Is the Theory test getting harder in the UK? (2024)

FAQs

Is it difficult to pass theory test UK? ›

Contrary to popular theory test myths, the test is not a walk in the park. It can be hard to pass if you don't know the format or lack a good foundation of theory test knowledge. The theory test itself is broken down into two sections—50 multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test.

High standards: The driving test requires a high level of skill and knowledge, and the examiner will be looking for evidence that the candidate can drive safely and confidently in a variety of different road and traffic conditions. Nerves: Many people get nervous during the driving test, which can lead to mistakes.

Car drivers and motorcyclists will be asked 50 questions and the pass mark is 43 out of 50.

This means that over half the learner drivers who sit their theory test fail it, with boys achieving a 42.9% pass rate and girls achieving an even higher pass rate of 45.8%. The pass rate has fluctuated over time, with a peak of 65.4% in 2007/08 and 2008/09, compared to 44.2% in 2022/23.

China, Hungary and Montenegro are the hardest countries to pass your driving test. On balance, these countries have tough theory tests and require more practical experience before being able to sit a practical test.

The current pass mark for learner car drivers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 43 or more out of 50. For the Hazard Perception section of the test, you need to score 44 out of 75. The current pass rate is only 47.3%, meaning that over half of everyone who takes the Theory Test WILL FAIL!

It's not the hardest adjustment to make and if you're focused then you're going to be just fine driving in the UK. However, some roads are harder than others and when faced with cyclists, pedestrians, and traffic, your instincts get a little twisted due to being on the left side of the road.

Whilst by no means do we have the most difficult test, thankfully we have a more rigorous procedure than the likes of India, Mexico, and Uganda. The UK has the 16th hardest theory test in the world, behind the likes of Russia and Japan, requiring a score of 86% to pass.

UK vs US Roads

British roads, you wouldn't think there would be much of a difference – wrong! I think the roads in the UK are more narrow than in the US. While the lanes can be tighter, there are fewer lanes. There are also many country roads that don't have any shoulder.

How to pass the UK theory test? ›

Along with other factors, what is highly likely to be the reason that more people are failing a Theory Test is that candidates are turning up for their test unprepared. As with anything in life, if you want to achieve a first-time pass, preparation is the key to success.

New statistics have found that the theory test pass rate has fallen to its lowest level in over the last ten years. The pass rate of the theory test has fallen by a quarter over the last decade.

1. Speke (Liverpool): 31.60% pass rate. Speke is the closest test centre for those learning to drive in South Liverpool. Unfortunately, this is also home to the lowest practical pass rate, which stands at 31.6% as of September 2023 – this is quite a way off the 48.8% national average.

What's the average number of theory test attempts and fails? Passing the theory test might not be as straightforward as it sounds. In fact, the 2019/20 pass rate was 47.7%, meaning that more than 1 in 2 candidates didn't reach the pass mark on either one or both sections.

The latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures reveal that the theory test pass rate is a little over 44 percent. This means that many learner drivers fail their tests at least once, and many fail multiple times, over many years.

It can take up to 20 hours to gain a fundamental understanding of what will appear on the driving theory test. This is the total amount of hours you'll need to be ready for the questions and the hazard perception test. Once you start learning to drive, it is important to start revising for your theory test.