Driving Theory Test Helpful Tips for Driving Test

Driving Standards Agency introduced the driving theory test in 1996. According to this test, new learners and drivers have to pass the theory test before they book their practical test. The test focuses on all aspects of driving theory such as attitude, safety, handling, rules of the road, traffic and road signs etc.

Each year many people have to appear for challenging qualification  process called driving theory test in United Kingdom. The theory test which is composed of two separate parts i.e. theory test and hazard perception test.

The first element is the theory test which consists of a multiple choice test that is sat on a computer at one of a number of locations designated by the Driving Standards Agency. The second part of the test is labeled the Hazard Perception Test which is also sat on a computer and immediately follows the conclusion of the test.

Fifty percent of the people get failed in their first driving test attempt. Even a larger proportion of candidates coming from ethnic minority backgrounds are unsuccessful at their first attempt.

If you are a learner, being taught by a Professional driving instructor is quite important. Today many family members or friends help the learner driver and they have this view that "I can do what a professional instructor can!".

For example: A large number of drivers do not use the interior mirror. Also they do not driver hands positioned on the steering wheel correctly.

An expert driving instructor should know the safe driving rules, and should be able to teach you the way to driver safely. Also some learners become nervous while driving, so these experts should know how to handle these types of learners.

New drivers are involved in accidents, especially in the first months after passing a online UK theory test. It has been proven that drivers who have taken hazard perception training have much better hazard test skills.

Hazard perception test is a second section of the theory test and must be passed at the same time. Integrating theoretical hazard test training into the practical training sessions will ensure that as competence is achieved in each of the necessary skills, they can be strengthened and applied while you are on the road to increase the road safety benefits.

Students who are not proficient in English and speak one of the languages mentioned above can use various resources in preparing for their test. One option to prepare using the Successful Driver Study programmed which allows the pupil to study in both English and translation side by side in an interactive test.

Are you ready for driving theory test?

Why hazard perception test was introduced?
New drivers are disproportionately involved in accidents, especially in the first months after passing a driving test. It has been proven that drivers who have taken hazard perception training have much better hazard perception skills.
About hazard perception test -
The UK hazard perception test is an online computer-based test, which measures a driver’s ability to anticipate and appropriately respond to potentially dangerous situations while driving.

In hazard perception test, you will see video clips of genuine, traffic scenes filmed from the driver’s perspective. When you watch the clips, you need to imagine that you are the driver.
In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.

You will need to watch the clip carefully and try to predict the traffic hazard as early as you can. As soon as you predict that a traffic hazard is likely to happen, you need to respond straight away. A traffic hazard is something that would require the driver to take some action, for example: slow down, overtake or change course. The hazard perception test is designed to get the candidate to identify ‘Developing Hazards’ rather the potential hazards.

E.g. School sign is not a developing hazard, but if you see school children about to cross the road, then it becomes a developing hazard and needs to be identified.

While appearing for the hazard perception test, watch out for following hazards, as these are the likely situations where developing hazard may turn in to actual hazard.

1. pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road
2. vehicles emerging from side roads, parking places or driveways
3. large vehicles moving over to your side of the road
4. meeting oncoming vehicles on narrow roads or where other obstructions or slow moving
5. vehicles make the road narrow
6. loose pets and farmyard animals
7. Changes in the traffic movement and volume
8. junctions and roundabouts
9. horse riders
10. weather conditions of the day

Driving test: theory test pattern

1. Theory test:
There are two parts to the theory test: the multiple-choice test and the hazard perception test. Both is required to be taken and passed in the same session in order to attain a theory test certificate, which can then be used to book the practical driving test within two years of the theory pass.

2. Pattern of the test

Multiple choice test:
1.  This part of the theory test is performed on a touch screen computer system.
2.  The test has 50 multiple choice questions and the examinee must answer at least 43 of them correctly to pass.
3.  Each question may have more than one answer and this will be indicated in the question. All questions are randomly chosen from a bank of thousands on a collection of topics.
4.  The test lasts for 57 minutes even though examinees with certain special needs can apply for more time. All 50 questions ought to be answered.
5.  The test allows 15 minutes practice time at the start of the exam to get used to answering the questions and how to use the system.
6.  To answer a question the examinee simply touches their choice of answer from the listed answers on the computer screen.
7.  If a mistake is made the examinee can deselect a choice and reselect a different option.
8.  To pass the test, 43 of the 50 questions (86%) must be answered correctly.
9. For lorry and bus drivers, 100 questions are asked over a 115-minute period, and 85 out of 100 must be answered correctly to pass.
10. Prior to 3 September 2007, the car and motorcycle multiple-choice tests comprised 35 questions, with a pass mark of 30 within a 40 minute time limit.
  
3. Hazard perception online test:

1.Examinees look at fourteen one-minute clips (nineteen clips for lorry and bus examinees) filmed from the point of view of a car driver and have to point out, usually by clicking a mouse button or touching the screen, when they examine a developing hazard.

