Theory Test - From Jan 2012

From 1st January 2012, the Driving Standards Agency is making changes to the UK driving Theory Test. From this date onwards, the DSA will add new multiple-choice Theory Test questions to the test. The DSA will not let anyone publish these new Theory Test questions, so they will not appear in any product, nor on any website. However, the DSA will continue to release official DSA Theory Test revision questions, and these will be published in all Driving Test Success products.

What’s the difference between DSA revision questions and the “real” Theory Test questions?

Simply that the “real” DSA Theory Test questions will, from 1st January 2012, start to include new questions that will not be published.

How many official DSA revision questions are published in Driving Test Success All Tests?

It depends on which vehicle licence is being applied for, but approximately 1,000 Theory Test questions.

So if a pupil takes a test before 1st January 2012, the revision questions in Driving Test Success will be the same as the ones I’ll be asked in the Theory Test?

Yes they will. The DSA will only start introducing new, unpublished questions from 1st January 2012.

Is the second part of the Theory Test, the Hazard Perception Test, changing too?

No, the Hazard Perception Test will not change at all. You should use a revision aid that accurately and interactively simulates the DSA Hazard Perception Test, such as Driving Test Success from Focus Multimedia.

Will the DSA be adding more Theory Test questions from 1st January 2012?

No, the structure of the Theory Test isn’t changing. For car drivers there will still be 50 multiple choice Theory Test questions, including 5 case study questions, and then Part Two consists of 14 Hazard Perception Test questions.

Why is the DSA changing the Theory Test?

The DSA has decided, after taking advice from organisations including UK driving schools, that it wants to discourage learners from “learning by rote“. This will, the DSA feels, lead to a better understanding of the actual study materials, in particular the Highway Code.

Do I need to get any practice for the new 2012 Theory Test?

Yes, it’s as important as ever to get plenty of practice before sitting the driving Theory Test. In fact, very little will change when it comes to preparing for the new 2012 Theory Test. We recommend that as a candidate you should:

• Study the Highway Code and gain a thorough understanding of it. A digital version of the Highway Code is included in all Driving Test Success products.
• Use a reliable, up-to-date Theory Test practice tool like Driving Test Success All Tests (available for PC and DVD) or Driving Test Success Online. Focus Multimedia’s revision aids closely mirror the real DSA test, providing you with a chance to answer revision questions under realistic exam conditions. They also include the official DSA “knowledge and understanding” text, which offers explanations of the answers. By getting plenty of practice with Driving Test Success, a learner will understand how the test works, become more familiar with the kind of questions that will be asked, and have a better understanding of the subject matter.
• Try the interactive sample case study questions included with Driving Test Success. You will still be asked 5 case study questions as part of your Theory Test multiple choice element, so it’s important to understand how this section is structured.
• Attempt as many interactive Hazard Perception Test video questions as possible, to prepare for the second part of the Theory Test. Driving Test Success products contain a huge amount of interactive Hazard Perception video clips.