People often say "driving test" when they mean any of the tests on the way to a licence. In Australia there are several, and they test very different things. Knowing which one you're facing tells you how to prepare.
Step 1: the driver knowledge test (theory)
This is the first test you sit, and it's a theory test: multiple-choice questions on your state's road rules. Passing it gets you your learner licence or learner permit.
- NSW: the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT). Full guide.
- VIC: the Learner Permit Knowledge Test. Full guide.
- QLD: the Road Rules Test. Full guide.
No driving is involved. You prepare by learning the handbook and practising questions.
Step 2: the learner period
With your Ls you can drive with a fully licensed supervisor and L plates displayed. Younger learners must hold their learner licence for a minimum time and log a set number of supervised driving hours before moving on. The exact hours and minimum period depend on your state and age, so check your road authority's current rules.
Step 3: hazard perception
Some states also have a computer-based hazard perception test along the way, which measures how well you spot and react to risks in traffic scenes. When and whether you sit it depends on your state.
Step 4: the practical driving test
This is what most people mean by "the driving test": you drive on real roads with an examiner who assesses your control of the car, observation, decision-making and how well you follow the road rules. Passing it gets you your provisional (P) licence.
Why the knowledge test still matters later
It's tempting to treat the knowledge test as a box to tick. But the rules you learn for it are exactly what the examiner watches for in the practical test: give way at intersections, stopping positions, speed in school zones, following distances. People who really learned the rules, rather than scraping through, tend to find the driving test easier.
The handbook in the Oz Driver Knowledge Test app stays free forever, so you can keep using it as a reference all the way through your learner period.
Start with the first step
If you're at the beginning, focus on the knowledge test. Our two-week study plan walks you through it, and the Oz DKT app gives you your state's handbook, practice tests in the real format, flashcards and Smart Review, all offline. It's out now on both iPhone and Android.
