The hazard perception test shows 14 one-minute CGI clips filmed from a driver's view. You click when you see a hazard developing; the earlier you spot it, the more of the 5 available points you score. There are 15 scorable hazards worth 75 points, the pass mark is 44, and you must pass it in the same sitting as the multiple-choice questions.
How the scoring window works
Each hazard has a scoring window that opens the moment it starts developing. Click at the start of the window and you score 5; as the window progresses the available score drops to 4, 3, 2, 1 and finally 0. The safe technique is to click when you first notice the hazard developing, then click again a moment later as it escalates — two or three purposeful clicks per hazard.
Why do some clips score zero?
The software detects gaming. Clicking rhythmically, continuously, or in a pattern across the whole clip voids that clip's score. A handful of genuine clicks is fine; fifty is not.
What should you click on?
A developing hazard is anything that would cause you to change speed or direction: a pedestrian stepping between parked cars, a vehicle emerging from a junction, a cyclist drifting into your lane, a car door opening. Static hazards — parked cars, warning signs, roadworks cones on the verge — don't score until they start to develop. Our Hazard Awareness practice questions train the same anticipation skill in written form.
Where to practise (honestly)
The official CGI clips are Crown Copyright and we don't hold a licence to host them — and neither do most sites offering "free hazard perception tests" with real clips. Practise with the free official sample clips at safedrivingforlife.info (DVSA's publishing partner), and check the format on GOV.UK. Use this site to master the 50-question part: start with the free timed mock test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for hazard perception?
44 out of 75. You must pass it and the multiple-choice part in the same sitting to pass the theory test.
How is the hazard perception test scored?
Each developing hazard is worth up to 5 points. The earlier you click after the hazard starts developing, the more you score — the window runs 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, then 0 points as the hazard unfolds. There is no penalty for a few extra clicks, but a rhythmic or continuous clicking pattern scores zero for that clip.
How many clips are there and how long are they?
14 CGI clips of around a minute each. Every clip has one developing hazard, except one clip which has two — so there are 15 scorable hazards in total.
What counts as a developing hazard?
Something that would make you change speed or direction — a pedestrian stepping out, a car pulling off a driveway, a cyclist moving into your lane. Static hazards (parked cars, road signs) don’t score; click when a hazard starts to develop, then again as it escalates.
Where can I practise hazard perception for free?
The DVSA’s official publishing partner offers free sample clips at safedrivingforlife.info, and GOV.UK explains the test format. Official CGI practice clips are Crown Copyright, so honest independent sites link you there rather than hosting copies.