Theory test: how many questions, how long, and the pass mark

The car theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you have 57 minutes to answer them. You need 43 correct answers to pass. After a short break, you take a second part called hazard perception, with 14 video clips, and you must pass both parts on the same day to pass the test.

That's the short answer. Below is everything else about the format, so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.

The two parts at a glance

The theory test is one test made of two parts. You book them together, take them in one visit and get one result.

	Multiple-choice	Hazard perception
What you do	Answer questions on screen	Click when you spot a hazard developing in a video
How many	50 questions	14 video clips
Time	57 minutes	Set by the clips (each one plays once)
Pass mark	43 out of 50	44 out of 75
Can you go back?	Yes	No

You can't pass on a strong score in one part to make up for the other. A perfect 50 out of 50 still fails if your hazard perception score is below 44.

The multiple-choice part: 50 questions in 57 minutes

Before the real questions start, you get instructions and a practice question so you can get used to the screen. The 50 questions cover the whole syllabus, from alertness and attitude to motorway rules, road signs and what to do after a collision. Read each question carefully: some ask you to choose more than one answer, and the question tells you how many.

Video questions

Three of the 50 questions are based on a short video clip with no sound. The clip shows an ordinary driving situation, for example a busy town centre or a country road. You then answer a question about what you saw. You can watch the clip as many times as you like, so there is no need to rush it.

Flagging and changing answers

You can flag a question, which means marking it to come back to later. You can also go back to any question and change your answer at any time before you finish. If you answer everything early, you can end this part before the 57 minutes are up.

57 minutes for 50 questions is a little over a minute each. Many questions take seconds, so a sensible approach is:

1. Go through all 50 questions once, answering the ones you're sure about.
2. Flag anything you're unsure of and move on.
3. Use the time left to return to your flagged questions.
4. Check that you have answered every question before you finish. A blank answer can only be wrong.

How many can you get wrong?

The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so you can get up to 7 questions wrong and still pass this part. Seven sounds like plenty, but they go quickly on a bad day. Aim to score well above 43 in your practice tests before you book.

The break between the two parts

When the multiple-choice part ends, you can take a break of up to 3 minutes before hazard perception begins. Use it to breathe, sit back and reset. Hazard perception needs a different kind of attention: watching and reacting rather than reading.

The hazard perception part: 14 clips

Before the clips start, you watch a short video that explains how this part works.

Each of the 14 clips shows everyday road scenes filmed from a driver's point of view. Every clip contains at least one developing hazard. That's something that would make you take action as a driver, such as slowing down or changing direction. For example, a child stepping towards the kerb ahead, or a car starting to pull out of a side road. One of the 14 clips has two developing hazards, so there are 15 to find in total.

How scoring works

• Each developing hazard is worth up to 5 points. The earlier you click once the hazard starts to develop, the more points you get.
• With 15 hazards at 5 points each, the most you can score is 75. You need 44 to pass.
• You do not lose points for clicking at something that turns out not to be a hazard.
• If you click non-stop, or in a regular pattern, you score zero for that clip.
• Each clip plays only once. You cannot rewind it or change your clicks.

UK Theory Ready covers the multiple-choice part only, so practise hazard perception with clips made for it, to get used to how the real clips look and feel.

Remember: The multiple-choice part has 50 questions in 57 minutes, and the pass mark is 43. Hazard perception has 14 clips with 15 hazards, and the pass mark is 44 out of 75. You must pass both parts in the same sitting. A theory test pass lasts 2 years.

Results, retakes and how long a pass lasts

You get your result at the test centre after you finish.

If you pass, you get a letter with a pass certificate number. You need it when you book your practical driving test. The pass is valid for 2 years. If you do not pass your practical test within those 2 years, you have to take the theory test again.

If you fail, you get a letter that shows which part or parts you did not score enough on. You have to book and take both parts again, even if you passed one of them. You must wait at least 3 working days before you can take the test again.

Booking costs £23 each time, so it's worth being ready before you go. You book on GOV.UK, and you need a provisional driving licence to do it.

If you need extra support

If you have a reading difficulty, a disability or a health condition, you can ask for help when you book. The support on offer includes:

• More time for the multiple-choice part.
• Voiceover: you hear the questions through headphones, in English or Welsh, and can replay them as often as you need.
• A reader and recorder: a member of staff reads the questions aloud and records your answers.
• British Sign Language (BSL): a BSL video shown next to the questions, or your own BSL interpreter at no extra cost.

For extra help with reading difficulties, you'll need to send proof, such as a letter from a teacher or doctor. The GOV.UK page on support at the theory test explains what counts and how to send it.

How to use these numbers when you practise

Knowing the format helps you practise the right way.

• Practise in full, timed sets. Do 50 questions in 57 minutes, so the real thing feels familiar. Try the free practice test to see where you are.
• Learn the numbers that come up. Stopping distances, speed limits and legal limits are easy marks once you know them. Our key numbers page puts them in one place.
• Work topic by topic. If one area keeps costing you marks, study it on its own. Good places to start are road and traffic signs, safety margins and rules of the road.
• Don't forget the licence questions. Facts like how long a theory pass lasts, or the age you can start driving a car, appear in the documents topic. Most people can start at 17.

Quick summary

• 50 multiple-choice questions, 57 minutes, pass mark 43.
• 3 of those questions are based on a silent video you can replay.
• You can flag questions and change answers in the multiple-choice part.
• Up to a 3 minute break, then 14 hazard perception clips with 15 hazards.
• Up to 5 points per hazard, pass mark 44 out of 75, and no second chance on any clip.
• Pass both parts in one sitting. A pass lasts 2 years. After a fail, wait at least 3 working days.