Guides/Theory test
How Many Questions Are in the Irish Theory Test? (All Categories)
Updated 14 August 2026 · 4 min read
The Irish Driver Theory Test (DTT) is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam run by the RSA. The number of questions — and the score you need — depends on the licence category you are testing for. Here is the full 2026 format at a glance.
| Test | Questions | Pass mark | Time limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car (B / BW) | 40 | 35 (87.5%) | 45 minutes | €45 |
| Motorcycle (A / AM) | 40 | 35 (87.5%) | 45 minutes | €45 |
| Truck (C) | 100 | 74 | 120 minutes | €72 |
| Bus (D) | 100 | 74 | 120 minutes | €72 |
| Truck & Bus combined (CD) | 140 | 104 | 180 minutes | €84 |
| Truck/Bus module (TMT/BMT) | 40 | 30 | 45 minutes | €45 |
| CPC case study (Step 2) | 45 (3 cases × 15) | 28 overall, min 5 per case | 135 minutes | €72 |
Car and motorcycle: 40 questions, 35 to pass
For category B (car) and category A (motorcycle) you answer 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes and need 35 correct answers to pass. That is 87.5% — a high bar. You can get only 5 questions wrong, so "mostly knowing" the rules is not enough.
The 40 questions are drawn from a much larger official question bank covering road signs, rules of the road, hazard awareness, safe driving technique and basic vehicle checks. Each question shows 4 possible answers (sometimes 3) and exactly one is correct. There is no negative marking — never leave a question blank.
Truck and bus: 100 questions, 74 to pass
Category C (truck) and category D (bus) tests are much longer: 100 questions in 120 minutes with a pass mark of 74. The question mix follows fixed section quotas — control of the vehicle, legal matters, managing risk, safe and responsible driving, and technical matters — so you cannot pass on road signs alone.
If you want both licences, the combined CD test has 140 questions, a pass mark of 104 and a 180-minute limit. Drivers who already passed one of the two can add the other with a shorter 40-question module test (TMT or BMT, pass mark 30).
How the real exam picks its questions
Questions are selected from the official bank so that every sitting covers the full syllabus. Two people sitting the test side by side get different papers. That is why practising the whole bank — not memorising a "leaked" subset — is the only strategy that reliably works.
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Start a free mock examFrequently asked questions
+How many questions are in the Irish car theory test?
The car (category B) theory test has 40 multiple-choice questions. You need 35 correct answers in 45 minutes to pass.
+What percentage do you need to pass the theory test in Ireland?
For car and motorcycle you need 35 out of 40, which is 87.5%. For truck and bus you need 74 out of 100 (74%).
+Are the questions the same for everyone?
No. Each sitting draws a different set of questions from the official bank, balanced across all syllabus topics.
+Is there negative marking in the Irish theory test?
No. Wrong answers score zero but do not subtract points, so you should answer every question — even if you have to guess.
+How long does the theory test take?
You get 45 minutes for the 40-question car or motorcycle test, and 120 minutes for the 100-question truck or bus test. Most prepared candidates finish the car test in 20–30 minutes.