Advice and information to pass the DSA theory test
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Driving Test Advice

Lose the 'L' plates! All the help and advice you need to help you pass the DSA driving test, from Dale Brooks. Learn how the test is carried out and what the examiner will expect to see from you, and you'll be prepared for success! We have the advice you need, but you'll need plenty of practical driving experience with your local Blackpool driving instructor Dale Brooks!

Contact your local Blackpool instructor on 01253 857465 or 07795 363583. You can also e-mail for more information

Theory Test Advice

Theory test in Blackpool

Everyone is required to pass the theory part of the driving test before they may take the practical part of the driving test. The theory part of the driving test is designed to test both situational awareness and hazard perception and knowledge of the roads, Highway Code as well as key driving facts

The theory part of the driving test is split into 2 parts:

info Multiple choice test
info Hazard perception test

Multiple Choice Test

The multiple choice tests consist of a total of 50 questions and possible answers focusing on road safety. You will be required to correctly answer 44 out of the 50 questions within the 40 minutes allocated for the test. During the test you may skip questions and come back to them later. Before the test actually starts you will be shown a short video showing you the format of the test and giving you the opportunity to practice on some sample questions. Some of the questions have only one answer such as the one below:

At a pelican crossing the flashing amber light means you MUST

info stop and wait for the green light
info stop and wait for the red light
info give way to pedestrians waiting to cross
info give way to pedestrians already on the crossing

Some of the questions require you to select all correct answers from their list; in this case 2 answers are expected:

Which TWO are badly affected if the tyres are under-inflated?

info Braking
info Steering
info Changing gear
info Parking

In each case you will be told how many answers are expected in red text such as “Mark one answer” for the top example, and “Mark 2 answers” for the bottom example

After you have attempted all of the questions you will be presented with a summary detailing the number of questions answered, not answered and flagged for review

You can review your answers to any or all of these at this point. From here you may also end the test. If you run out of time the test will end automatically. You will get your score once you have completed the Hazard Perception Test. There are 2 sample multiple choice tests on the DSA’s website, these use official questions that you may be asked

Hazard Perception Test

Theory test touch screenThe hazard perception test consists of 14 video clips (without sound) designed to test your ability to spot potential hazards before they become real hazards. Each video clip lasts approximately 1 minute

In these tests you take the view of the driver, when you see a potential hazard you must click a button to indicate that you have identified a hazard

There are 15 hazards in total, every clip contains a hazard and one of the clips contains 2 hazards. For each hazard you are scored from 0 to 5 depending on how early you identified the hazard, and the maximum score for the test is 75 (15 hazards with a score of 5 for each) and you are required to score at least 44 points to pass the test

Before the test actually starts you will be shown a short video showing you the format of the test and giving you the opportunity to practice on some sample video clips

All video clips start with a freeze frame of the scene. You will score points depending on how early you identified the hazard. 5 points are awarded if you identify the hazard as it appears, the points award is reduced as the “developing hazard” turns into an actual hazard

Only your highest scoring click will be taken into account

There is no penalty for clicking at any time during the video clip, so it is best practice to click as soon as you see a potential hazard even if it does not develop into an actual hazard, continuous clicking will however invalidate the test

There will be a short period where the screen will be blank between video clips

After the Tests

After both tests you will have the opportunity to complete a customer care survey, you will then be asked to leave the room whilst your results are totalled

You will need to pass both tests in order to pass the theory part of the driving test, 30 in the multiple choice and 44 in the hazard perception. If you fail you must retake both parts of the tes