How the test is actually scored

Getting Your Learner Licence5 min readText and drawings only

People walk in believing a good overall mark will carry them. It will not. The test is scored in three separate sections and every one has to be passed on its own, so a strong total cannot rescue a weak section.

64 questions, three sections Vehicle controls What the pedals, levers and lights do 8 questions Road signs and markings The biggest section. Study this one hardest. You may only get a handful wrong. 28 questions Rules of the road Right of way, following distance, the law 28 questions Each section is passed separately. A brilliant total does not rescue you if one section fails.
64 questions, three sections, each passed separately.

64 questions in total. Vehicle controls is 8 of them. Road signs and markings is 28. Rules of the road is 28.

Because sections are passed separately, the smallest one is the most dangerous to ignore. Eight questions leaves very little room to get any wrong.

If I do brilliantly on signs, can that carry a weak controls section?

No. That is the single most common misunderstanding about this test. The sections are not added together into one mark. You pass each one or you fail the test.

Before you move on

  • Accept that you must pass all three sections, not just score well overall
  • Work out which section you are weakest on and start there
  • Practise on past papers so the wording stops surprising you

Check what you know

3 questions. Have a look at what this lesson asks.

1. You score very well overall but fall short on vehicle controls. What is the result?

2. How many questions are there in total?

3. Why is vehicle controls risky despite being the smallest section?

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