DGT theory test format: questions, time and mistakes
Sources: BOE, DGT
The DGT car theory test normally has 30 questions with three answer options each. The ordinary allowance is 30 minutes, and you can make up to 3 mistakes. The DGT describes the question format in its information about the test. The time allowance and marking rule come from the General Driver Regulations, annex VI.B.
This is the common theory test for a category B driving licence in Spain. For practice, use the English theory test. To arrange the language of your appointment, follow taking the DGT test in English.
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Questions and answer options
The usual format described by the DGT is a multiple-choice questionnaire. Read the situation, identify what it asks and then consider the answer options. The legal framework permits between 30 and 50 questions for the common knowledge test; that wider interval is different from the thirty-question category B format described by the DGT. Sources: annex VI.B.1 and the DGT description.
Computer-based testing is the general method established in article 52. Listen to the instructions at the examination centre and ask staff about the controls before starting if anything is unclear.
How many mistakes are allowed?
Annex VI.B.3 allows errors of no more than 10% of the total questions. If that calculation produces a decimal, the regulation uses the next whole number above it. In thirty questions, ten per cent is exactly three: at least 27 questions must therefore be answered correctly. A fourth mistake exceeds the limit. Source: annex VI.B.3.
The rule is a total for the questionnaire. It does not provide a separate allowance for road signs or priority questions. A practice result near the limit is a reason to review uncertainty, including questions answered correctly by guessing; it is not a prediction of another paper.
Time and adjustments
The ordinary allowance is one minute per question, giving thirty minutes for thirty questions. Annex VI.B.2 also permits additional time for justified special needs and time proportional to the duration of any preceding traffic videos. Source: annex VI.B.2.
Do not assume that every candidate receives the same extension. Arrange accessibility measures in advance with your driving school or the traffic office handling your application. The DGT describes easy-read material and audio support for the computer-based test in its accessibility announcement. Audio support is currently available only for tests taken in Spanish.
That legal permission for video does not, on its own, establish that a particular appointment includes a video question. Keep the legal format separate from implementation announcements. For broader changes to the material you study, see DGT changes and driving rules.
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Taking the paper in English
English is an available language for category B in the DGT application form. Request it when arranging the examination rather than relying on changing it at the centre. The English examination guide explains the application route.
The paper tests Spanish traffic rules even when its language is English. Learn the distinctions between passenger cars and other vehicles, motorways and dual carriageways, and stopping and parking. Recognising a familiar English word is not enough if the road category or manoeuvre has changed. The guide to tricky wording explains this approach with original situations.
Before and after the appointment
Prepare identification and follow the instructions in your examination notice. Keep phones and communication devices away from the test: annex VI.A.4 provides for exclusion and loss of the sitting when a theory candidate breaches its restriction. Source: annex VI.A.4. Practical arrangements are in the examination-day guide.
For your result, remaining opportunities and the validity of a pass, read results and retakes. Passing theory is one stage of the licensing process, not permission to drive alone. When revising, use road sign shapes and colours and the topic index to investigate specific uncertainties.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the DGT car theory test?
The category B format described by the DGT has thirty questions, each with three answer options. Annex VI.B.1 sets the wider legal range for the common knowledge test.
Can I pass with three mistakes?
Yes, in a thirty-question paper. Three mistakes meet the ten per cent limit in annex VI.B.3; four exceed it.
Is the time allowance always thirty minutes?
Thirty minutes is the ordinary allowance for thirty questions. Annex VI.B.2 permits adjustments for justified special needs and video duration.
Does choosing English change the traffic rules?
No. The test language changes, but the material remains Spanish traffic rules. Request English on the examination application.
Can I drive alone after passing theory?
Passing theory does not grant a driving licence. Article 53 makes the tests eliminatory; you must complete the remaining requirements and obtain the appropriate authorisation.
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