Over the years, one of the most puzzling trends I've noticed in this job is in relation to the pass rates for the driving theory part of the test. Without doubt, it seems that people today find this part of the test much, much more difficult than they did 15 years ago!
It's not immediately apparent why this might be, but there have been a number of changes over the years, such as:
- The 30 second long clips used in the Hazard Perception part of the test are now CGI rather than actual filmed clips
- There are now 50 questions to answer rather than 35
- There have been a number of formatting tweaks to make the test more inclusive for those people who have problems with learning difficulties such as dyslexia
The number of questions being asked was to ensure that a wider range of questions could be asked of each client, meaning that a more through knowledge of driving theory was required, but aside from that, none of those changes were actually intended to make the test harder to pass and the number of questions shouldn't matter either if you have a strong understanding of the Highway Code - the drop in the number of people passing it really is a strange things!
Here are some tips to help you prepare for the test:
- Get the right study materials - all of the questions are based on two books which are widely available - The Highway Code and The Official Guide To Driving, The Essential Skills. I would also recommend getting a good theory test training programme such as Driving Test Success, Theory Test Pro (you get access to this for free if you take lessons with me) or the DVSA's own Theory Test Training software.
- Do your homework - you'll probably need to read those books several times in order to get the strong understanding of this subject that you need in order to succeed at the test, so don't skip through it the night before! Set yourself up with a study plan and stick to it!
- Practice taking tests - a few go's at the test at home obviously help you to familiarise yourself with what will happen on the day, helping to reduce nerves. Whether you have passed or failed, take the time to review all of the answers and read the explanations as to why you got the answers right or wrong (it all helps the understanding)
- Don't book in too early - if you take a mock test, you should be passing it with either 100% of the questions correctly answered or very, very close to that. To go into the test too soon risks not only failing it and taking expensive retests, but also the possibility of failing practical tests too as of course, the examiners on the practical test are looking for you to follow good driving practice!
Tips for the test itself:
- Make sure you know where your photocard driving licence is several days ahead of the test date - whilst it is still possible to rearrange it without losing your fee
- Have a quiet night and get a good night's sleep the night before
- Get up early enough to get ready without rushing around
- DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST!!
- Arrive in plenty of time - DVSA ask you to arrive 15 minutes before the test time to allow for ID checks
- Read the questions carefully - you don't want to give an incorrect answer to a "no brainer"
- Flag those you aren't sure of - review them at the end
- Don't over think it - if you know your subject properly, all of these questions should be easy for you to answer and yes, you could even say that they were obvious!
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