NaTIS Code 3 Learner

It is the learner stage for light motor vehicles up to 3 500 kg gross vehicle mass - cars, bakkies and light delivery vehicles. You need it before you can take the Code 3 driving test, and you must hold it while driving under the supervision of a licensed driver.

It is a multiple-choice theory test taken at a NaTIS testing station, typically on a computer terminal. You select one answer per question from the options shown. The station staff will explain the interface before you start, so ask if anything on screen is unclear.

Question counts and time limits are set administratively and change from time to time, so no fixed number should be relied on. The Roads Authority publishes the current test structure and requirements on its website. Check there, or phone your testing station, before you book.

The pass mark is set by the licensing authority and is not a figure candidates should assume. The Roads Authority publishes the current requirement. Aim to be consistently correct across all topic areas rather than targeting a bare minimum, because the paper samples widely.

Most failures come from rushing the sign and marking questions and from misreading hazard scenarios as 'what a driver usually does' rather than 'the safest action'. The content is not obscure, but the wording is precise. Practise reading each option fully before choosing.

Yes, retakes are possible, but the waiting period, booking procedure and any additional fee are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current retake rules with your NaTIS testing station or on the Roads Authority website before assuming a date.

Start with road signs, signals and markings, then rules of the road - together these carry about half the paper. Add vehicle controls and pre-trip checks, then safe driving and hazard perception. Leave alcohol, fatigue, emergencies and documents for a second pass, and revise them close to test day.

Only lightly. Code 3 covers vehicles up to 3 500 kg, so the load and heavy-vehicle material is a small slice: loading limits, securing a load, towing and how mass affects braking. Do not spend your main study time there.

Expect to produce identification, your booking confirmation and proof of any fee paid. Requirements vary by station and change, so confirm the exact list with the Roads Authority or your testing station when you book. Arrive early; late arrivals are often turned away.

Answering from habit instead of from the rule. In hazard questions the correct option is the safest legal action, which is sometimes slower or more cautious than what experienced drivers do in practice. Read the scenario twice and eliminate options that break a rule.