What You Need to Know About the DVSA Theory Test
- All learner drivers need to pass the DVLA theory test before they can book a practical driving test.
- If you want to receive a different category driving licence, for example a lorry or bus licence, then you will also need to take a theory test.
- There are two parts to the DVLA theory test. A multiple-choice part and a hazard perception part.
- The multiple-choice theory test for cars and motorcycles lasts for 57 minutes and you must achieve a mark of at least 43 correct answers out of 50 to pass.
- A car theory test costs £31 and the car practical test normally costs £62. The full rates for different vehicles click here >>
- You may reschedule a theory test and won’t be charged for it as long as you give 3 clear working days notice. Sundays and bank holidays don’t count as working days.
- You need to bring both parts of your driving licence - the photocard and the paper counterpart. For more info click here >>
- If you want to receive a different category driving licence, for example a lorry or bus licence, then you will also need to take a theory test.
- There are two parts to the DVLA theory test. A multiple-choice part and a hazard perception part.
- The multiple-choice theory test for cars and motorcycles lasts for 57 minutes and you must achieve a mark of at least 43 correct answers out of 50 to pass.
- A car theory test costs £31 and the car practical test normally costs £62. The full rates for different vehicles click here >>
- You may reschedule a theory test and won’t be charged for it as long as you give 3 clear working days notice. Sundays and bank holidays don’t count as working days.
- You need to bring both parts of your driving licence - the photocard and the paper counterpart. For more info click here >>
The Theory Test Explained
The DVLA Theory Test must be taken and passed before a learner driver can book their practical driving test. The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple-choice part and the hazard perception part, both of which are taken in the same sitting for car and motorcycle tests. If you pass one part and fail the other, you will fail the whole driving theory test, and you will need to take both parts again. test. Each part of the test is explored here >>
Who Has to Take a Theory Test?
The Two Sections of The Driving Theory Test:
Multiple Choice: The theory test is a computer-based test at tests centres around the country. This section is designed to test your understanding of the theory behind driving.
Before the driving theory test starts you will be given instructions on how the test works. You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple-choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice session, the real test will begin.
You will have 57 minutes to complete the test (car and motorcycle test). There is a 15-minute practice session you can work through before starting the tests.
The questions in each multiple choice test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for, i.e. a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in any other test.
A question and several answer options will appear on screen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.
You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test. After the multiple-choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.
For car and motorcycle theory tests you will be asked 45 randomly selected multiple-choice questions and 5 case study style questions in 57 minutes. You need to get at least 43 right to pass. For lorries and buses you will be asked 100 questions in 1 hour and 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
Hazard Perception: After the break you will then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception part works.
This forms a second section of the theory test and must be passed at the same time (cars and motorcycles). This section is designed to test your awareness of potential hazards whilst driving.
The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse.
You will be presented with a series of 14 video clips each about one minute long, which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.
The videos feature various types of hazard, such as road conditions, vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
The earlier you spot a hazard developing that may require the driver to take some action, the higher the score.
In case of car and motorcycle tests, there are 15 scoreable hazards and candidates can score up to 5 points on each hazard. Lorry and bus tests contain 19 video clips with a total of 20 scoreable hazards (one clip will have two developing hazards).
Unlike the multiple-choice questions, for the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, e.g. car, motorcycle, heavy vehicle etc, each vehicle category takes the same test, however the number of video clips in the test, and the pass mark is different for each category of tests.
You will not be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; same as on the road, you will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.
The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75. For lorries and buses, the pass mark is 67 out of 100.
How Do I Book My Theory Test?
Make sure you have your provisional licence to hand and you can:
Book online
or
Telephone: 0300 200 1122 (English bookings), 0300 200 1188 (English enquiries), 0300 200 1133 (Welsh bookings) Textphone: 0300 200 1166 Fax: 0300 200 1177 Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
How to Prepare for The Theory Test
http://1driver.co.uk has everything you need to start preparing for your test. Not only do we have the full DVSA theory test question bank, but we have hazard perception clips, a innovative study programme designed to make the learning process as easy as possible, and a pass guarantee scheme.
Special Requirements
The DVSA cater for a variety of special requirements. For example:
Who Has to Take a Theory Test?
- Learners on a provisional licence.
- Those wishing to obtain a licence for a different vehicle category.
- Those with a non-GB licence that isn’t an approved for use in Great Britain. To check yours, you can use
The Two Sections of The Driving Theory Test:
Multiple Choice: The theory test is a computer-based test at tests centres around the country. This section is designed to test your understanding of the theory behind driving.
Before the driving theory test starts you will be given instructions on how the test works. You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple-choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice session, the real test will begin.
You will have 57 minutes to complete the test (car and motorcycle test). There is a 15-minute practice session you can work through before starting the tests.
The questions in each multiple choice test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for, i.e. a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in any other test.
A question and several answer options will appear on screen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.
You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test. After the multiple-choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.
For car and motorcycle theory tests you will be asked 45 randomly selected multiple-choice questions and 5 case study style questions in 57 minutes. You need to get at least 43 right to pass. For lorries and buses you will be asked 100 questions in 1 hour and 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
Hazard Perception: After the break you will then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception part works.
This forms a second section of the theory test and must be passed at the same time (cars and motorcycles). This section is designed to test your awareness of potential hazards whilst driving.
The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse.
You will be presented with a series of 14 video clips each about one minute long, which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.
The videos feature various types of hazard, such as road conditions, vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
The earlier you spot a hazard developing that may require the driver to take some action, the higher the score.
In case of car and motorcycle tests, there are 15 scoreable hazards and candidates can score up to 5 points on each hazard. Lorry and bus tests contain 19 video clips with a total of 20 scoreable hazards (one clip will have two developing hazards).
Unlike the multiple-choice questions, for the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, e.g. car, motorcycle, heavy vehicle etc, each vehicle category takes the same test, however the number of video clips in the test, and the pass mark is different for each category of tests.
You will not be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; same as on the road, you will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.
The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75. For lorries and buses, the pass mark is 67 out of 100.
How Do I Book My Theory Test?
Make sure you have your provisional licence to hand and you can:
Book online
or
Telephone: 0300 200 1122 (English bookings), 0300 200 1188 (English enquiries), 0300 200 1133 (Welsh bookings) Textphone: 0300 200 1166 Fax: 0300 200 1177 Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
How to Prepare for The Theory Test
http://1driver.co.uk has everything you need to start preparing for your test. Not only do we have the full DVSA theory test question bank, but we have hazard perception clips, a innovative study programme designed to make the learning process as easy as possible, and a pass guarantee scheme.
Special Requirements
The DVSA cater for a variety of special requirements. For example:
- Reading difficulties.
- Hearing difficulties.
- Other special needs.