2.All of the Hazard clips will include one developing hazard, and one will include two such hazards.
3.The sooner an examinee reacts to a developing hazard, the more points are scored, from five down to one, with no score if the examinee reacts too late.

4.Thus the utmost likely score is 75 (100 for lorry and bus tests). The pass mark is 44 for car drivers and motorcyclists and 57 when qualifying as an Approved Driving Instructor. Lorry and Bus drivers must score 67 out of 100.

5.For the purposes of the test, a “developing hazard“ is defined as something which requires the driver to adjust speed and/or path. Potential hazards are road hazards that no instant action needs to be taken, but are worth observing in case their status changes.

6.Clicking on potential hazards is satisfactory, but the scoring window only opens if that hazard develops, thus examinees have to remember to react if the status of a hazard changes, and not just when the potential hazard is first spotted.

Driving Theory Test - Few facts about Driving test

§    Always be best prepared to pass your driving theory test in the UK in 1st attempt. Because according to most of the learner drivers and instructors, driving theory test in the UK is becoming harder and has become a challenge.
§    Here are few facts related to the driving theory test pass rates.

§    1/3 people who appear for now fail. Through the pass rate at its lowest ever level, many learners are complaining that the test has become too hard.

§    It takes learners 46 hours of tuition on average to pass their test at a cost of approximately 1,000 at current rates. That compares with 32 hours in 1988, according to statistics compiled by the Transport Research Laboratory.

§    The signs are the test is about to get even harder. The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) is approaching for a compulsory driver’s record book” with pupils having to complete a syllabus and have skills ticked off by their instructor before they are able to take the test.

§    The representative statistics reveal that approximately 1.7m people in Britain took the test between April 2004 and May 2005. Merely 707,018 walked away with a license, a 42% pass rate. When the test was introduced in 1935 the pass rate was two-thirds.

§    Many learners are now shying away from the driving theory test altogether who have failed two or more times. In 1966, more than 2m people took their test (half passed) and there were almost as many candidates in 1988. Then the numbers started declining, dropping to 1,670,302 in the following financial year.

§    This is hardly shocking, because the test is growing in complexity all the time. A theory test was additional in 1996 and maneuvers such as reverse parking and reversing into a bay were added in 1991 and 1999. A computer hazard perception test was incorporated in 2002, followed by a show me, tell me exercise to test drivers’ knowledge of basic car maintenance in 2003.

§    Most of the learner drivers complain they are being discriminated against compared with earlier generations. Getting your UK driving licence, they say, is a more challenging, lengthy and expensive business than before.

§    The current pass rate is terrible compared to previous years, admits Mike Ambrose, road safety consultant for BSM, the UK’s largest driving school with more than 3,000 instructors. Robin Cummins, until last month chief examiner for the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the government body that administers all driving tests, admits he is not happy with the declining pass rate.

§    At the moment we have a circumstance whereby pupils can put themselves forward for the test at any time despite of whether a professional instructor says are they ready or not,” says Peter Laub, head of road safety for the DIA, which represents more than 13,000 UK instructors.

§    So it goes without saying prepare, prepare and just prepare to get the driving license in 1st attempt. Practice entire official DSA driving theory test questions and hazard perception clips. Go through the Highway Code book for more detailed preparation.

Driving Theory Test Tips

Driving Standards Agency introduced the driving theory test in 1996. According to this test, new learners and drivers have to pass the theory test before they book their practical test. The test focuses on all aspects of driving theory such as attitude, safety, handling, rules of the road, traffic and road signs etc. It helps the new driver to acquire the in depth knowledge of driving test.

The first element is the Theory Test which consists of a multiple choice test that is sat on a computer at one of a number of locations designated by the Driving Standards Agency. The second part of the test is labeled the Hazard Perception Test which is also sat on a computer and immediately follows the conclusion of the Theory Test.

Just fewer than fifty percent of those taking the Theory Test are unsuccessful at their first attempt. Even a larger proportion of candidates coming from ethnic minority backgrounds are unsuccessful at their first attempt. So how do we explain the poor pass rates within the ethnic minority groups?

The first Option allows the user to take a practice test with both the question and answers available in both English and one of two other languages. This test option provides continuous feedback and allows one to get as much practice as required building confidence for the real test.

The second test option is a simulation of the actual theory test which the student will sit on the day of the exam. It looks and feels very similar to the actual test. Much like the actual test on the day, the student will be timed and be provided with feedback at the end of each session.

Sometimes students click too late resulting in a low score. To get round this problem it is important to understand what is meant by a hazard. A hazard is anything which may cause you to change speed or direction. Now we have to distinguish between a potential hazard and an actual hazard. Integrating theoretical hazard perception test training into the practical training sessions will ensure that as competence is achieved in each of the necessary skills, they can be strengthened and applied while you are on the road to increase the road safety benefits.

There are plenty of driving test book, theory test book, UK driving test cd, driving test dvd, practical test book, practical driving test book and driving practical test book are available in the market which will help you to pass driving theory test and hazard perception tests.