Part One -
Before the test starts you'll be given instructions on
how the test works. You can also choose to go through a practice session of the multiple
choice questions to get used to the layout of the test. At the end of the practice
session the real test will begin. A question and several answer options will appear
onscreen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the
screen. Some questions may require more than one answer. For cars and motorcycles
you'll be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes and the pass mark is 43 out of 50. You
can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to
later in the test. After the multiple choice part you can choose to have a break
of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.
Part Two -
After the break you'll then be shown a short tutorial
video clip about how the hazard perception part works. The hazard perception part
is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse.
You'll be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road
scenes. In each clip there'll be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips
will feature two developing hazards. To achieve a high score you'll need to respond
to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you
can score on each hazard is five. You won't be able to review your answers to the
hazard perception test; as on the road, you'll only have one chance to respond to
the developing hazard. The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception
part of the theory test is 44 out of 75.
At The End Of The Test
At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test
you'll be invited to answer a number of customer survey questions. You don't have
to answer the questions if you don't want to, and any information given is anonymous
and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test. When
you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once you have left
the room, you'll not be allowed to enter it again. You'll then be given your result
by the test centre staff.
The Theory Test Explained
The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice
part and the hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory
test. Once you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical
driving test. The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer
and the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer
mouse button. If you pass one part and fail the other you'll fail the whole test,
and you'll need to take both parts again. The questions in each multiple choice test
vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for,
ie a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in
any other test. For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for
different vehicles, each vehicle category takes the same test, however the pass mark
is different for different categories of tests.