DGT Exam Format Explained: 30 Questions, 30 Minutes, 3 Mistakes
The Basic Structure
The DGT theory exam for Permit B (standard car licence) consists of exactly 30 multiple-choice questions. You are given 30 minutes to complete them. Each question presents a scenario — often with an accompanying image — and offers three possible answers labelled A, B, and C. Only one answer is correct. To pass, you can make no more than 3 mistakes out of 30. That means you need at least 27 correct answers. There is no negative marking for wrong answers beyond the simple count — a wrong answer counts as one mistake whether you guessed or misread.
What the Computer Screen Looks Like
The exam is taken on a computer at a DGT testing centre. When you sit down, you will see a screen showing the question number, the question text, an image (if applicable), and the three answer options. You navigate between questions using on-screen buttons. You can skip questions and return to them later. A timer in the corner shows your remaining time. The interface is functional but plain — do not expect a modern, polished design. If you have requested the exam in a language other than Spanish, the questions will appear in your chosen language alongside the Spanish original.
Question Types
Questions fall into several categories. Situational questions show you an image of a driving scenario and ask what you should do. Sign recognition questions present a road sign and test whether you know its meaning. Rule-based questions ask about specific regulations — speed limits, alcohol limits, required documents, or vehicle safety requirements. Some questions are straightforward factual recall, while others require you to apply multiple rules to a complex situation. The trickiest questions involve intersections with multiple vehicles, where you must determine the correct order of priority.
Time Management
Thirty minutes for 30 questions gives you exactly one minute per question. In practice, most questions take 20 to 40 seconds, which leaves you a comfortable buffer. Do not rush through — the most common cause of failure is misreading a question, not running out of time. Read each question fully, look at the image carefully, and only then choose your answer. If a question confuses you, skip it and come back. Use your remaining time to review any flagged questions.
What Happens If You Fail
If you get 4 or more questions wrong, you fail the exam. Your result is shown on screen immediately after you finish. You will not be told which specific questions you got wrong — only your total number of errors. If you fail, you can retake the exam. Through a driving school, you can typically rebook within two to four weeks. As a free candidate, wait times vary by province but are usually similar. There is no limit to how many times you can retake the theory exam, though you must pay the Tasa 4.2 fee each time. The questions on your retake will be different from your first attempt.
How to Prepare Effectively
The best preparation is doing practice tests under real conditions. Set a 30-minute timer, answer 30 questions, and check your score. Do this daily for at least two to three weeks. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind correct answers, not just memorising them. The DGT rotates questions regularly, so rote learning specific answers is unreliable. An adaptive practice tool like DGT Pass can accelerate your preparation by identifying the specific questions you struggle with and drilling those until you master them.