Theory Test
When booking your Theory test use the link below, the test fee is £31 only. If the fee is any higher, it's a booking scam- don't get robbed!
Book your Theory Test online
Do you need to take a driving theory test?
If you are a learner driver you must take and pass your theory test before
you book your practical test. If you already have a driving licence you
might not have to take another theory test if you want to start driving
a different vehicle.
UK licence holders
You will need to take a theory test if you want a licence for a new category
of vehicle, for example, if you have a car licence and you want a motorcycle
licence you will need to take a theory test.
If, however, you want to upgrade within a vehicle category you will not
normally need to take a theory test, for example, if you have a full automatic
car licence and you want a manual car licence you will not have to take
a theory test.
It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct licence for
the vehicle you are driving. If you are unsure if you need to take a theory
test please contact the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) or the Driver and
Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Foreign licence holders
If you hold a valid Community licence and you are visiting Great Britain,
you can drive any vehicle for as long as your licence remains valid. The
appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must be shown
on your licence.
The EEA countries are as follows:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
Outside Europe
If you hold a full driving licence issued outside the EEA it may be possible
to exchange it for an equivalent British licence. You should contact the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to find out if you can exchange
your foreign licence.
If you cannot exchange your foreign licence you will have to apply for a
British provisional licence and take a theory and practical test.
The theory test explained
The theory test is made up of a multiple choice part and a hazard perception
part. You need to pass both parts to pass it. Once you have passed the theory
test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.
Taking your theory test
The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer and
the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer
mouse button.
If you pass one part and fail the other you'll fail the whole test, and
you'll need to take both parts again. The questions in each multiple choice
test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a
licence for eg a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions
that don't appear in any other test.
For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different
vehicles, the items are drawn from the same pool, and each vehicle category
takes the same test. However the pass mark is different for different categories
of tests.
Lorry and bus multiple choice and hazard perception tests are booked and
taken separately.
Part one - multiple choice
Before the test starts you'll 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.
A question and several answer options will appear onscreen and you have
to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some
questions may require more than one answer. Some car and motorcycle multiple
choice questions will be given as a case study. The case study will show
a scenario that five questions will be based on. The subject of the scenario
focuses on real life examples and experiences that drivers could come across
when driving.
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.
multiple choice test
Car and motorcycle Time allowed 57 minutes Passmark 43 out of 50
Part two - hazard perception
After the break you'll then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how
the hazard perception part works.
The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond
by clicking a button on the mouse. You'll be presented with a series of
video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there'll be
at least one developing hazard, but one of the car/motorcycle clips will
feature two developing hazards.
To achieve a high score you'll need to respond to the developing hazard
during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each
hazard is five.
You won't be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test;
as on the road, you'll only have one chance to respond to the developing
hazard.
hazard perception test details.
Category Video clips Pass mark
Car and motorcycle 14 clips 15 Developing hazards 44 out of 75
At the end of the test
At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you'll be invited
to answer a number of customer survey questions. You don't have to answer
the questions if you don't want to, and any information given is anonymous
and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test.
When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once
you have left the room, you'll not be allowed to enter it again. You'll
then be given your result by the test centre staff.
