How long does a Theory Test last

If you’re hoping to acquire a full UK driving licence, you’ll need to pass the theory test. After you’ve attained your theory test pass certificate, you’ll be able to book your practical driving assessment. The theory test is designed to assess your understanding of a range of information relating to safely operating a car, and check whether you’re able to efficiently respond to common driving hazards. Therefore, it plays a key role in ensuring licence holders have the required capabilities to competently drive on UK roads.

The theory test is made up of two sections. During the first part of the assessment, you’ll be asked a set of 50 multiple-choice questions. After this, you’ll be required to complete 14 individual hazard perception exercises. You’ll have exactly 57 minutes to provide your responses to the multiple-choice questions. The duration of the hazard perception section of the test is approximately 20 minutes in total. Therefore, you’ll have 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes) to complete the entire assessment.

Theory test duration for each category of vehicle

Here’s a summary of the UK theory test duration and structure for different categories of vehicles:

Navigating the multiple-choice questions

If you fail to answer all 50 multiple-choice questions within the allotted timeframe, only the answers you provide will count towards your final score.

To ensure you move through the test at a suitable pace, we would advise taking advantage of the in-built flagging tool. At the bottom of each question screen, you’ll see a ‘flag’ button. If you’re struggling with a specific question, press this button to mark it unresolved. Upon doing this, the button will turn red. At any stage of the test, you can re-visit any ‘flagged’ questions by clicking the ‘review’ button.

By ensuring you don’t become bogged down in trying to provide answers to particularly challenging questions, you’ll be able to maintain your momentum throughout the test. This will help you to complete the assessment in a calm and efficient fashion. It’s far better to answer the questions you’re most comfortable with first, and return to those that are more difficult after you’ve acquired some points. This should enable you to feel more relaxed, and invest an appropriate amount of time answering each question.

As previously referenced, you’ll have 57 minutes to answer all 50 questions. Therefore, you’ll have more than one minute to provide a response to each question. If you find yourself stuck on the same question for longer than 60 seconds, consider pressing the flag button to move on. Please note that there is a timer in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Therefore, you’ll be able to track how much time you have remaining as you navigate through the assessment.

A common pitfall

Some candidates fall into the trap of assuming multiple-choice assessments are easy. As the correct answer is always visible amongst other possible responses, candidates can gain a false sense of security. While this reality may help you make an educated guess, it doesn’t necessarily offer you an advantage. Furthermore, some multiple-choice questions require you to methodically work out the answer. You may need to perform certain calculations, consider a range of variables, or apply the rules of specific regulatory measures before providing your response. This not only serves to increase the difficulty level of the question but can also add significant time pressure.

Gaining an awareness of timings

You may find yourself requiring the full 57 minutes to complete this part of the assessment. However, most candidates finish comfortably ahead of schedule. You’ll likely take approximately 45 minutes to answer all 50 questions. This gives you sufficient time to re-visit ‘flagged’ questions, and double-check each of your responses. Please ensure you’ve provided an answer to every question, even if this requires you to make several (hopefully educated) guesses. As you only have four possible options to choose from, you’ll have a 25% chance of landing on the correct answer. A single point could be the difference between success and failure, so it’s always worth having a go!

When you’re happy with the responses you’ve provided, click the ‘end test’ button. This will automatically submit your answers to the assessor, and close out the multiple-choice part of the test. You’ll then be able to take a three-minute break, giving you the opportunity to have a brief rest before the hazard perception exercises commence. Although we would encourage you to use the full duration of your break, you do have the option of starting the next part of the assessment whenever you feel ready. Please note that you won’t be able to leave your workstation during this break.

Navigating the hazard perception exercises

Before the first hazard perception exercise begins, you’ll be required to listen to a brief tutorial. An on-screen message will prompt you to use the headphones provided. If you have not received a pair of headphones, please alert a member of the test centre team as soon as possible.

