You are of age now and ready to get behind the wheel. You have been driving under supervision for a few months now and are confident that you know the rules. Get certified for this knowledge and complete the first step of getting your license by sitting the UK theory test.
Here is everything you should know about this test and its subject areas.
What is the UK Theory Test?
The UK theory test is the second step you take towards your license – the first being getting a provisional license to drive. Some candidates start taking driving lessons before they book or attempt this theory test. But that’s not mandatory. If you wish to take the exam without practical experience, you may not score high marks, but it’s doable.
This online exam is conducted in two parts: a multiple-choice section and a hazard perception test. You get 50 questions in the first section and have to score at least 44 points to pass it. Hazard perception test includes 14 video clips presenting developing hazards on the road. You need to spot them timely to pass. Do not rely on your common sense to pass theory and hazard perception tests. Instead, use quality study materials to prepare for the theory test.
After passing the UK theory test, candidates attempt a driving test to get their license. If you use your car to practice for the practical test, you must get it insured for a provisional license. Once you have passed this test, get the right insurance for your car and take it to the road.
What Topics are Included?
The theory test assesses your knowledge about road signs, vehicles, safety measures, and the skill of driving. Consequently, you will be asked about related topics. Get a comprehensive knowledge of driving on the road and the signs you should be able to understand and interpret.
You should know the hazards that may arise on the road and what options are available as responses to these hazards.
Understand the safety margin and show the capacity to evaluate them in real-life. The latter assessment is tested in a driving test rather than a theory test, but it’s good for you to understand it before you attempt the test.
Demonstrate knowledge about vulnerable road users, signs to detect them, and possible responses.
The test may also ask you about the documentation you must keep while driving. In the end, be ready to answer questions about accidents, highway rules, and traffic signs and their meanings.
The hazard perception test assesses a more practical side of your road safety skills by analyzing how quickly and efficiently you perceive hazards. The primary focus of this test is on assessing your alertness. While you can prepare for the first section by understanding and remembering relevant concepts, knowledge alone will not get you a pass on the hazard perception test. Instead, you need to practice spotting hazards to complete this test.
How to Prepare UK Theory Test
You can see that this test covers a variety of topics, and you cannot rely solely on your knowledge about driving or the instructor’s comments during lessons to satisfactorily prepare for the test. DVSA offers three books to prepare for the intensive multiple-choice section. And you can subscribe to its hazard preparation kit to practice the latter section.
Apart from studying these basic resources, you should get revision classes and practice theory tests to guarantee a pass.
Take Away
The UK theory test has two parts that assess your knowledge of road etiquette and driving skill. You can get a pass when you adequately prepare for both parts and succeed in each of them.