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CPC Case Study Test in Ireland: Format, Pass Mark and How to Prepare
Updated 14 August 2026 · 5 min read
Want to drive a truck or bus professionally in Ireland? After the 100-question theory test (Step 1), you must pass the Driver CPC case study test (Step 2). It is a different kind of exam — and it catches out drivers who prepared only for multiple-choice trivia.
The format: 3 stories, 45 questions
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Structure | 3 case studies (real-life driver scenarios) |
| Questions | 15 per case study — 45 in total |
| Pass mark | 28/45 overall AND at least 5/15 in every case |
| Time | 135 minutes |
| Fee | €72 |
| Certificate validity | 2 years |
| Prerequisite | Passed CPC theory test (Step 1) in the same category |
Each case study describes a working day of a professional driver — loading, vehicle checks, tachograph rules, an incident on the road — followed by 15 questions about what the driver should do. The double pass condition is the trap: a great overall score still fails if you bomb a single case below 5/15.
What the scenarios test
- Daily walk-around and cockpit checks, loading and axle weights
- Driving hours, breaks and tachograph records
- Documents for national and international journeys
- Dealing with collisions, breakdowns and emergency situations
- Fuel-efficient and safe professional driving
How to prepare
Reading the syllabus is not enough — the skill being tested is applying rules inside a story. The most effective preparation is working through realistic case studies with questions, the same way the exam presents them: read the scenario carefully, note the numbers (weights, hours, dates), then answer.
Practise with real-style CPC case studies
Interactive truck and bus case studies with questions and explanations, plus a full exam simulation (3 cases × 15, timed, official pass rules).
Open CPC case studiesFrequently asked questions
+What is the pass mark for the CPC case study test?
You need at least 28 of 45 questions correct overall AND at least 5 of 15 in each of the three case studies. Failing either condition fails the test.
+How much does the CPC case study test cost?
€72, booked through theorytest.ie after you have passed the CPC theory test (Step 1) in the same category.
+Can I sit the theory test and case study test on the same day?
You can book them the same day, but the RSA advises against it — the theory test can take up to 3 hours and the case study test another 1.5+, which is a lot of concentration for one sitting.
+How long is the CPC case study certificate valid?
Two years. If you have not progressed to your learner permit/next steps within that time, you must sit the case study test again.
+Is the case study test the same for truck and bus?
The format is identical (3 cases × 15 questions, same pass rules), but the scenarios and questions are specific to trucks (CPC C) or buses (CPC D).
+How hard is the CPC theory test?
The CPC theory test itself is the standard 100-question C or D exam. The case study test that follows is what trips people up: it is not harder on content, but it demands applying rules inside a scenario rather than recalling a fact directly.
+How many questions are on the CPC theory test?
CPC Step 1 is the same theory test as the ordinary category C or D exam: 100 questions, 120 minutes, pass mark 74. CPC Step 2, the case study test, has 45 questions across 3 scenarios.