Wright Way to Learn

Many people think that they need to pass their theory test before they can start to take driving lessons. This is not the case, you can start driving lessons before you take your theory test. Having said this, you can't book your practical driving test until you have passed your theory test.

Booking your Theory Test

There are three ways that you can do this, call the Driving Standards Agency on 0300 200 1122, or book online using the DSA website, www.dsa.gov.uk or finally you can get a form from me which you can send off to the DSA. The current test fee is £31.

What does the test cover?

The theory test is made up of two parts, a multiple choice part and a hazard perception part. The multiply choice part is taken using a touch screen computer and mouse and the hazard perception part records your responses through the clicking of a computer mouse button.

You will need to pass both parts in one sitting to pass the whole theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other you will fail the whole test and need to take both parts again.

PART ONE - Multiple Choice

Before the test starts you will be given instructions on how the test works. you can also choose to answer some questions in a practice session to get used to the layout of the test, this practice session doesn't count towards your actual test. At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.
A question and several answer options will appear on screen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen, be careful as some questions may require more than one answer.

You will be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes. you can go back and forth between questions and "flag" questions that you want to come back to later in the test.

The Pass Mark required is 43/50

After the multiple choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part of the test begins.

PART TWO - Hazard Perception

You will be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception test works.

The hazard perception test is also completed on a computer but this time you must respond by clicking on the mouse button.

You will see a series of 14 video clips that 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, so don't turn off when you have seen one developing hazard!

To achieve a high score you will need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of it's development. the maximum you can score for each hazard is 5.

You will not be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test, just like it is on the road, you will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.

The Pass Mark required is 44/75

At the end of the test

At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you will be asked if you want to answer a number of customer survey questions. You do not have to answer these questions if you don't want to, and any information that you give is done so anonymously and confidentially. The survey questions do not affect the result of the test. When you have done this you can leave the examination room. Once you have left the room, you cannot re-enter.

You will then be given your result by the test centre staff, including feedback about any topic areas you answered incorrectly.

Does everybody have the same test paper?

No, the Driving Standards Agency has compiled about 1000 different questions and your test paper will be a random selection of 50 of these questions.

Is there help for people with special needs?

If you have any special needs or difficulties with English then help is available. You can apply for additional time when booking the test. You can also choose to listen to the text being read in English through a headset, which should help those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.

Fifteen other languages are available including: Welsh; Bengali; Cantonese; Hindi; Gujerati; Punjabi; Urdu; Turkish; Arabic; Tamil; Portuguese; Farsi; Albanian; Spanish; and Kurdish.

A video of the test in British Sign Language is also available on screen for candidates who are deaf or have other hearing difficulties.