Theory test pass rate: how many people pass, and is it hard?
Updated •4 min read
About 45 in every 100 UK car theory tests are passed. DVSA's official table gives a pass rate of 44.8% for 2025 to 2026, so most attempts fail, but the figure counts tests, not learners.
What the official figures say
DVSA and the Department for Transport publish the numbers in table DRT111A, "Car theory tests conducted, passed and pass rates", part of the driving test and theory test data for cars on gov.uk. The table covers Great Britain, runs from April 2007 and was last updated on 3 September 2026. This page uses that table and nothing else.
| Financial year | Car theory tests conducted | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 to 2008 | 1,451,348 | 949,431 | 65.4% |
| 2013 to 2014 | 1,569,993 | 811,677 | 51.7% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 1,865,740 | 878,903 | 47.1% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 2,432,302 | 1,075,508 | 44.2% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 2,594,741 | 1,173,545 | 45.2% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 2,792,839 | 1,253,269 | 44.9% |
| 2025 to 2026 | 2,924,430 | 1,311,480 | 44.8% |
A financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. DVSA marks data since April 2025 as provisional until its full-year release, and says figures are a snapshot that can change slightly later.
The 2020 to 2021 rate was 55.7%, but only 891,279 tests were conducted that year because of coronavirus restrictions, so it is not a fair comparison.
What the pass rate does not tell you
- It counts tests, not people. The table lists tests conducted and tests passed. Someone who fails twice and then passes appears as three tests, so the rate is not the share of learners who pass in the end.
- It combines both parts. You must pass the multiple-choice questions and hazard perception to pass the test, and the table gives one figure for the whole test.
- It says nothing about why. DVSA's table does not explain the fall from 65.4% in 2007 to 2008, so we do not either.
Is the theory test hard?
The pass mark is high, and that is the sure fact. You need 43 out of 50 in the multiple-choice part, which is 86%, and 44 out of 75 in hazard perception (gov.uk: pass mark and result). There are 50 questions in 57 minutes (gov.uk: multiple-choice questions).
Whether it is hard for you depends on preparation. The official figures cannot tell you how much revision the people who failed had done. What they do show is that a pass is far from automatic, so it is worth finding your weak topics before you pay the £23 fee (gov.uk: book your theory test).
How to improve your odds
- Take a short practice test first to see where you lose marks. The free theorytest.ai diagnostic does this in a few minutes.
- Study the official sources behind the questions. Our revision plan lists them.
- Practise hazard perception separately. See the hazard perception explainer.
- If you do fail, you can rebook after at least 3 working days. See what to do after a failed theory test.
Check the latest figures
DVSA's next update to this table is due in December 2026. Check the gov.uk data page before quoting a figure. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate for the UK car theory test?
DVSA's table gives 44.8% for 2025 to 2026 in Great Britain. It counts tests taken, not learners.
Is the theory test hard to pass?
Most tests are not passed: the rate has been between about 44% and 46% since 2022 to 2023. You need 43 out of 50 in the questions.
Has the theory test pass rate changed over time?
Yes. It was 65.4% in 2007 to 2008 and 47.1% in 2019 to 2020. DVSA's table does not give a reason.
Does the pass rate include people who retake?
The table counts every test conducted, so resits are included as separate tests.