The pass mark for the Irish car theory test is 35 out of 40. That is 87.5%, which means you can get at most 5 questions wrong. The motorcycle test has the same pass mark.
The figures come from the official Driver Theory Test FAQs, checked on 29 September 2026. For how many questions each test has, see how many questions are in the theory test.
Pass Marks for Other Categories
- Truck (C) or bus (D): 74 out of 100
- Combined truck and bus (CD): 104 out of 140
- Bus or truck module test: 30 out of 40
What Happens If You Score 34?
You fail, and you book and pay for the test again. There is no limit on how many times you can sit it. The testing service strongly advises leaving at least 3 complete business days before a resit so you have time to revise.
If you think your result is wrong, you can ask for a rescore within 10 days of your exam. The fee is €15.
What Your Score Report Tells You
A pass or fail result is displayed on screen at the end of the exam, and you are emailed a link to a score report. The report shows the category areas where you answered correctly or incorrectly. It does not list the individual questions you got wrong.
The testing service says this is deliberate. Those exact questions are unlikely to appear in your next test, and the purpose of the test is to show that you understand all of the required knowledge areas, not a handful of items. So after a fail, revise the weak areas in full. More detail is in theory test results: when and how you get them.
What a Resit Costs
Each attempt at the car or motorcycle test costs €45. If you book a resit and then need to move it, the official rules are:
- 7 or more calendar days before the test: you can reschedule or cancel free of charge.
- Within 6 calendar days: rescheduling costs an administrative fee of 50% of the exam fee.
- On the day: rescheduling is not permitted, and if you miss the appointment you lose the fee.
Protect Your Marks During the Test
With only five mistakes to spare, careless errors matter as much as gaps in knowledge. The test gives you ways to avoid them:
- 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.
- You can flag questions and check them on the review screen before you finish.
- You can right-click to strike out options you have ruled out, and highlight key words in the question.
There is also an optional practice session before the test starts, so you can get used to the screen first.
How to Build a Margin
Five mistakes is not many when nerves are involved, so aim higher than 35 in practice:
- Work through every topic in practice mode, not just the ones you like
- Sit timed mock tests and aim for 37 or more several times in a row before you book
- Use the Am I Ready? tool to track your recent scores
A practice score cannot tell you what you will get on the day. It tells you which topics still cost you marks.
Want to see where you stand? The free 10-question test needs no account, and the guide to mock tests and the real test explains how to use practice scores.