The theory test has changed.
23 January 2012
January 23rd has arrived and the DSA changes to the theory test have come into effect. We’ve discussed these changes several times before on this blog, but for those that aren’t in the know yet here are the key points:
- The DSA will no longer publish the actual questions used in the test.
- Instead, a separate bank of practice questions will be used in revision materials.
- All study materials will now include text to improve knowledge and understanding.
- Theory Test Pro is already up to date and contains both the official practice questions and the knowledge and understanding text.
It will be interesting to see how these changes affect the test pass-rate (currently at 63% pre-changes) and any other potential outcomes there may be. The official statistics for the 2011/12 period are expected in July of this year.
We would really like to hear from candidates who are about to take their theory test, particularly those who previously attempted it before January 23rd, as well as anyone else affected by the test changes.
Please leave a comment below with your thoughts.
35 Comments
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Theory Test Pro Blog 
Just hope it makes a difference, as an ADI I am shocked at how little my customers understand after passing the current Theory Test.
I agree with amount of ppl I teach that don’t know basic signs but have passed their theory test. Don’t want to “Americanise” things but maybe a number of classroom based training hours would be a good idea? Then reduce the theory test pass mark for people who do this? Asif (ADI)
2 of my pupils sat the new Theory Test today (Jan 23rd). They said the questions had changed slightly, with a few of the “secret” (ie. non-published) questions popping up. Both had sat the old test as well as the new one. They said it wasn’t anything to worry about, as long as you do your homework!
im writing on the 2nd of feb…very worried b
about the ‘new’test version.pla if anyone has done this new test update us on how it is n is it very much different from the old tests…
i sat the test on 26th of this month and found it really hard i prefer the old theroy test i got 41 on my first attempted and 37 on the one ive just done there must have been 13 question thats arnt in the new theroy pro i didnt understand the new questions and all the hard work i have put in to it was pointless the new theroy is really hard im so stressed now and im worried about rebooking my theroy test now ive had the exsperance its put me write of rebooking my theroy test now i know how hard it is just letting u know my exsperance that ive just had .
hi i’m writing on thursday..now after reading ur comments getting very worried.can u give me an example of the type of question which was different pls.i need to get an idea…
hey aasiya dont worry about thory test. it is easy like drinking water my english is not well i had exam 24 of january i passed i scored 48 thery test and 48 hazard.
just be care ful about last 5 qvestions after 45 qvestions 5 qwestions is deffirent comin
there’s no point in changing test really coz ppl still don’t drive on the road like humans….so there is absolutely no difference.
Doing my theory test tomorrow, my instructor seems to think that the content of the questions isn’t really changing, it’s more the wording that is, so with a bit of luck it shouldn’t be too bad. All the questions or theory test pro are pretty basic knowledge, easy to understand and interpret etc so as long as it’s not too much different from that.
Wish me luck!
Hi
how did your test go was it hard?
hope it was ok?
ok well im new to all this . i did my theory test be for the new test came out and failed still
trying to take my test but got i think was 39 out of 50 being Dyslexia i find it a bit hard
remembering thing,s but i was geting there but now the new test has came out i dont no if i
will be abal to do the test so ill have to go and find out for my self, i do think it is a good
idear for evry one to lern the new test but what i dont under stand with the test is y is most
of the questions about first aid it,s got nothing to do with driving i mean if i was traning to
be an first aid or a doctor then ill take a first aid test. i get the bus evry were and i wonder if
that person driving that car now,s the theory test i think y dont the drivers that have bin on
the roads for years y dont thay get to retake there theory test as we have to learn new
things like new signs and that amgen driving and find a new sign thinking what dose that
signs mean then smack some thing bad hapends
just do your homework guys! 🙂 youl be grand.
what kind of things come up n the new theory test?
i’ve been revising with the 2011 dics my test is next wednesday, and i only just saw that the the test was changing! i’m hoping. From what im reading that the questions are the same al be it worded differently,and a few surprise questions?
Hi iv passed my car test and i am about to book my motocycle theory test again.
Iv already passed it once but never got round to the practical test so am having to take it again and im hoping its not much harder. Does anyone know if the hazard perception has changed at all ?????
Hi booked my theory test and will be taking it on the 3rd of april really worried about it driving myself mad revising. Just hope i have done enough.
Hii how are you how did your test go?
