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New Zealand · Theory test

The 35 questions on the NZ road code test

There are 35 multi-choice questions on the NZ road code test, and you pass with 32 or more right, so you can miss 3. You get 30 minutes on a computer at the driver licensing agent. Everyone gets a different set of 35, drawn from a pool of about 200, and all of them come from the official New Zealand road code. Each time you answer, the screen shows whether you were right, so you know how you’re going before you finish.

  • 32Correct answers you need out of 35
  • About 200Questions in the pool you draw from
  • 30 minutesTime allowed for the 35 questions
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

How are the 35 questions on the NZ road code test marked?

Correct answersResult
32 to 35Pass: you get a paper learner licence
0 to 31Not a pass: book the test again

If you pass, the agent gives you a temporary paper learner licence, and your photo licence follows by mail. It’s your licence until the card arrives.

What the questions look like

Each question has a few possible answers, and you click the one you think is right. Drive says there’s often a picture or diagram with the question.

The questions cover road rules, hazards and safe driving, all from the road code. Drive’s tough word tester is worth a go first: Drive says the test can use tricky words and unusual terms.

The NZ road code and where to read it →

If you don’t get 32 right

Your application fee includes a second chance at the test. You may be able to try again the same day if the agent has a free time slot. Fail twice on the same day, though, and you wait 10 working days before you can sit it again.

After the second attempt, each extra test has its own fee. Drive suggests doing more study before you go back, because you may have to wait for another time slot. Drive gives these resit rules for the system before 25 January 2027.

Learner licence test fees →

Practising with 35 questions

Drive’s official practice tests unlock as you pass the chapter tests in the Drive Road Code. The AA (New Zealand Automobile Association) says its own paid practice tests have 35 questions in the style of the real test. Either way, aim to score 32 or more before you book.

Where to find a learner licence practice test →
Sources: Drive · AA and 2 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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