The NSW Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) Explained: Format, Pass Mark and Booking

The Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) is the first step towards driving in New South Wales. It’s a computer-based theory test on the NSW road rules and safe driving, and you must pass it before you can get your learner licence. This guide covers the two ways to take it, the format, eligibility, what it costs, what to bring and what happens if you don’t pass.

Key Fact: The DKT is a knowledge test, not a driving test. Everything it covers comes from the NSW Road User Handbook, the official guide published by Transport for NSW. The current edition is 02/2026.

Two Ways to Sit the DKT

NSW now offers the DKT in two formats. Both lead to the same learner licence, but they suit different people.

DKT Online

The online option is a self-paced course on road safety and the road rules, with practice quizzes along the way and a final test at the end. You need to:

• be a NSW resident;
• have a MyServiceNSW Account and a valid identity document;
• not currently hold a driver licence;
• never have had a licence refused, suspended or cancelled.

You can enrol from 15 years and 11 months, so you can finish the course just before your 16th birthday.

You don’t pay up front. The $58 fee is charged when you go to Service NSW to apply for your learner licence.

DKT In Person

The in-person DKT is a multiple-choice computer test at a Service NSW centre, and you must book ahead. You must be at least 16, live in NSW, pass an eyesight test and be medically fit to drive. You must sit the in-person test if:

• you’ve had a licence refused, suspended or cancelled;
• you’re applying for certain other licence classes, such as a rider licence or a heavy vehicle licence.

Some people simply prefer it. Others choose it because they don’t have reliable internet or need an interpreter.

The DKT Format and Pass Mark

The in-person DKT has traditionally had 45 multiple-choice questions in two parts, and you must pass both:

Look closely at the road safety section. With 30 questions and a pass mark of 29, you can make only one mistake there. Each section is scored separately, so 41 correct overall isn’t enough if four of your mistakes were in the road safety part.

DKT Tip: Road safety is where most people fail, because there’s almost no room for error. Spend most of your study time on the road safety topics: intersections, traffic lights and lanes, pedestrians, speed limits, alcohol and drugs, fatigue, seatbelts, negligent driving, bicycles and traffic signs.

A note on sources: Transport for NSW’s current web pages and the 02/2026 handbook no longer spell out the number of questions or the pass marks. The 45-question structure above comes from earlier official editions and is still widely reported, but treat it as a guide. The format of the test at the end of the online course isn’t published.

What Topics Are Covered?

Transport for NSW publishes an official question bank for the in-person DKT. It’s grouped into general knowledge, road safety and traffic signs. Our study guides follow the same categories:

• General Knowledge: licences, parking, motorways, phones and crashes
• Intersections: give way rules, roundabouts and level crossings
• Traffic Lights and Lanes: arrows, dividing lines and special lanes
• Speed Limits: default limits, licence limits and school zones
• Alcohol and Drugs: BAC limits, testing and medicines
• Fatigue and Defensive Driving: tiredness and following distance
• Pedestrians: crossings and vulnerable road users
• Seat Belts and Restraints: child seats and responsibility
• Negligent Driving: overtaking, hooning and demerit points
• Traffic Signs: what each sign means
• Bicycle Safety: passing distances and bike lanes

Booking the In-Person Test

You book the in-person DKT through Service NSW, online or by phone. You’ll need:

• a completed Licence Application form;
• proof of identity that meets Service NSW requirements;
• your glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive, because you’ll also have an eyesight test.

Service NSW can provide an interpreter or an assistant reader, who reads the questions aloud, if you need one. Ask when you book. Free interpreting for the DKT is available through 13 22 13.

What Happens After You Pass

Once you’ve passed (and you’re at least 16), you apply for your learner licence at a Service NSW centre. If you passed online, you don’t need to book. You’ll pay:

• the learner licence fee, which is $32 from 1 July 2026;
• the DKT fee, if you did the online course.

You get a temporary paper licence on the day, and your card arrives by post. You can then add a digital licence in the Service NSW app.

From there, you start the learner stage of the Graduated Licensing Scheme. If you’re under 25, that means at least 12 months on your Ls and 120 logged hours, including 20 at night. Read our guide to NSW learner driver rules for the full list of conditions.

What If You Fail?

Failing the DKT is common, especially in the strict road safety section, and it’s easy to fix.

• In person: you can sit the test again on the same day if another booking is available. You pay the fee again for each attempt.
• Online: you can try again after a 12-hour wait. Your $58 covers unlimited attempts during your 12 months of access.

Before you try again, look at which topics tripped you up. Do targeted practice there before you take a full mock test.

Key Fact: If your learner licence expires before you move on to your P1 licence, you have to pass the DKT again and pay the fees again. A learner licence is valid for 5 years.

How to Prepare

1. Read the Road User Handbook. It’s the source of every DKT question. It’s free on nsw.gov.au and available in 8 community languages as well as English.
2. Study topic by topic. Use our topic guides to learn the rules in plain English.
3. Practise each topic. Do a quiz such as Intersections or Traffic Signs until you score consistently high.
4. Sit full mock tests. Our 45-question mock test matches the length of the in-person test, so you can practise under pressure.

For a week-by-week plan, see how to pass the NSW learners test first time.

Practise Anywhere

The Learners Test app has practice questions across every DKT topic, with explanations in plain English, plus full 45-question mock tests. The in-person test scores its two sections separately, so aim well above the overall pass mark on every mock. Download it here and practise on the bus, at lunch or the night before your test.

The Learners Test is an independent study app and isn’t affiliated with Transport for NSW or Service NSW. Always check fees and booking details with Service NSW before your test.