Pass your theory test in Bristol.What you need to know........

The theory test explained

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The theory test explained.

You must have a provisional driving licence to book your theory test.

There are 2 parts to the test:

multiple-choice questions

hazard perception - a video test about spotting hazards on the road

You book and take them as a single test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

When you can take the theory test

You can take the theory test from your 17th birthday onwards.

You can take it from your 16th birthday if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Who needs to take the theory test

You usually need to take the theory test before you can get your full car driving licence.

You don’t need to take the car theory test if you:

want to upgrade an automatic car licence to a manual one

already have a category B1 driving licence (3 or 4-wheeled light vehicles)

If you have a moped or motorcycle licence

You must pass a car theory test before taking the car driving test.

If your licence isn’t from Great Britain

Find out if you can drive in Great Britain (GB) with your non-GB licence without taking a theory and driving test.

Change or check your test details

You can change the date of your theory test after you’ve booked it.

You can check your appointment details if you’ve lost your booking confirmation.

Rebook your test

Rebook your theory test if you failed your test and want to resit it. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days away.

Theory test revision and practice

You can use books and software to revise for the theory test and take practice tests.

Multiple-choice questions

The multiple-choice questions in the theory test are based on 3 books:

The Highway Code

Know your traffic signs

Driving - the essential skills

Study these to learn the rules and skills you’ll be tested on.

You can buy them from most high street and online book shops.

Take a practice test

Take a practice theory test to check how much you’ve learnt.

The questions aren’t used in the real test, but they are based on the same topics as the test.

Hazard perception test

To prepare for this test you can use the official guide to hazard perception.

You can buy the guide in these formats:

online for your PC or Mac

app for Apple phones and tablets

app for Android phones and tablets

You can also buy it as an interactive DVD from most high street and online book shops.

Translations into foreign languages

Some official books and software are translated into other languages by approved organisations.

However, you can only take the test in English, Welsh or British Sign Language.

What to take to your test

You must take your UK photocard driving licence to your test.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland, bring the photocard and paper counterpart licence.

Your test will be cancelled and you won’t get your money back if you don’t take the right things with you.

Lost your licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you don’t get the new licence in enough time.

If you have a paper licence

Bring a valid passport as well as your paper licence.

If you don’t have a passport, you need to get a photocard licence.

Personal belongings

You can’t take personal items into the test room with you. This includes things like:

bags

earphones

mobile phones

watches

You have to store any personal items in a locker.

The test centre staff will check if you have anything with you that could be used to cheat. Your test won’t go ahead if you don’t let them check.

It’s illegal to cheat at the theory test. You can be sent to prison and banned from driving.

Multiple-choice questions

You have 57 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions.

Before the test starts you’ll get:

instructions on how the test works

the chance to do some practice questions to get used to the screens

How the test works

A question and several possible answers appear on a screen. You have to select the right answer.

Some questions are given as a case study. The case study will:

show a short story that 5 questions will be based on

be about a real life situation you could come across when driving

Leaving a question

You can ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later.

Changing your answers

You can go back to any question to review and change your answer at any point.

When you’ve finished

You can finish the multiple-choice questions part when you’ve answered all of the questions. You don’t have to use the full 57 minutes.

You can have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception test starts.

The hazard perception test explained....

a hazard perception test question screenshot showing what you expect to see.

Before you start the hazard perception test, you’ll be shown a video about how it works.

You’ll then watch 14 video clips. The clips:

Feature everyday road scenes
Contains at least one ‘developing hazard’
One of the clips features 2 developing hazards

You get points for spotting the developing hazards as soon as they start to happen.

What a ‘developing hazard’ is

A developing hazard is something that would cause you to take action, like changing speed or direction.

Example

A car is parked at the side of the road and isn’t doing anything. It wouldn’t cause you to take action, so it’s not a developing hazard.

When you get closer, the car’s right-hand indicator starts to flash and it starts to move away. You’d need to slow down, so it’s now a developing hazard.

How the scoring works

You can score up to 5 points for each developing hazard.

To get a high score, click the mouse as soon as you see the hazard starting to develop.

You don’t lose points if you click and get it wrong. However, you won’t score anything if you click continuously or in a pattern.

You only get one attempt at each clip. You can’t review or change your responses.

Pass mark and test result.

You’ll get the result at the test centre after taking the theory test. You must pass both parts to pass the test.

Pass mark.

Multiple-choice questions 43/50

Hazard perception 44/75

If you pass

You’ll get a letter with a pass certificate number at the test centre. You need this when you book and take your driving test.

Your pass certificate number lasts for 2 years. You must pass your driving test in that time, otherwise you’ll have to pass the theory test again.

If you fail

You’ll get a letter at the test centre. It’ll tell you which parts you didn’t score enough points on so you know what to practise.

You must book and take the full test again, even if you passed one part this time.

You have to wait at least 3 working days before taking your test again.

If you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition

When you book your theory test you should say if you have a:

reading difficulty

disability

health condition

You have reading difficulties

You can ask to hear the test through headphones when you book your test. You can hear it in English or Welsh.

You can listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as you need to.

Other types of support

You can get other support during your theory test if you send proof that you have reading difficulties.

This can be an email, letter or report from:

a teacher or other educational professional

a doctor or medical professional

You can get:

extra time to take the test

someone to read what’s on the screen and record your answers

someone to reword the questions for you

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will select the best type of support for you unless you say what you’d prefer.

DVSA theory test enquiries

customercare@pearson.com

DVSA Theory Test Enquiries

PO Box 1286

Warrington

WA1 9GN

Extra time to take the test

You can ask for more time to do the multiple choice questions part of the theory test.

Reading what’s on the screen and recording your answers

A member of staff at the test centre can:

read out all the instructions and questions on the screen

record your answers to the questions during the multiple-choice part of the test

Rewording the questions for you

You can ask for a member of staff to reword the theory test questions to make them easier for you to understand.

The person can’t change the technical language that you need to know. But they can change the order of the sentence and other non-technical words and phrases.

You still need to answer each question yourself.

You’re deaf or have a hearing impairment

You can take the theory test in British Sign Language (BSL) if you’re deaf or have a hearing impairment.

A BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.

Take a BSL interpreter

You can have a BSL interpreter with you during the test. Contact DVSA to arrange this. You won’t be charged an extra fee.

DVSA theory test enquiries

hearingsupport@pearson.com

Telephone: 07947241986

Textphone: 0300 200 1166

Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm

Find out about call charges