The tutorial will run for approximately five minutes, and provides important information about the upcoming hazard perception exercises. It covers the format and structure of this part of the assessment, and shows you how to submit your responses. Therefore, you must listen carefully to this tutorial and understand each instruction given. You do not need to wear your headphones for the remainder of the assessment, so please place these on your desk after the tutorial video has finished.

What will I need to do during this part of the assessment?

You’ll be required to watch 14 video clips. Each piece of footage depicts a typical scenario you may experience while driving on a public highway. Although the videos are created using CGI technology, they nevertheless provide an accurate portrayal of potential ‘real-life’ situations. All of the videos are filmed from the perspective of the driver, with the camera positioned behind the steering wheel of a car. This is designed to create a simulated experience, giving the candidate the impression that they’re in control of the vehicle being shown on screen.

Your task is to identify the developing hazards in each clip. You must do this by clicking the mouse each time you see a potentially dangerous situation begin to materialise. This may be a child or elderly person approaching a crossing point, a vehicle merging onto your road from a nearby junction, or a cyclist signalling ahead. The quicker you click your mouse to confirm you’ve spotted the risk, the more points you will score. Please note that 13 of the videos contain one developing hazard, with one clip depicting two possible issues.

Gaining an awareness of timings

Each video lasts roughly 60 seconds, and therefore you’ll navigate all 14 hazard perception exercises within 15 minutes. You cannot pause or rewind any clip, and you’ll be unable to re-visit any footage at the end of the assessment. As you’ll be required to listen to the aforementioned short tutorial before watching the footage, it’ll take you a total of 20 minutes to complete this part of the assessment. Given the format of the hazard perception module, this is a standard timeframe of completion for all candidates.

Accounting for other activities

When planning your schedule for the day of your test, there are other factors to consider besides the duration of the assessment itself. Clearly, you’ll need to factor in your travel time. When booking your test slot, we would encourage you to select a test centre located close to your home address. Taking any test can be a stressful experience, so reducing the length and complexity of your journey is a sensible course of action.

The DVSA mandates that all candidates arrive at least 15 minutes before their test is due to start. If you fail to meet this requirement, you may be asked to re-arrange your test for another date. You won’t receive a refund in this scenario, and will have to pay the full booking fee when re-scheduling your assessment. Therefore, please ensure you plan your journey to the test centre carefully, ensuring any required public transport services are active on the day of your assessment.

Before being shown to your workstation, you’ll be subject to a series of security and identification checks. Providing you arrive 15 minutes before your test appointment, there will be more than enough time for a test centre staff member to perform these checks.

Final steps

After you’ve completed both parts of the test, report to the reception desk to collect your results. You’ll initially receive an outcome letter. This will notify you as to whether you have passed or failed the assessment, and provide a breakdown of your scores. If you achieved the required pass score, you’ll also be handed a theory test pass certificate. You’ll be given these documents within minutes of submitting your final answer. Therefore, you won’t need to wait around for a long time at the test centre. Once you’ve received your results, you’ll be able to exit the test centre straightaway.

Taking your theory test – total time investment

Allowing 60 minutes for travel to and from the test centre, approximately an hour and 20 minutes to navigate the full assessment, and five minutes to retrieve your results (and hopefully certificate!), we would suggest it takes most candidates roughly two and a half hours to complete the full theory test process. Therefore, you’ll likely only need to book out a single morning or afternoon to attend your assessment.

Require further info?

If you need any further information about any element of the theory test, we would encourage you to visit the official DVSA website. Here, you can discover how to request assistance from test centre staff to support a disability, health condition, or learning difficulty, book a test slot, and access a list of resources that are specifically designed to help you prepare for this assessment.

You can also discuss any issues directly with the DVSA using the contact details below:

Telephone: 0300 200 1122 (Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm)

e-mail: [email protected]

Please note that when contacting the DVSA, you’ll be required to provide the following personal details:

• Full name (as shown on your provisional driving licence)
• Full address (including postcode)
• Date of Birth
• Provisional driving licence number
• If you’ve already booked your theory test, you’ll be asked to provide your booking reference number.

Good luck!