The UK driving theory test is changing from January 2012.

[whitedevil]

The UK driving theory test is changing from January 2012. New theory tests will be introduced using all new questions that will not be published. This is to encourage learner drivers and motorcycle riders to read, learn and actually think about the highway code rather than just learn the questions and answers.

The way the new theory and hazard perception test is conducted will remain the same, with the same pass marks.


The Theory Test was first introduced 1996. Often refered to as the 'written test', the original theory test used actual papers that the candidate marked with a pencil. The test has been revised over the years with the introduction of computerised touch screens, hazard perception video clips, case study questions and an increase in ther number of questions.

You need to pass the theory test before applying for a practical driving test.

1) You should arrive at the Theory test centre in plenty of time, ideally 30 minutes before the start of the test.

Both Parts of your driving licence (paper and plastic card) are checked by the theory test centre staff. You will be asked to put any belongings such as bags etc into a locker.

2) Your will be shown to your test booth where the test will start once you are ready.

3) You will be able to have a 15 minute practice session if required.

4) You will start with the multiple choice theory test using the touch screen to select your answer/s. You will have 57 minutes to answer the 50 multiple choice questions. The questions will come up one at a time.

If you are not sure of an answer you can 'flag' the question and come back to it later on, and you can also change your answer/s if you think you have made a mistake.

Five of the questions you will be asked will be based upon a case study. You will be given a paragraph or several paragraphs of information relating to an imaginary scenario (such as a trip you may be taking in your car etc etc), and then be asked 5 questions on this case study.

In order to pass the multiple choice section of the test you will need to score at least 43 correct answers out of 50 questions.

5) You will then move on to the hazard percepion element of the test.

After a short instructional video and one practice test video clip the test propper will begin.

You will be shown 14 video clips lasting about 1 minute each. You have to click on the mouse when you see a hazard developing.

One or more of the clips may have more than one hazard in them for you to respond to.

You will need to score at least 44 out of a possible 75 marks to pass this element of the test.

You need to pass both elements (multi choice and hazard perception) in order to pass the theory test. You will be given your result and a certificate if you pass at the end of the test.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[N cee thirty]

better get mine done
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Andy_Pagin]

Questions that won't be published, dream on!
haven't they heard of wikileaks ffs.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[LordShaftesbu...]

Think how hard it will be to get your license in 50 years time. Nobody's going to want to bother.

[Rogerborg]

Source? Not up on the Dft site yet.

And agreed, it'll be a week before all the questions are out there. For one thing, instructors have a financial interest in selling them. It'll be a lark when the DSA start threatening to sue people for publishing them.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[whitedevil]

A mod posted it on another biker site, don't know the source sorry
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[whitedevil]

Here you go

https://assets.dft.gov.uk/dsa/dsa-question-bank-nonpublication-faqs.pdf
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[reddeviljp]

That only confirms that Module 1 in October it is for me. At least Module 1 finished by then and then Module 2 soon after!

Can somebody give me the short summary or is it Jan 2012 or be damned?

[Rogerborg]

Cheers, have a spurt of

It makes sense in principle, but they're deluding themselves if they think the questions won't get published, likely on eBay for £££.

I don't really know why they're bothering, it's not like the theory questions are hard even if you haven't learned them by rote. I'd rather they concentrated on the crappy quality of the hazard clips, maybe even (gasp) put in some motorcycle specific ones.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[N cee thirty]

[J Charles]

Doesn't sound overly different to the current theory to be honest.
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'07 Triumph Scrambler 900 - '61 Matchless G12 - '78 BMW R100RS Motorsport - '79 Bultaco Sherpa T

[G]

I was a bit worried by my truck theory test as on first reading I had no idea for quite a lot of the questions.

However, reading through a two or three times I flew through the questions which I could answer without any real thought - I did get one wrong, but clicking the wrong bit I reckon; I didn't bother to go back and check the answers because I was sure I had passed.

Learning this way, probably forgot most of it after a few weeks, so it does make sense, I'd say.

[Germ]

Just passed my theory test on Thursday and I'd been doing all the practice tests and hazard awareness.When I did the hazard test I didn't see any of the clips I'd been practicing on so maybe they have been changed already?

Personally reckon that if you can only pass the hazard awareness by knowing in advance what's coming then you shouldn't really be on the road.

[reddeviljp]

[Rogerborg]

AFAIK, the official DSA hazard clips have always been representative, they're not clips used in the actual test.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Comatosed]

[J.M.]

Guess I should get my car theory out of the way soon aswell then. No point me learning most of the answers for nothing
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[felicity]

I don't really see the problem with this. Most / all of the questions are things you should know anyway to be on the road. By the time I got around to buying the DSA book with all the questions + answers in it, I answered every one on the first try.

[Darylw27]

Don't see it being too much of an issue being that ideally most of it SHOULD be common knowledge if you have rode/drove for long enough. However, guess that's the kick up the arse I need to go and get my theory booked before they try and change it any further.

For heads up.

[Recluso]

[fireyphoenix1...]

they need to pull the hazard perception bit its stupid makes no sence and half the time the "hazards" are only scored when they when they have become an issue .......im sorry no point you didnt click when the truck pulled out .........thats cause i identified it as a hazard two streets ago when it got to the junction . the change in questions is fine through .


another thing that make me laugh is the amount of older riders who got theyre test pass before the test was made more difficult. Theyre saying "its easy" from personal experiance a third of the riders i have met wouldnt meet the rideing standard to pass a test these days and all the changes in the name on safety DSA you only make it harder to get more reattempts out of people
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2014 Aprillia dorsoduro 750 factory.

[Rogerborg]

I think most people who've done the hazard perception agree with that - I've only ever heard one dissenter. In many of the clips, you're punished for spotting a hazard at the point where you should begin to prepare to respond to it, and only scored for clicking once you'd have to actually take action. To my mind, that's rewarding a failure of observation.

In effect, I'm arguing that the hazard perception should be made harder, with the scoring zone starting and ending earlier. I can't recall the DfT actually asking for views about the theory test in the recent past though.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Recluso]

[LordShaftesbu...]

[LordShaftesbu...]

What's so confusing about that?

Motorcycling is dangerous. The most efficient way to reduce motorcycle deaths is to prevent the issue of motorcycle licenses. Increasing the fail rate of all motorcycle tests would achieve this. Simple, and diabolical.