The DSA theory test for car drivers has to be taken & passed before a learner driver can apply for the practical driving test. Contrary to some peoples belief the theory test does not have to be passed before the start of driving lessons.
The theory test should not be taken in haste as the theory test pass certificate only has a two year validation. After two years, if the practical driving test has not been passed then the theory test has to be taken again. Two years might seem a long time but I personally know of a lot of learner drivers who have to re-take it, despite passing it first time. The DSA have 25,000 learner drivers each year who pass their theory test but have not taken a driving test within their 2 year limit.
Theory test - the facts
Your theory test is only a very small part of your driving career
The theory test as presented to you by the DSA marketing department is a multiple choice question bank of 50 questions of which you only have to get 43 right to pass. Great you might say, lets look at the theory test book or theory test CD and memorise the answers. Quite a task with over 1,000 questions.
This might well get you a theory test pass, but its doubtful if you will have sufficent knowledge to be a safe driver for life
Seventy five per cent of your theory test questions will be from the Highway code. You should study this small book first, before anything else. The Highway code is the book you will need to follow for the rest of your driving career. The theory test study aids you will not need again after you pass your theory test.
Study the Highway code well and use the other study aids as supplements, instead of the other way round as most students do. It's probably because the other study aids are more expensive and larger than the Highway code that more importance is put on them by students.
The driving Theory test is probably the first exam you will ever take where you are on your own as far as guidance in the requirements of the theory test are shown. At school you would have had a teacher who could show you the best way to study for your theory test. If you are learning to drive some years after you left school then you are probably as much confused as anyone just leaving school.
An average of 62.9% passed their theory test in 2003-04 and latest figures show that this has now fallen to 50% with the introduction of the new question bank and raising of the Hazard Perception test pass mark, now 44 marks out of 75 have to be achieved to get a test pass and 43 marks out of 50 for the theory test.
Theory test learners go missing
The DSA reported last year that over 25,000 learner drivers who passed their theory test, have not yet made a practical driving test appointment and that the 2 year limit on taking their theory test ran out.
There are many reasons why a learner driver would not sit their practical driving test, but in my experience the most probable cause would be that they took their theory test well before they were ready to take a driving test and hence the theory test pass certificate ran out.
Lessons to learn about your theory test
Only take your theory test when you are almost ready to take your driving test. That way if life gets in the way of your driving lessons you have a nice 2 year breathing space.
Fact:You do not need to pass your theory test before you take your driving lessons
About the theory test
The theory test is a touchscreen based test, and consists of two parts. The first part is a series of multiple choice questions and the second part is a test of your hazard perception skills. It is only the multiple choice part that you can practise here
The multiple choice part consists of 50 multiple choice questions. In the actual test you select your answers by simply touching the screen. You need to touch the box alongside the answer or answers you think are correct. If you change your mind and don't want that answer to be selected, touch it again. You can then choose another answer. (This on-line version does not use a touch screen).
A question and several answer options will appear on screen and you have to select the correct answer(s) to the question by using the mouse. Some questions may require more than one answer.
There are 50 questions and you have 57 minutes to complete the test. You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test.
The pass mark for the multiple choice part of the theory test is 43 out of 50.
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 14 video clips 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 Hazard Perception element can be practised here if you subscribe to this commercial web site.
How to study for your theory test
First of all buy yourself the latest Highway Code and then browse through it to get a general overview of the books content. No serious studying at this stage.
Then follow this simple step by step approach
- Set aside a quiet time to study-only needs to be 30 minutes a day
- Choose any topic in your Highway Code book
- Read all you can about that topic e.g red triangular signs. Draw them out, write about them, think where you might see them on the road, think why would you have them on the road etc. make notes
- Finish that study session and have a break before moving on to the next topic of your choice again any topic, no particular order. Repeat this process and when completed have a look again at your red triangular signs (if that's what you chose previously)
- As you can see you are studying a new topic every time and recalling the previous topic on a regular basis
- Carry out this process until you have understood the whole book and feel confident enough to teach your friends a thing or two on the rules of driving.
- Once completed move on to your CD's, Hazard Perception and other study books
- Theory test study books
- Online Theory Test
- Book your theory test
- Practise a theory test online
- Find your nearest theory test centre
- Taking your theory test if you have special needs
- Theory test fee
Fast track your driving lessons
You can fast track your driving lessons if you wish with an intensive driving course.
When you book an intensive driving course you can save money and time. Just think! Learning to drive in 10 days, how good is that?
More details:
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Intensive driving courses Scotland
Theory test
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