Cheers
hi there peeps
my tests tommorow at 5pm , i did find it hard to revise as of work ..
i own my own company and its been so busy with new students coming to find properties
so finding time was when i got home at 9pm ,i use to do my theopy when i got in …. i always only got 37 to 41 … i got really worried … so then i changed my timing i take 1.hour out a day at 3pm and do my theopy test and now i am getting 48 to 50 always so bit more happier
i need my licence asap i have 3 very nice cars wot are sitting on my drive …
and plus i am paying for a driver which is costing me a lot of cash …
so be postive and strong minded u well be just amazing lol
Are the new theory questions harder than the previous ones or are they quite similar and reworded?
Since these changes has been made to the Official Theory Test, is the questions more easier Or more knowledgeable? What is the percentage so far this year for those who have successfully passed their Theory Test first time?
Many Thanks, Leon.
Has anybody passed the new theory test using the Albanian voice over? My son in law got very close to passing ie 40 and then 41 in English and somebody has suggested using the Albanian voice over ? Is the translation a good one ?
Many thanks
just had my theory test today i had a scenorio scene described i got 42 and 59 on the hazard one question out
just had my theory test today. Believe me its nothing to worry….all the questions remains the same ….and they give one case study(only 5 questions at the end regarding this scenario)….but the questions are generally from the book only….for eg: in scenario if you are driving at night then question will be: Which lights you have to put on in such condition.?(answer: dipped headlights)…so just read the dsa book /cd thorughly(can get from ur local library)…i had read from the DSA official theory test book(got in library) and got through…50/50. Gud luck !! hope it helps. And yeah disel question came for me as well in other form but definitely the answer is one slippery!!
I took my theory test today and I was surprised to see that the questions are exactly the same as the ones that you can find on the CD. There really is nothing to worry about. They have designed new questions which they throw at you here and there but they are easy as pie. Its nothing out of the ordinary really. I passed with 48 out of 50. Good luck to anyone with their upcoming test.
Took my theory today and actually suprised as there was only 2 question changes as to what is on the actual discs although it is all common sense!!
I took my theory test today! Got 50 out of 50! The questions are “almost” exactly the same.( I had studied from the DSA driving skills book as well…)
Hazards are more an issue… Got 59 of 75. So, you need to practise not to click to much cause if not you´re getting the video cancelled with 0 points! (I had one cancelled :S)
All the best! 😉
Hi my daughter took her theory test on Thursday 14 th June she said the last 5 questions she’d not seen and didn’t understand , I’m after any information on the new questions or any site they may be on . I seen on here people saying do your home work ? My daughter been doing the disc’s and got 40 out of 50 so was only 3 off a pass any information on these new questions would be of great help, as she rebooked same day for a couple weeks time . I’ll keep you posted and please mail me with any info that may help thx again……… Keith
hi am just waiting on my id to come then am gonna sit my theory dose this mean all this time i spent lerning this could go to waste???
Didn’t revise, just took motorcycle theory and hazard test. Passed, but then again i have been driving a car for 17 years.
i sat my theory 22nd september i passed first time yayyyyy wasnt as hard as i thought
I’m just starting studying the Highway code. I’m a foreigner with a good command of English, yet sometimes, I am not clear about the meaning of a question. On correction on mistakes made, I often realise that had the phrasing been different, my answer would have been correct.
Also, many of us struggle with memorizing. I am one of them and wonder how necessary it is to have to overload my mind with rules concerning the Highway code for motorcyclists or van drivers. It seems to me that as long as I know how to deal with them on the road as a driver, their own Highway code rules should not be part of my theory test as a hopeful car driver.
Soph
Hi just wanted to know that could someone please tell me are the clips for the hazard perception really fast? and are there many questions on stopping distances as i always get these mixed up and wrong?!
I can not even begin to imagine how hard this new theory test layout will be like. I took this back in 2010 and it was piss easy but i failed by 1 mark! this time round i was ready but then realised it had all changed and you actually have to study for the stupid exam. there shouldn’t even be a theory test tbh..
Just took my theory today for the 4th time, every single time I have failed by one mark and got 42 all four times I am soo annoyed!! Especially when all four times I have passed the hazard perception! I definitely think the DSA need to make it so that the hazard perception marks go towards the actuall exam and especially at £30 a test for one mark off soo unfair I’m so annoyed! Iv spent atleast £1000 just in driving lessons not to mention the £200 just in theory’s and I still don’t have a licence when I personally and my instructor think my driving is upto standard and I’m ready for my practical I just can’t seem to get passed the theory!