No more multiple choice questions in driving theory test

The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.

The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA’s decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner’s ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.

”The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road – good driving is not just about vehicle-handling skills, but also about having the knowledge and understanding of safe driving theory. No longer publishing these questions and answers will mean that successful candidates will have to understand the theory rather than simply memorising answers. I believe that this – along with the other changes we are making to the driving test regime – will lead to better drivers and safer roads,” commented the Road Safety Minister.

In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.

Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.

Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.

Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests.

See also:

• Tap and give way – the Highway Code is now an app
  May 15, 2012
• DSA lines up theory changes
  December 12, 2011
• Comment: Independent driving is a welcome step forward
  September 9, 2010
• Driving Standards Agency wins first national identity crime award
  November 20, 2009
• New powers to suspend driving instructors
  November 16, 2009
• Improving safety for motorcyclists and lorry and bus drivers
  November 11, 2009
• Driving test impersonator given suspended sentences and community service
  October 14, 2009
• DSA launches online video channel
  September 21, 2009
• Bogus driving instructor given six-month suspended sentence
  September 3, 2009
• Driver Certificate of Professional Competence introduced to lorry industry
  August 25, 2009

1 Comment

Your title is VERY misleading:

The reality is that the DSA are going to continue with the test pretty much “as is”. The only change is that the multiple choice questions used *in the test itself* will no longer be amongst the questions pubished in the set of revision questions that the DSA release in their books, in their own products and license to third parties.

The released question bank will continue to cover all of the same categories and topics – and will still provide the best means of revision. From a learner’s perspective, they will simply revise in the knowledge that the questions they get in the test will be questions that they have not seen before – although they will certainly have seen SIMILAR questions before if they have revised thoroughly.

To say that there will be no more Multiple Choice Questions in the theory test is therefore very wide of the mark – and I would respectfully suggest that you revise the title of this article.

Mike
November 3, 2010, 10:36 am.