TheoryPrac is a UK driving theory test practice site: 750+ DVSA-licensed questions with explanations, timed mock exams and 36 hazard perception clips, for car, motorcycle, LGV and ADI. Free to start. See all features
A straight answer for anyone whose first language is not English, and a practical way to prepare.
SHORT ANSWER
Support you can ask for when you book
In Great Britain you can ask, when booking, to hear the test through headphones in English or Welsh and replay questions as often as you need. A British Sign Language video is available for deaf candidates. Extra time, a reader and recorder, or having questions reworded need evidence of a reading difficulty, and the DVSA decides what you get.
A language barrier on its own does not qualify you for extra time. Preparation is what closes the gap.
Why the wording is the hard part
Most people who struggle are not unsure about the rules. They are thrown by short, precise English: one word such as must, should, except or not changes the answer. These are the terms worth learning first:
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Give way | Let other traffic go first |
| Carriageway | The part of the road vehicles drive on |
| Dual carriageway | A road with a central barrier or strip between the two directions |
| Hard shoulder | The emergency lane at the side of a motorway |
| Central reservation | The strip that separates the two sides of a dual carriageway |
| Contraflow | Traffic moved onto the opposite side of the road, usually for roadworks |
| Box junction | Yellow criss-cross area you must not enter unless your exit is clear |
| Overtaking | Passing a slower vehicle going the same way |
| Tailgating | Driving too close behind another vehicle |
| Coasting | Rolling with the clutch down or in neutral; you lose control |
| Aquaplaning | Tyres losing grip on a layer of water |
| Blind spot | An area you cannot see in your mirrors |
A study method that works in a second language
- Learn the topic in your own language first if that helps, so the idea is clear.
- Then practise only in English, because test day is in English.
- Read every question twice and find the key word before you look at the answers.
- Keep a list of words you missed and review it daily.
- Use the numbers: speed limits and stopping distances are the same in any language.
- Sit full timed mocks (50 questions, 57 minutes) until reading speed is no longer a problem.
Questions people ask
Can I take the UK theory test in Polish, Arabic or another language?
Not in England, Scotland or Wales. Foreign-language voiceovers ended in April 2014. In Northern Ireland, nidirect lists voiceovers in Arabic, Cantonese, English, Farsi, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish.
Can I bring an interpreter?
Not in Great Britain. Interpreters were withdrawn at the same time as foreign voiceovers.
Can I listen to the test instead of reading it?
Yes, you can ask when booking to hear it through headphones in English or Welsh, and replay questions.
Do I get extra time if English is not my first language?
Not for language alone. Extra time needs evidence of a reading difficulty, and the DVSA decides.
What is the pass mark?
43 out of 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes, and 44 out of 75 in hazard perception.
- GOV.UK: Foreign language driving tests end (2014)
- GOV.UK: If you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition
- nidirect: Taking your theory test if you have special requirements
- GOV.UK: Theory test pass mark and result
TheoryPrac is an independent revision service and is not affiliated with the DVSA.