Tips for the Driving Theory Test

What is the driving theory test?

The UK driving theory test is the second step towards gaining your full driving licence, after you've applied for and received your provisional licence. Before you can take your practical driving test, you need to pass your theory test. It’s a really important part of learning to drive: when you get to your practical test, you’ll need to show that you can use what you learn for this test when you’re driving on the road.

The Importance of Preparing for Your Theory Test

It’s vital to prepare for your theory test, better prepared you are, the more likely you are to pass first time, which will save you the time and money that retaking the test will cost. Although you can have as many attempts as you want at the theory test, the car theory test costs £23.00 each time to take the test. You might have to wait as long as two weeks for an available slot in London and other towns or cities. If you keep failing the theory test through poor preparation, this may even affect your performance in your driving lessons.

However, with enough practice under your belt, and our comprehensive guide to help you pass your driving theory test first time around, the theory exam isn't as daunting as it might sound.

The driving theory test is broken up into two parts:

• The multiple choice part
• The hazard perception part.

How to prepare for your theory test is something that many people ask us and our driving instructors. Do I go for a smart phone software-based (app) Theory Test package or should I be revising from a book? There is no right or wrong answer, you can use books and software (App) to revise for the theory test and take practice tests. but something to remember is that you will be taking the Official Theory Test on a computer. so, using your PC or laptop is the best way to prepare for the real theory test.

Practice makes perfect. Book your theory test

To prepare for your theory test you should study the source material, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recommends that you study:

Multiple choice questions

For the multiple-choice questions in the theory test are based on 3 books.

• The Official Highway Code
• Know Your Traffic Signs.
• The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills

Study The Highway Code

The Highway Code is essential reading, read the Highway Code before you start practicing the Theory Test questions! Knowing the Highway Code is crucial if you want to pass your theory test as these are the rules set by the UK government to ensure that animals, pedestrians, other drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists are safe when you are driving on the road. Make sure you have memorised the Highway Code before you sit your theory test.

Know Your Traffic Signs

A great way of practicing and learning your road signs including signs giving orders, warning signs, direction signs, information signs and road works signs is by using a comprehensive explanation of signing system is given in the Department for Transport’s booklet Know Your Traffic Signs Also, asking family/friends to question on different road signs is another great way to understand, and of course your driving instructor will also be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

Driving the essential skills

Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) produces books in the essential skills range. The books provide everything you need to learn about, and maintain, safe driving or riding skills for life.

Hazard perception

The hazard perception part is delivered on a computer and you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You will be presented with a series of clips which feature every day road scenes. Practice the test first. There are plenty of online practice hazard perception tests so you know what to expect, in each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards. Know what a ‘developing hazard’ is and how to identify one, click as soon as you notice a potential hazard that might turn into a ‘developing hazard’, Don’t overdo the clicking – this will count against you

Theory test 2021: official DVSA guide

Driving theory test official DVSA video guide

Mock test Practice makes perfect.

The Theory test take a lot of revision and practice and if you wish to pass first time! We highly recommend that before you pay for your theory test and sit it, you take a couple of mock theory tests so you can get used to what type of questions might come up when sitting the test. This should make you more confident when doing the test and boosting your confidence. you'll find plenty of mock theory tests, including officially sanctioned Government tests. The majority of these are free, and will be useful to get used to how the test is structured and what to expect.

Book your theory test, Take your ID

To take a theory test, you must book in advance at an approved driving theory test centre. At the test centre, you will need your provisional photocard driving licence with you. If, for some reason, you don't have your provisional photocard licence with you, you won't be able to take your theory test!

At the end of the test, you will receive your results and, if you pass, a certificate, which is valid for two years. If you do not pass your practical driving test within two years of passing your theory test, then you will have to retake the theory test.