Tests | Driving

To gain your full driving license you will have to pass both driving tests, your theory test followed by your practical test.  You are ineligible to do your practical test until you have passed your theory.  

Theory 

Multiple Choice Test 

Your theory test is essentially your “driving paper exam”. It comprises of two sections, a multiple-choice question test, followed by a Hazard Perception test. You must achieve a pass on both sections of the theory test to pass overall. 

The exam section is a simple multiple-choice test containing 50 questions. Ranging from questions about road signs, to what the logos on your dashboard mean. To pass this section you need to answer 43 out of 50 multiple choice questions correctly. (Pass mark is 86%). There are over 700 questions in the bank that could be given to you so make sure you know have a wide range of knowledge! 

Hazard Perception 

When it comes to the Hazard Perception test, you will be presented with 14 videos (60 seconds each). This section carries a total of 75 marks, you need 44 marks to pass. 13/14 videos will contain 1 hazard. While 1 will contain two (These can be in any order so keep an eye out for the extra hazard) 

With the hazard perception the goal is simple. Click as soon as you see a potential hazard, it could be a car pulling out, a child crossing the street or some issues regarding the weather (ice, fog, puddles etc). Be wary that clicking too much can also render that video exempt. You don’t want to think you can pass by continuously clicking through the video. Don’t over click and make sure to stay alert! 

Top Tips for your Theory Test 

• Revise, Revise, Revise – Like any exam, you can’t just go in and expect to pass! Get your head into the apps, books and videos that are available. 
• Apps on your phone can be free or purchasable from your App Store. 
• Books/DVDs can be purchased everywhere, from your local book/superstores to online websites! 
• Track what sections you fail on, that extra 5 minutes on the trickier questions always prove valuable! 
• Brush up on your hazard spotting, if you have any free time! Walking to lectures? Sat waiting for your pasta to cook? Watch a hazard video! 
• Don’t forget your license when you go to the Test Centre – The amount of people that have to reschedule their Theory Test because they made the small mistake of not bringing their license with them! 

Practical 

The practical test is your final part before you’re able to drive on your very own! Being the most important and requiring a lot of concentration. Your instructor will usually approach you and tell you when you are ready to take the test. This goes back to the first spot of advice in choosing your instructor, as at the end of the day, a pupil is only as good as the teacher!  

When it comes to the practical test, you can choose for your driving instructor to sit in the car with you, or just you and the examiner.  It can be a really intimidating situation for some, so choose what is most comfortable for you. 

When the exam begins the examiner will first ask you some questions. The first task being able to read a Registration plate from 20 metres clearly.  

Following this is the “Show me, tell me” section. The show me section requires you to do an action showing the examiner you understand the car you are in. This could be questions ranging from “show me how you would wash and clean the front screen” or “show me how you would open and close the side window.  

With the tell me section you simply have to explain how you would do something - 

An example being 

Q -  “Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.” 

A – Tell the instructor you would check your dashboard where a warning light should be signalling if there was a problem.  

Some more examples of the kind of question you would be asked can be found here -  

http://bit.ly/2OYWB4X 

Breakdown of learning to drive