The official Driver Theory Test FAQs give a pass mark, not a pass rate. For the car test the pass mark is 35 correct answers out of 40, and you have 45 minutes. That means you can get 5 questions wrong and still pass. This page sets out what is officially published and what is not, so you can plan around facts instead of rumours.
What the Official Sources Publish
The test is run by Prometric Ireland on behalf of the Road Safety Authority. Its FAQ page sets out the time, the number of questions and the pass mark for each test category:
- Car or motorcycle (BW or AM): 40 questions, 45 minutes, 35 correct to pass
- Truck or bus (C or D): 100 questions, 120 minutes, 74 correct to pass
- Combined bus and truck (CD): 140 questions, 180 minutes, 104 correct to pass
- Bus or truck module test: 40 questions, 45 minutes, 30 correct to pass
The same page says the questions are selected randomly from the question bank for the relevant test sections, and that there is no limit on how many times you can take the test.
Why This Page Does Not Quote a Percentage
You will see percentages quoted for the Irish theory test all over the internet. We could not trace them to an official source, so we do not repeat them here. We also have not found an official first-attempt figure, a car-only figure or a county-by-county figure in the sources we have read.
Our theory test results page shows the yearly totals the RSA has published and explains what they do and do not tell you. If you see a number somewhere else, ask where it came from before you let it worry you.
What the Pass Mark Means in Practice
Thirty-five out of 40 is 87.5%. You have room for five mistakes, and no more. The official FAQs describe a few things that help on the day:
- You can skip or mark a question and come back to it at any stage within your test time.
- You can cancel an answer and select another one.
- There is an optional practice session before the test so you can see how the screen works.
- You can leave as soon as you have finished.
A pass or fail result is shown on screen at the end. You are also sent a link by email to a score report, which shows the category areas where you answered correctly or incorrectly. It does not show the individual questions, because those exact questions are unlikely to appear in your next test.
If You Do Not Pass
You can book again. The official advice is to wait at least 3 complete business days before you re-sit, to give you time to revise. The car and motorcycle test fee is €45 each time. If you think your result is wrong, you can ask for a rescore within 10 days of the test; the fee for that is €15. Our guide to what to do if you fail covers the steps.
How to Prepare for a 35 out of 40 Pass Mark
- Take the free 10-question test to see where you stand. It needs no account.
- Work through every topic, not only the ones you like. The questions are picked at random, so a weak topic can cost you several marks at once.
- Review each mistake until you understand why the right answer is right.
- Sit timed 40-question mock tests. L-Plate mocks use the published 40-question, 45-minute structure and the 35 pass mark.
- Book when you are scoring 35 or more in every mock. A practice score is evidence of preparation, not a prediction of your official result.
For more on the format, read what score you need to pass and how many questions are on the test. If you are choosing a test centre, the theory test town pages show the official centre list.