The modern theory test is 20 years old today – but just how much has the test changed over the years? In a word – massively.

Learners today would gasp in disbelief at just how easy the theory test was before it changed two decades ago on July 1st, 1996. There was no need for written/computer-based tests or hazard perception tests; instead, the driving examiner simply asked you a series of theory-related questions and that was, well, it.

And while pupils might envy such a simple approach when confronted with the theory test today, government experts believe that it has been a force for good whether it be reducing the number of accidents…

11% The reduction in non-low-speed accidents by novice drivers in their first year of driving since the introduction of the hazard perception test.

… or increasing general safety on our roads. To see just how much the theory test has evolved over the years (and leave learners wishing they really had taken theirs in 1995), here’s a brief history of the biggest changes covering everything from the number of questions that must be successfully answered to the introduction of those fancy computer graphic-powered hazard perception clips:

Timeline of the UK Theory Test

Pre-1996 Theory questions are asked by the examiner during the practical test itself.

1996 A separate written theory test with 35 questions is introduced; the original passmark was set at 26 out of 35 but this was changed later in the year to 30 out of 35.

2000 The computer-based touchscreen theory test is introduced.

2001 Pupils can now book their theory test online.

2002 Hazard perception video clips are introduced for the first time in both the car and motorcycle theory tests.

2007 The number of theory test questions are increased to 50 with the pass rate set to 43 out of 50.

2014 The DVSA begins to reduce the cost of the theory test and claims to have offered cost savings of 25% since 2014.

2015 New computer-generated hazard clips are finally introduced, replacing the ageing video clips previously used.

2016 & Beyond Expect the theory test to keep evolving in the years to come.

While it does means that learners do have to work far harder for that licence than pupils did twenty years ago, they’ll qualify with a far better understanding of the rules of the road. In other words, we all will end up being far safer when behind the wheel. And that can only be a good thing.

Image © Remeya