Whilst the world has seemingly come to a halt, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the precautionary restrictions that it’s imposed, post lockdown driving lessons and tests have been suspended, along with the opening of theory test centres. However, there’s no reason to abandon all hope, as now could be the perfect time to brush up on your theory knowledge so that you’re ready and raring to go when the test centres reopen! Use this time wisely and you could be one of the first new drivers to grace the roads in our post-Covid society.
Allow us to give you a little help along the way with our top tips and advice below!
What to expect
The theory test is split into two parts:
- Multiple-choice questions – 50 questions to be completed within 57 minutes. You need to get a minimum of 43 correct answers to pass. Some of these questions will be based on case studies, which present you will real-life situations that you may come across when driving.
- Hazard Perception test – You’ll be shown 14 one-minute long videos in which you must identify the hazard/s. You’ll need to get a minimum of 44/75 points to pass. This is the more interactive part of the test, and also where the DVSA may try to catch you out. One of the videos will contain two developing hazards so you must be giving this portion your full attention. All you have to do is click the mouse whenever you see a new hazard coming, with each click having a maximum score of five points. You’ll receive more points the earlier that you identify the hazard.
Resources
- There are several resources to help get you in the know ahead of your theory test. We recommend getting yourself a copy of The Highway Code as a starting point, as this is essentially what the theory test is based on!
- Make sure you’ve had a look at all of the possible theory test questions – there are 730 stored in the DVSA revision bank, so you should definitely use them as a starting point for your studying sessions.
- Another helpful tool that’s proved to be popular over the years, is downloading a driving test app, which are designed to help you with your theory test, as well as hazard perception and The Highway Code. The most used app appears to be Driving Theory Test 4 in 1. If you use this resource then please note that to make sure you’re getting the chance to answer every available question you must go to ‘settings’ and select both ‘questions not yet seen’ and ‘questions previously answered incorrectly. You don’t want to miss out on any!
Revision Tips
- Might sound like a no-brainer, but make sure to recap the topics that you found the hardest! These often tend to be stopping distances, reflective studs, essential documents, emergency vehicles and general safety when in your car.
- Similarly, make sure that you’re flagging up any questions that you’re struggling with throughout your practice tests, so that you can revisit and re-revise these topics at the end.
- To be almost certain that you’ll ace the real deal, make sure that you’re passing at least five mock theory tests in a row, with at least five minutes to spare at the end of each one. This will be a good indicator of your ability to pass the final exam.
- Make sure that you’re reading each question, and its answer choices, carefully. Then read the question again, before deciding on your answer. The general rule is to spend around one minute on each question, just to make sure that you fully understand what it’s asking you.
What to take
When the time comes and you’re finally allowed to take your theory test, here’s what you need to know:
- Bring your UK provisional driving licence with you, otherwise you won’t be allowed to take the test.
- You’re not allowed to take personal items into the test room with you, such as mobile phones, earphones, watches and bags.
