HTV Driving Theory exam-day guide
HTV Driving Theory · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Primary photo ID
Bring the original ID document named on your booking. Accepted ID types vary by provider and test centre, so confirm the exact list with the provider before test day; a photocopy or expired document is commonly refused.
Appointment confirmation
Have your booking reference and test time available, on paper or on a charged phone. Confirm with the provider whether a printed confirmation is required or whether a digital copy is accepted at check-in.
Test centre address and arrival instructions
Check the exact building entrance, parking, and public-transport route in advance. Arrival cut-off times and late-entry rules differ between centres, so confirm the required arrival window with the provider.
Glasses or contact lenses if you need them
If your licence or booking records a vision condition, bring the corrective lenses you normally use. Ask the provider whether a vision check is performed at check-in and what happens if you arrive without them.
Approved assistive equipment
If you have pre-arranged extra time, a reader, a separate room, or another accommodation, bring any approval email and the equipment you are permitted to use. Confirm with the provider that the accommodation is recorded on your booking.
Login details for computer-based testing
If the test is delivered on a computer and you were issued a candidate number, password, or PIN, bring it exactly as instructed. Do not assume that centre staff can retrieve it; confirm with the provider what identification or recovery process applies.
Prohibited items plan
Leave notes, textbooks, smartwatches, fitness bands, and other wearable devices at home or in a secure bag. Phone-storage rules differ, so confirm with the provider whether lockers are available or whether phones must remain switched off in a bag.
Provider contact number
Save the test centre or provider contact number in your phone and write it on paper as a backup. Use it if transport fails or you are uncertain about check-in; do not rely on the centre answering quickly on the morning of the test.
Travel and backup plan
Plan to reach the area ahead of your appointment and identify a backup route or later train/bus. Traffic and parking delays are common reasons for refused entry, so build in margin rather than aiming to arrive exactly at the cut-off.
Hydration and a light snack
Drink water and eat something light before you travel. Confirm with the provider whether water is allowed at the desk and whether any scheduled break exists; if not, use the toilet during check-in rather than during the test.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment time, test centre address, ID requirements, and any accommodations with the provider. Check your travel route and parking options, then do short review sessions on your weakest topics rather than full-length cramming. Protect sleep for the two nights before the test, because fatigue affects hazard scanning and multiple-choice accuracy more than one extra hour of revision.
Pack your ID, confirmation, glasses, and any approved equipment in one bag. Charge your phone and any permitted device, save the provider's number, and confirm your transport times. Do a light review of road signs, priority rules, and hazard-perception strategy, then stop early. Avoid learning new material or discussing question content with other candidates; it increases anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave earlier than your route suggests, and arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Switch your phone off before entering the test area unless staff instruct otherwise. At check-in, follow staff instructions, ask where to store belongings, and use the toilet before you are seated. Read the on-screen or printed instructions before starting, even if you have taken a practice test.
Read every question fully and watch for words such as 'must', 'should', 'first', and 'not'. Answer the questions you know, flag uncertain ones if the system allows it, and return to them after completing the section. For hazard-perception clips, click when a hazard becomes a developing risk rather than clicking repeatedly; confirm the provider's marking rules in advance. Check the time remaining periodically, and review flagged answers before submitting.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID named on your booking; the name must match. If your ID is expired, renamed, or in a different script, confirm acceptance with the provider before test day, because centres may refuse entry and you may lose the fee.
Arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Late arrival can result in refused entry or a forfeited appointment, and the exact cut-off varies by centre, so confirm it when you book rather than assuming a grace period.
Do not use phones, notes, smartwatches, or unauthorised devices in the test room. Follow staff instructions on storage and silence; unauthorised items can lead to removal, cancellation, or invalidation of your result.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for staff. Unscheduled breaks are usually limited and may be recorded, so confirm the provider's policy before the test rather than leaving the desk unannounced.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the provider and may combine multiple-choice and hazard-perception sections. Read your result slip and the provider's published rules; do not rely on pass marks quoted online or by other candidates.
Arrange any extra time, reader, separate room, or other accommodation in advance and confirm it is recorded on your booking. Requests made on the day may not be possible.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and test-centre staff. Disruptive behaviour, attempts to communicate with other candidates, or copying test content can void your result and may affect future bookings.