
LGV and PCV drivers must attempt 100 questions.
What score do I need to pass this part of the test?
You will need 43/50 if you’re taking a car or motorcycle theory test.
LGV and PCV candidates need to score 85/100 to pass.
How much time will I get to complete the questions?
If you’re a car or motorcycle theory test candidate, you will have 57 minutes to complete the test.
LGV and PCV candidates have up to 1 hour 55 minutes to finish.
How many possible answers are there to each question?
All of the questions will have four answers to choose from listed after the question. One of these is correct and the other three are incorrect. A few years ago, some of the questions may have had more than four options to choose from with several possible correct answers. This has since been changed by the DVSA.
What type of questions will I be asked?
You will be asked knowledge-based questions from a variety of different categories. For car drivers, there are 14 categories which encompass about 900 questions, 50 of which will be randomly chosen to appear in your test. These categories include:
Attitude
Documents
Hazard Awareness
Incidents, Accidents and Emergencies
Motorway Rules
Other Types of Vehicle
Road and Traffic Signs
Rules of the Road
Safety and Your Vehicle
Safety Margins
Vehicle Handling
Vehicle Loading
Vulnerable Road Users
These categories will be slightly different for motorcycle, LGV and PCV candidates. Our practice material covers all of the questions and categories for the different types of vehicles.
Hazard Perception Test
What is the hazard perception test?
The hazard perception test is the second part of the theory test and is a series of CGI video clips with the aim of assessing your ability to recognize developing hazards on the road. The test demonstrates your knowledge of potential risks associated with driving. This includes risks to you as a driver, risks to your passengers and risks to other road users.
Why do I need to take the hazard perception test?
The test was introduced by the DVSA in 2002 with the aim of ensuring that new drivers have a certain level of hazard awareness before taking to the roads. Newly qualified drivers are more likely to be involved in road traffic collisions in comparison to their more experienced counterparts, as a result of a lack of hazard awareness. In fact, learner drivers and new drivers are up to two seconds slower at identifying hazards than more experienced drivers. This is partly because they spend more time thinking about using the car’s controls and less time focusing on what’s going on around them. Studies have shown that the hazard perception test has successfully helped to reduce the number of accidents in the first year of driving.
How does the hazard perception test work?
Read more about the hazard perception test and how it works on our hazard perception test page. Consider signing up for an account for full access to our hazard perception video library.
Theory Test Preparation
How should I prepare for my driving theory test?
The best way to prepare for the multiple-choice part of the theory test is to practice our theory test revision questions and answers. The mock tests featured on our website encompass everything you will need to know for your test. We have also put together mock tests that contain questions specific to each of the 14 driving theory test categories. Keep attempting these mock tests until you gain a good understanding of the questions and are able to pass each time.
As well as theorytest.org.uk, there are other valuable resources which will aid you in your theory test revision. These are:
- The Official Highway Code – the theory test gets its questions from the Highway Code; you need to be familiar with it before your tests. Although quite a lengthy read, you should buy a copy and revisit it when you need to. We also have an online version on this website.
- Know your Traffic Signs – one of the lengthiest categories and one that candidates don’t generally do so well in is road signs. If you can, buy a copy. It will help you with your theory test revision and come of use later on in your driving career when you come across unfamiliar road signs.
When should I start studying for my theory test?
You should give yourself plenty of time to study and familiarise yourself with the driving theory test questions and answers before booking your theory test. There is a large amount to cover so ideally you will want to do small amounts over a longer space of time rather than cram it in at the last minute. Although people’s learning abilities vary, you should start your preparation at least a few weeks before you book your test. Remember, if there’s anything you’re unsure about, ask your driving instructor.
Do I have to learn all the questions and answers?
You don’t need to learn the entire bank of practice questions and answers. In fact, it would be quite hard to learn them all – there are over 900. The key is to understand the basics of driving and safety and apply this knowledge to the questions you come across. You will find that you can work out the vast majority of them. Many can also be answered by just applying a little common sense. There are some questions, however, which you will need to memorise. Questions relating to stopping distances are one such example.
Is the theory test hard?
This is a fairly common question. The national pass rate is about 50%, which would suggest that the driving theory test is quite difficult. You can increase your chances of passing by preparing and revising sufficiently. The hazard perception test is often considered the more difficult of the two parts of the theory test, but despite this, preparation for this section is often overlooked, leading to people failing the section and failing the theory test as a whole. Remember, you need to pass both parts of the theory test so you should spend generous amounts of time preparing for them both.
