Learning to drive: Practical and theory tests

Find out everything you need to know about the tests by reading our essential guide.

Theory test

You’ll need to pass the theory test before taking the practical test. The test can be booked on the DSA’s website - you’ll need your provisional license handy and £28.

You can sit the theory test at any test centre. There are 161 regional centres to choose from in the UK.

The test itself is split into two sections:

1. Multiple choice

This part is carried out using a touch screen computer. You’ll need to get 43 out of 50 questions right.

There are some optional practice questions to complete before the test, to help get you used to the system. Each question in the multiple choice test has four possible answers and there is a time limit of 57 minutes – so you have just over one minute to answer each question.

Few questions will require more than one answer. You can mark, or 'flag' questions you want to come back to later in the test.

The lorries and buses test is 70 minutes long with the pass mark set at 51 out of 60.

Summary:
• 50 questions in total
• 43 questions need to be answered correctly
• Time limit – 57 minutes
• Four possible answers per question
• You will need to mark one, two or three answers depending on the question

2. Hazard perception

The second part of the theory test is a response assessment, where the learner driver must click a mouse button whenever a hazard appears on the screen.

Before this part of the test begins, an instructional video will be shown. You must click once when a hazard appears, then click again when the hazard develops further. There are 14 videos, with one hazard and five possible marks per video. Bear in mind one of the videos has two hazards.

If you click at random intervals or click too often, you will fail that specific video.

There are 75 possible points; with a pass mark of 44. For lorries and buses the pass mark is 50.

You’ll find out on the day if you’ve passed or not.

Summary:
• 14 videos in total
• 5 maximum marks per video
• You need at least 47 marks answered correctly to pass
• There is a possible 75 marks to obtain
• One video has two hazards – all others just have one

Practical test

To book a practical test, visit the DSA’s website or call 0870 0101 372.

Make sure you have a provisional license, your theory test certificate number and a code from your driving instructor before booking. The test costs £48.50 to book, or £58.50 on weekends.

The test will start off with some vehicle safety “show and tell” questions and an eyesight test, to make sure you can read a number plate 20.5 metres away.

You can download all the possible vehicle safety questions from the Government’s motoring website.

The practical test will last about 40 minutes. You can make up to 15 minor driving faults and still pass the test. However, if you commit one major fault, such as a serious or dangerous action, you will fail the test.

What you will be tested on

You will be examined on general driving and two reversing exercises. The reverse manoeuvres you’ll be asked to perform will be chosen from the following:

• Left reversing round a corner
• Turning in the road (three point turn)
• Reverse parking (parallel park)

You’ll be asked to turn, park and follow the road ahead at certain points. The examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.

You may be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise or travel on a dual carriageway.

If you pass, you will be asked if you want your full driving licence issued to you automatically. If you do, the examiner will take the licence from you, scan the details, send them to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and give you a pass certificate. Your full licence will be sent to you within three weeks of passing your test.

If you don’t want your licence issued automatically you will still be given the pass certificate, but will need to follow the instructions on the back to obtain your full licence.

Essential items

• A provisional license
• A copy of the Highway Code
• A theory test book (such as The Official DSA Theory Test For Car Drivers and Driving Test Success) with past answers
• A CD-ROM of mock hazard perception examples