Theory test
How Many Questions Are in the Driving Theory Test?
Published
The UK car theory test has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you have 57 minutes to answer them. To pass, you need at least 43 correct answers. You must also pass the hazard perception part in the same sitting.
Here's exactly how the test is structured, what the pass marks are, and what to expect on the day.
How many questions are in the theory test?
There are 50 multiple-choice questions in the car theory test, with 57 minutes on the clock. Each question appears on screen with several possible answers, and you select the right one.
Three of the 50 questions are based on a short, silent video clip showing an everyday driving situation, such as driving through a town centre or along a country road. You can replay the video as many times as you like.
A few things that surprise people on the day:
- You can flag questions and come back to them later.
- You can go back and change any answer at any point.
- You don't have to use the full 57 minutes. Finishing early is fine.
- Before the test starts, you get a practice question to get used to the screens.
What is the pass mark for the theory test?
The pass mark is 43 out of 50 for the multiple-choice questions, which works out at 86%. For the hazard perception part, it's 44 out of 75.
| Part | Pass mark | Points available |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 43 | 50 |
| Hazard perception | 44 | 75 |
You must pass both parts in the same sitting. If you score 49/50 on the questions but 40/75 on hazard perception, you fail the whole test and retake both parts next time.
How does the hazard perception test work?
After the multiple-choice questions (and an optional break of up to 3 minutes), you watch 14 video clips of everyday road scenes. Each clip contains at least one developing hazard, and one clip contains two, so there are 15 scoreable hazards in total.
A developing hazard is something that would make you take action, like changing speed or direction. A parked car is not a hazard. The moment its indicator starts flashing and it begins to pull away, it is.
You score up to 5 points per hazard: the earlier you click as the hazard starts to develop, the more points you get. You won't lose points for clicking at the wrong moment, but clicking continuously or in a pattern scores zero for that clip. You get one attempt at each clip, with no reviewing or changing your response.
How much does the theory test cost?
The theory test costs £23 for cars. The price is the same on weekdays, evenings and weekends. Always book through the official GOV.UK service; unofficial booking websites usually charge more for the same test.
How long is a theory test pass valid?
Your pass certificate lasts 2 years. You must pass your practical driving test within that time, otherwise the certificate expires and you have to pass the theory test again. There's no way to extend it.
What happens if you fail?
You get your result at the test centre straight away, with a letter showing which part you didn't score enough on. You must wait at least 3 working days before retaking, and you retake the full test (both parts), even if you passed one of them.
How many questions should you practise?
The 50 questions you'll face are drawn from an official bank of more than 750 car questions, based on The Highway Code, Know Your Traffic Signs and Driving: The Essential Skills. Passing comfortably means covering the whole bank, not memorising a lucky subset.
That's exactly what Drivingo is built for: practise every official practice question with clear explanations, run realistic mock tests against the 43/50 pass mark, and let the AI coach focus your revision on the topics you actually get wrong. Download Drivingo and find out how close to test-ready you already are.
