What is the ADI theory test
like?
The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part.
The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer and mouse and the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button. You need
to pass both parts to pass the theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other you will fail the
whole test, and you will need to take both parts again.
For the hazard perception test there are
no separate versions for different vehicles, each vehicle category takes
the same test, however
the pass mark is different for different categories of tests.
Multiple choice
Before the test starts you will be given instructions on how the test works.
You can also choose to
go through a practice session of the multiple choice questions to get used to the layout of the test
At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.
A question and four answer options will appear onscreen and you have
to select the correct answer to the question by touching the
screen or using the mouse. Some questions may require more than one answer.
You can
navigate between questions and ‘flag’ questions that you want to come
back to later in the test.
You will have 90 minutes to answer 100 questions that will be split into
four bands which will be:
- road procedure
- traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical
knowledge
- driving test, disabilities, law
- publications, instructional techniques
The purpose of the banding is to ensure candidates
have a comprehensive knowledge across
the whole syllabus.
The pass mark for the multiple choice part of the theory
test is 85% -that is 85 questions answered correctly. However, you must
reach a minimum 80% (20 out of 25) in each of the four bands. It is therefore
possible for you to get an overall mark of 85% or above but still fail
the examination
because you have not gained the minimum of 80% in one
of the bands.
After the multiple choice part you can choose to have
a break of up to three minutes before the
hazard perception part starts.
Hazard perception
After the break you will then be shown a short tutorial video clip about
how the hazard perception
part works.
The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer
but you respond by clicking a button
on the mouse. You will be presented
with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes,
in each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of
the clips will feature
two developing hazards. To achieve a high score
you will need to respond to the developing
hazard during the early part
of its development. The
maximum you can score on each hazard is
five. You will not be able to
review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road,
you
will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.
The pass mark for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 57 out of 75.
At the end of the test
At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you will
be invited to answer a
number of customer survey questions. You do not
have to answer the questions if you do not
want to, and any information
given is anonymous and confidential. The survey questions do not affect
the result of the test.
When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once
you have left the
room, you will not be allowed to enter it again. You
will then be given your result by the test
centre staff.