New South Wales · Knowledge test guide
Preparing for your DKT
What the NSW Driver Knowledge Test really checks — and how to walk in ready.
~5 min read
What the test involves
Your learner licence starts with the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) — it checks you understand the road rules, road signs and safe-driving basics before you get behind the wheel.
The format, in short
- 45 questions in two sections: 15 General Knowledge and 30 Road Safety.
- You need 12 of 15 General Knowledge AND 29 of 30 Road Safety — each section counts on its own, so both matter.
- Questions come from a large bank, so you see a fresh mix every time.
- It’s very passable with the right preparation — most people who struggle underestimate it, or study by reading instead of practising.
Where people usually trip up
A handful of topics account for most mistakes. Spend your extra time here.
Speed limits
Why it catches people
- School zone limits — and the exact times they apply.
- Roadworks limits, and why they override the posted sign.
- How the default limit changes between built-up and open roads.
What to do
- Learn the school-zone times cold — they’re the most missed detail on the test.
- Practise the scenario questions until the answer is automatic, not worked out.
Give way & intersections
Why it catches people
- Unmarked intersections and T-junctions, where the rule isn’t signed.
- Roundabouts with more than one other vehicle in play.
- Diagram questions where several signs have to be weighed at once.
What to do
- Get the plain give-way rules solid before touching the diagrams.
- On every diagram ask three things: who arrived first, who’s turning, who’s already in it.
Signs, markings & traffic lights
Why it catches people
- Confusing regulatory signs (which you must obey) with warning signs.
- Broken versus solid lines — they change what’s legal, and they look alike at a glance.
- Arrow markings and turn-only lanes.
What to do
- Learn sign shapes and colours by heart — the shape tells you the category.
- For every sign, answer one question: what does this require me to DO?
- Never guess between broken and solid lines; check which one the picture shows.
Night driving & vehicle equipment
Why it catches people
- When headlights are required — and when high beam must be dipped.
- Indicator use and timing.
- Driving in low light, rain and fog.
What to do
- These are pure recall, not judgment — read the equipment and night-driving rules once, properly.
- They don’t come from everyday habit yet, so practise them rather than assuming.
Alcohol, drugs, fatigue & distraction
Why it catches people
- The zero blood-alcohol rule that applies to every learner.
- Mobile-phone restrictions — stricter for learners than for full licence holders.
- Drug impairment, and recognising fatigue before it’s dangerous.
What to do
- These are the easiest marks on the test — the rules are absolute, with nothing to weigh up.
- Learn the zero-tolerance rules and the phone limits, and you bank them every time.
How to study so it sticks
Passive reading is the biggest time-waster. Active, targeted practice works far better.
- Test yourself, don’t just read. After a section, close the book and say the rule out loud or write it down.
- Revisit your weak topics across a few days rather than cramming them once.
- Practise realistic questions daily, and spend the extra time on the ones you get wrong.
- Understand the why. Knowing the reason behind a give-way rule or a speed limit beats memorising answers.
- Do a few timed runs so the format and the pressure feel familiar before test day.
Nerves on the day
Plenty of people know the material and still slip because they rush. A few small things help.
- Take a couple of slow breaths before you start, and again between sections if you can.
- Read the whole question before you look at the answers. There’s no prize for finishing first.
- If you’re unsure, rule out the answers that are clearly wrong, then choose between what’s left.
- Remember you can usually sit the test again. One attempt isn’t make-or-break.
- Aim to do your best with what you know, not to be perfect.
A few to test yourself
You’re approaching a roundabout and a vehicle is already circulating to your right. What must you do?
Give way to the vehicle already in the roundabout.
You always give way to traffic already circulating before you enter.
You’re turning right at an intersection. Who must you give way to?
Oncoming vehicles going straight ahead or turning left, and any vehicle on your right.
A right turn crosses the path of oncoming traffic, so they go first.
You’re a learner driver. What’s your legal blood-alcohol limit?
Zero.
Learner and provisional drivers must have a blood-alcohol level of zero at all times.
The night before & the morning of
- The night before: a light review of your weakest topics beats heavy cramming.
- Get a proper night’s sleep — being rested helps more than last-minute study.
- Have whatever you need for the test centre ready to go.
- On the day, eat a normal meal and give yourself time to spare so you’re not rushing.
- A few deep breaths, and remember: you’ve prepared for this.
Once you pass
When you pass, you can get your learner licence, display your L plates, and start driving with a supervisor. From your very first supervised drive, build good habits — regular mirror checks, scanning ahead, and thinking about what other road users might do next.
Those habits aren’t just for now. They’re exactly what the examiner looks for when you sit your driving test later — so the sooner they become second nature, the easier that day will be.
Practise it
Practise for the real thing
357 New South Wales questions with a plain-English explanation on every one, plus a mock test in the same shape as the real thing. 24 free — no account, no card.
Also for New South Wales: Preparing for your driving test.
For the official rules, go to Official source: NSW Road User Handbook and Driver Knowledge Test questions (nsw.gov.au).