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G1 Passing Score (How Many Questions You Can Get Wrong)

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Short answer: the G1 has 40 questions in two sections of 20, and you need 80% (that's 16 out of 20) in each section to pass. So you can get at most 4 wrong per section. Miss 5 in either section and you fail the whole test, even if your overall score looks fine.

The pass mark at a glance: 20 road-sign questions → need 16. 20 rules-of-the-road questions → need 16. Both sections must hit 80% on their own.
A new driver smiling confidently after passing the G1 test

Why "per section" is the part people miss

This is the trap. The G1 isn't scored as one big percentage out of 40. It's two separate 20-question tests, and you must reach 80% on each one. That means:

  • You could score 34/40 (85%) overall and still fail: if, say, you got 18/20 on signs but only 15/20 on rules. The 15 fails the rules section.
  • The safe target is 16+ in both sections, not just a good total.
  • Fail just one section and you re-write the whole test, so it pays to be solid in both.

Worked example: which scores pass and which fail

How different score splits land:

Road signsRules of the roadOverallResult
16 / 2016 / 2080%Pass
20 / 2016 / 2090%Pass
18 / 2015 / 2082.5%Fail (rules)
12 / 2020 / 2080%Fail (signs)

A strong overall total means nothing if either section is below 16. Aim for 16 or better in both halves, not just a good combined score.

How to be sure you pass

Four wrong per section isn't much room, and the questions are written with look-alike answers designed to trip you up. The fix: practise in the real format until you're comfortably above the line.

  • Practise in exam-simulation mode. Our free G1 practice test scores you exactly like the real thing (20 + 20, 80% per section), so you know where you stand. Aim for 90%+ in both sections before test day, for a margin of safety.
  • Shore up your weaker half. Most people are stronger on one section. If signs are your weak spot, study them by shape and colour. If it's rules, drill the cheat sheet.
Take the free G1 practice test After you pass: start your BDE course

Frequently Asked Questions

80% on each of the two sections: 16 out of 20 on road signs and 16 out of 20 on the rules of the road. It is not an overall average. Each section must reach 80% on its own.

At most 4 in each section. Each section has 20 questions and you need 16 right, so 5 or more wrong in either section is a fail.

No. The pass mark is per section. You could score 85% overall and still fail if you got fewer than 16 right in one of the two sections.

You can re-write it for a smaller fee, and there's no limit on attempts. Review the section you struggled with and practise until you consistently score 90%+. See what happens if you fail the G1.