States and territories

Learner driver knowledge tests by state

Each Australian state and territory runs its own learner knowledge test. Here is how all eight compare, and where to find the details for yours.

Last updated: 30 September 2026

In short

Every state and territory sets its own learner knowledge test. Formats range from 30 questions (Queensland, the Tasmanian online test, the Northern Territory and South Australia's myLs) through 32 in Victoria's in-person test and 35 in the ACT to 45 in the NSW DKT and 50 in South Australia's in-person test, and several states also offer an online course route. Learners Test Australia has practice for all eight: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

How do the learner tests compare across Australia?

Knowledge test formats, as checked on 30 September 2026
State	Test	Questions	Pass mark	How you take it
NSW	Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)	45: 15 general knowledge, 30 road safety	12 of 15 and 29 of 30	In person, or the DKT online course and final test from 15 years 11 months
VIC	Learner permit test	32 (in-person test)	25 of 32 (78%)	Online learner permit course with a final test (the default route), or in person
QLD	Written road rules test	30: 10 giving way, 20 road rules and licence requirements	9 of 10 and 18 of 20	On paper at a licence-issuing centre, or PrepL online (final test of 30 questions, pass 27)
SA	Learner's theory test	In person: 8 give-way, then 42 road rules and safety	All 8, and 32 of 42	In person at Service SA, or myLs online (30-question test, pass 27)
WA	Learner's permit theory test	30	24 of 30	In person at a department centre or regional agent (online test announced, no start date yet)
TAS	Driver knowledge test	30 (online test)	27 of 30	Free Plates Plus course and online test (recommended), or a standalone test at a Service Tasmania shop
ACT	Learner licence knowledge test	35, from a bank of more than 300	At least 31 of 35	Only at the end of an approved course, with an approved provider or participating school
NT	Driver knowledge test	30, from a pool of more than 300	26 of 30	At an MVR office (in remote areas, a police station or DriveSafe NT)

Sources: the official test pages and legislation linked on each state's page. Some details are not published, such as the size of the NSW and Victorian online final tests, the Tasmanian standalone test format and every detail of the ACT pass rule. For Western Australia we state only what we could confirm from WA legislation.

Choose your state

NSW

NSW Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)

Questions: 45, in two sections
Pass marks: General knowledge: 12 of 15. Road safety: 29 of 30.
In the app: The mock test ends where the real test would, once passing is no longer possible.

NSW DKT practice test

VIC

Victorian learner permit test

Questions: 32 multiple choice
Pass mark: 25 of 32 (78%)
In the app: Victoria-only topics such as hook turns and trams are included.

VIC learner permit test practice

QLD

Queensland written test and PrepL

Written road rules test: 30 questions in two sections. Giving way: 9 of 10. Road rules: 18 of 20.
PrepL final test: 30 questions. Pass mark: 27 of 30.
In the app: Mock tests for both routes.

QLD learner test practice

SA learner's theory test and myLs

In person: 8 give-way questions, all must be right, then 42. Pass mark: 32 of 42.
myLs test: 30 questions. Pass mark: 27 of 30.
In the app: Mock tests for both routes, with select-all-that-apply questions.

SA learners test practice

WA learner's permit theory test

Before your permit: Show you know WA's traffic laws and safe driving, normally by a theory test.
Official format: Check the WA transport department's website.
In the app: A 30-question practice test written from WA legislation.

WA learners test practice

TAS

Tasmanian driver knowledge test

Online test: 30 questions, after the free Plates Plus course.
Pass mark: 27 of 30. Some questions have more than one correct answer.
In the app: 30-question mocks with select-all-that-apply questions.

Tasmania learners test practice

ACT

ACT learner licence knowledge test

Questions: 35, from a bank of more than 300
Pass mark: At least 31 of 35
In the app: 35-question practice tests. The real test is taken only through an approved course.

ACT learners test practice

NT driver knowledge test

Questions: 30, from a pool of more than 300
Pass mark: 26 of 30
In the app: 30-question mocks scored against the 26-question pass line.

NT learners test practice

Which states have an online route?

New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania all offer an online course that ends with a test: the DKT online in NSW, the learner permit course in Victoria, PrepL in Queensland, myLs in South Australia and Plates Plus in Tasmania. In the ACT the test comes at the end of an approved course run by a provider or school. In the Northern Territory you sit the test at an MVR office. Each state page explains the options and ages.

What is the same in every state?

Much of what the tests check comes from the national Australian Road Rules, which most states and territories adopt in their own law (Western Australia has its own Road Traffic Code, which follows them closely): giving way at intersections and roundabouts, traffic lights, speed limit signs and most road markings. The details that differ are usually licensing rules (supervised hours, plate rules, passenger limits, alcohol and phone rules for new drivers) and a few local road rules, such as Victoria's hook turns or the Northern Territory's 130 km/h roads. Our guide to give way rules covers the shared rules.