How should I prepare for the hazard perception test?
The hazard perception test is harder to prepare for than the multiple-choice section because you won’t be able to practice with the real video clips that will be used during your test. This is because the whole idea of the hazard perception element of the theory test is to see how fast you can identify and react to hazards you haven’t seen before. If you have already seen the videos and identified the hazards beforehand, the test won’t be of much use. With that being said, we have received reports of individuals coming across some of the videos we have in our hazard perception video library in their actual tests.
The best way to prepare for the hazard perception test is to practice with as many video clips as possible. We have a number of CGI clips and real-life videos in our library which will help you to prepare sufficiently. Your driving instructor should also be able to help you learn hazard perception skills and can give you plenty of practice in what to look out for when driving, how to anticipate hazards and what action to take when having to deal with different types of hazards. For this reason, it is important that you take driving lessons with a qualified driving instructor from a reputable driving school.
Are there any trick questions in the theory test?
No. The test hasn’t been designed to catch you out. Just make sure you read the question properly and select the most logical answer.
Theory Test Booking
How do I book my theory test?
You can book your driving theory test at the government website www.gov.uk/book-theory-test. Before you start, you will need the following to hand:
- your UK driving licence number
- a credit or debit card
- an e-mail address (if you don’t have access to one, you will need to call DVSA theory test booking support and make your appointment over the phone).
Residents of Northern Ireland need to book their test at the following website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/book-change-or-cancel-your-theory-test-online.
You should be able to get a test time and date in the following two weeks. You should receive an e-mail confirming the details of your booking shortly after making your application along with a booking reference number.
Warning: Beware of unofficial driving theory test booking websites. Ensure the website you’re using has .gov.uk in the web address.
If you would prefer to book by phone, the number to call is 0300 200 1122. Phone lines are open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Your appointment letter should arrive in the post within 10 days of making the booking.
How much does a driving theory test cost to book?
Car and motorcycle theory tests cost £23.
LGV and PCV theory tests cost £26 for the multiple-choice section, £11 for the hazard perception test and £23 for the case studies section.
English is not my first language. Can I do my theory test in a different language?
Candidates can only take the test in English or Welsh. Foreign language voice-overs or interpreters cannot be used.
Before April 2014, candidates were able to sit the theory test in 21 different languages including Arabic and Urdu.
If you’re a Northern Ireland resident, click here for more details.
Where can I sit my theory test?
There are over 150 theory test centres in England, Scotland and Wales, and six in Northern Ireland. Find out what your nearest theory test centre is by asking your driving instructor or by entering your postcode here.
When can I do my theory test?
When booking your test, you will be able to select a time and a date of your choosing. Most theory test centres are open on weekdays and some also operate on evenings and Saturdays.
If you have a reading difficulty such as dyslexia, a disability or a health condition, you need to contact the DVSA before booking your test to discuss your options. See the government website for more details.
I haven’t received confirmation of my booking. What should I do?
If you have booked online, you should receive an e-mail shortly after scheduling the test. Check your spam folder if you can’t see a confirmation e-mail in your inbox. If you’ve booked over the phone, your confirmation letter should be within you within 10 days. Contact the DVSA customer service number on 0300 200 1122 if you haven’t received confirmation of your test.
How do I change my driving theory test appointment?
You can change your driving theory test appointment online at https://www.gov.uk/change-theory-test. You can use this service to find an earlier date, move your appointment to a later date or change your test centre. Alternatively, call DVSA customer support on 0300 200 1122 from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.
Changes must be made at least 3 clear working days before your test date or you’ll have to make another payment. Sundays and public holidays aren’t considered working days.
Changes made at short notice are only permitted in the following scenarios:
- If you have an illness or injury and are able to provide medical evidence
- If you’re dealing with a bereavement
- If your theory test appointment clashes with a school exam
In these instances, you may rebook your test at no extra charge although you won’t be issued with a refund.
How do I cancel my theory test appointment?
If you want to cancel your theory test appointment altogether, you can do so online at https://www.gov.uk/cancel-theory-test. Alternatively, call DVSA customer support on 0300 200 1122 from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.
Cancellations must be made at least 3 clear working days before the date of the test in order to receive a full refund. Sundays and public holidays aren’t considered working days.
