Sitting the Theory Test

Once you have booked your theory test you should receive written confirmation from the DSA. Make sure to check the time, date and location of your test on the card. If you wish to cancel the booking or change the date or location you can do so via telephone or online as long as you provide the DSA with at least three clear working days notice.

Try to turn up at the test centre at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. If you are late you may not be able to sit your test and may lose your fee.

When you attend the test you need to bring with you

• Your appointment card or booking number and
• Both parts of your photocard licence (the photocard and the paper counterpart)  

If you do not bring the appropriate documents you will not be able to sit the test and you will lose your fee!

Once the theory test invigilator has checked your documents and completed the registration you will be taken through to the test room. You may not take any personal items with you. All items should be placed in the lockers provided.

In the test room there will be a number of computer screens. The invigilator will show you to the screen you will use; it should display your name and the category of test you are sitting. You may not talk or communicate with any of other candidates. If you have any problems you should attract the attention of invigilator.

The theory test is made up of two elements: the multiple-choice question & answer section and the hazard perception section. At present you sit the multiple-choice question & answer section first.

Multiple-choice Section

• Before the test begins the computer screen will display instructions on how this section works. If you wish, you may try some sample questions to get used to the layout of the test.
• When the test begins 50 questions will be randomly selected from the DSA’s question bank. The screen will display one question at a time together with a choice of answers. Also displayed will be an instruction as to how many answers you should select; it will be between 1 and 4. If you don’t select all of the right answers you will not get a mark.
• To select an answer touch the button on the screen next to the appropriate answer. The background of the answer text will change colour to indicate your choice. You can move backwards or forwards through the questions by pressing the ‘next’ or ‘previous’ buttons.
• If you wish to highlight a particular question so that you can come back to it later press the ‘flag’ button.
• You can press the review button at any point during the test and you will be provided with a summary of
• • how many questions you have answered,
  • how many are unanswered and
  • how many questions you have flagged.

From this review screen you can review all of the questions, review only the unanswered questions or review only the questions you have flagged.

You are allowed 57 minutes to answer all of the questions. Once you are satisfied with your answers you can end the test or if you have run out of time the test will come to an end. The minimum pass mark is 43 out of 50 correct answers.