What the learner knowledge test actually is
The learner knowledge test is the first hurdle on the licensing pathway in every Australian state and territory. Before you are allowed to sit behind the wheel — even with a fully licensed supervisor beside you — the licensing authority needs proof that you know the rules of the road. That proof is a written theory test, taken on a computer at a service centre (and in some states online or at approved providers).
It is not a driving test. You are not assessed on car control, parking or reversing at this stage — that comes later, at the practical driving test after you have logged your supervised hours. The knowledge test is purely about what you know: can you read the signs, do you understand who gives way, do you know the speed and safety rules that keep everyone alive?
Passing it earns you your learner licence (L plates), which lets you begin practising on real roads under supervision. Because road law is set state by state, the test is run by your local authority — so the version a learner sits in Perth is not identical to the one sat in Hobart.
Test yourself
The format: how the test works on the day
In every state the test is multiple choice and delivered on a computer or tablet. You read a question — often with a picture of a sign, a road scene or an intersection — and choose the correct answer from the options shown. Questions come one at a time and you tap your answer to move on.
Most jurisdictions split the questions into two kinds:
- Road rules and safety questions — give way, speed limits, parking, alcohol and fatigue, safe following distances.
- Road sign questions — recognising what a sign means and what you must do in response.
Several authorities treat certain core-safety or sign questions as mandatory: get one of those wrong and you fail the whole test regardless of your overall score. That is why rote-guessing is risky — you genuinely need to understand the material, not just recognise a few answers. Take your time; there is no reward for finishing fast, and rushing past a diagram is how careful learners lose easy marks.
How many questions, and the pass mark, by state
The number of questions and the exact pass threshold are set by each authority, so always confirm the current details for your state before you book. Here is where things stand:
- Victoria (VicRoads): 32 questions.
- Queensland (TMR): 30 questions.
- Western Australia (DoT): 30 questions.
- Tasmania (Transport Tasmania): 35 questions.
- Northern Territory (MVR): 30 questions.
- ACT (Access Canberra): 35 questions.
- New South Wales (Service NSW): the Driver Knowledge Test question count is not published as a fixed public figure — confirm the current count with Service NSW.
- South Australia (DIT / mylicence): the current question count is not published — confirm it with DIT.
On the pass mark: every state sets the bar high — you need to answer the large majority of questions correctly, and in states with mandatory questions a single wrong core-safety answer can fail you. Because the exact percentage varies and is occasionally updated, we don’t quote a figure we can’t verify for you today — check the current pass mark with your authority. See your state’s full breakdown on our driving tests by state pages.
What the test covers
The syllabus is drawn from your state’s official road rules handbook — the free guide the authority publishes for learners. Across the country the same broad themes appear:
- Give way and right of way — at intersections, roundabouts, T-junctions, pedestrian crossings and when merging.
- Speed limits — default limits, school zones, shared zones, and speed around emergency and roadside-assistance vehicles.
- Road signs and line markings — regulatory, warning and information signs, plus what solid and broken lines mean.
- Safe driving — following distances, safe gaps, blind spots, and adjusting to weather and night.
- Alcohol, drugs and fatigue — the legal limits for learners (generally zero blood alcohol) and how impairment affects driving.
- Parking, stopping and licence conditions — where you may and may not stop, and the rules L-platers must follow.
Signs trip up more learners than any other topic, so it’s worth drilling them until they’re automatic — our road signs guide walks through each family of sign with what it means and what you must do.
What it costs
There are two separate costs to keep straight.
The government test fee. Each authority charges its own fee to sit the knowledge test (and separately to issue the learner licence). These fees change from time to time and differ between states, so we don’t quote a dollar figure we can’t stand behind — check the current fee with Service NSW, VicRoads, TMR, DoT, DIT, Transport Tasmania, the NT MVR or Access Canberra for where you live.
Practising with us. All of our knowledge-test practice is free — unlimited practice questions, mock tests and study, no account fee, nothing to cancel. The only thing we sell is our optional Hazard Perception course, a one-time A$9.90 payment (not a subscription — there is no recurring charge, and it’s backed by a money-back guarantee). That course prepares you for the separate hazard perception test that some states require later in the pathway; it is not needed to pass the knowledge test itself.
We are an independent study resource and are not affiliated with any government licensing authority. Always confirm official fees, rules and requirements with your state authority.
How to prepare and pass first go
Learners who pass on the first attempt almost always do the same three things.
1. Read the official handbook. Every question is drawn from your state’s road rules guide. Read it once end-to-end so nothing on test day is a surprise, then keep it handy to check anything you get wrong in practice.
2. Practise the real question style. Reading is not the same as answering. Working through practice questions in the exact multiple-choice format trains you to spot what each question is really asking. Start with our free practice questions and repeat a topic until you’re consistently correct, not just occasionally lucky.
3. Sit mock tests under real conditions. Once you’re scoring well on topics, run full-length mock tests to build stamina and confidence, and to find the weak spots — usually signs and give-way scenarios — while it still costs nothing to get them wrong.
Aim to be comfortably above the pass mark in practice before you book. If you’re consistently getting the large majority right and your signs are solid, you’re ready.
Booking and what happens after you pass
You book the test through your state authority — online or at a service centre — and you’ll usually need to bring proof of identity and meet the minimum age for a learner licence in your state. Both the exact ID requirements and the minimum age differ by jurisdiction, so confirm them with your authority before you go; don’t assume the rule from another state applies to yours.
Pass, and you’re issued your learner licence and can start logging supervised driving hours toward your provisional (P) licence. Don’t pass? You can rebook and sit it again — there’s often a short wait and another fee, which is exactly why free practice beforehand is worth the time. When you’re ready for the next steps, our learner guides hub covers the whole pathway from L plates onward.
Keep learning
Last verified 7 September 2026 against the Australian Road Rules and the relevant state road authority. Rules, fees and figures change — always confirm current details before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the learners permit test the same in every Australian state?
- No. Each state and territory runs its own version through its own authority, so the number of questions, the pass mark and some of the rules differ. For example, Victoria uses 32 questions and Tasmania and the ACT use 35, while New South Wales and South Australia don’t publish a fixed public question count. The core topics — road rules, signs and safe driving — are broadly similar everywhere. Always check the specifics for your own state before you book.
- Does it cost anything to practise for the knowledge test?
- No. All of our knowledge-test practice — practice questions, mock tests and study material — is completely free, with no account fee and nothing to cancel. The only paid product we offer is the optional Hazard Perception course, a one-time A$9.90 payment (not a subscription) for the separate hazard perception test some states require later. You will still pay your state authority’s own fee to sit the official knowledge test and to issue your licence — confirm those fees with your authority.
- What score do I need to pass the learner knowledge test?
- Every Australian state sets the pass mark high — you need to answer the large majority of questions correctly. Some states also have mandatory core-safety or sign questions, where getting even one wrong fails the whole test. Because the exact pass percentage varies by state and is updated from time to time, confirm the current pass mark with your licensing authority. Aiming to score comfortably above the threshold in free practice first is the surest way to pass on the day.