Prepare for your driving theory test: Hints and tips

To prepare for your theory test you should study the source material, including information about motoring. Find out what information is available and how to use it to help you prepare for your test.

Preparing for the theory test:

The driving theory test is broken up into two parts:

• multiple-choice questions


• hazard perception

Tools and information are available to help you practise and prepare for both parts of the theory test.

The multiple-choice part:

To prepare for the multiple-choice part of the theory test you should use three books known as the 'source material'. They are:

• The Highway Code


• know your traffic signs


• the relevant book from the 'essential skills' range

The Highway Code:

The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone.

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison.

Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway Code could significantly reduce road casualties.

Know your traffic signs:

Traffic signs play a vital role in directing, informing and controlling road users' behaviour. This is to make the roads as safe as possible for everyone. It makes a knowledge of traffic signs vital.

There are three basic types of traffic sign - signs that give orders, signs that warn and signs that give information. Each type has a different shape. A further guide to the function of a sign is its colour.

Practise multiple-choice questions online:

You can take a practice theory test online to test your knowledge and understanding of the source material. It only contains multiple-choice questions. It does not allow you to practise the hazard perception part online.

If you repeatedly score a pass on the practice tests, it does not guarantee a pass when you take the real theory test.

The hazard perception part:

Hazard perception testforms a second section of the theory test and must be passed at the same time.

Integrating theoretical hazard perception test training into the practical training sessions will ensure that as competence is achieved in each of the necessary skills, they can be strengthened and applied while you are on the road to increase the road safety benefits.

This part of the theory test requires you to view 14 hazard video clips on the computer screen of approximately one minute each. You are required to watch these clips as if you were the driver. There will be 15 hazard to find - at least one on each clip. However, one clip will have 2 hazards. The hazard perception test clips will not contain any sound.

The clips feature various types of hazard, such as vehicles, pedestrians and road conditions. You should respond by pressing a mouse button as soon as you see a hazard developing that may result in the driver having to take some action, such as changing speed or direction. The earlier the developing hazard is spotted, and a response made, the higher the score.

Candidates can score up to five marks on each hazard and the test contains 15 scoreable hazards.

You click either the left or right mouse button whenever you think you can see a hazard developing. The speed at which you click the mouse button as a hazard develops will determine your score for that particular hazard perception clips. You can score between 0 and 5 on each hazard.
The pass mark for this part of the test is 44 out of 75 (i.e. 15 hazard x 5) for car drivers and motorcycle riders.
Those taking LGV or PCV (lorry or bus) tests must score at least 50 out of 75.

Source: DSA