How the theory exam for the patente works: the day of the test, step by step

To take the theory exam you must first book the test. The Codice della strada (art. 121) sets a precise limit: the booking must be made no later than 5 days before the date of the exam.

The advice is to act early: the sooner the date is confirmed, the fewer worries you have in the days that matter. In the days before the test, focus on practice, for example with the exam simulations of PatenteInTasca, and review the topics where you make mistakes most often.

From the page of the Portale dell'Automobilista dedicated to the foglio rosa and the exam tests, a short self-training course on the quiz test opens. You are invited to follow it before the exam: it helps you know in advance what the test looks like, so on the day of the exam you already know what to expect.

A good habit is to add some quiz practice to this self-training: answering many True or False statements trains you to manage the time of the real test calmly.

For the patente categories A1, A2, A, B1, B and BE the test takes place on a computer. Here is what you find:

• 30 statements to answer
• for each statement you only choose True or False
• 20 minutes of time
• exam passed with at most 3 wrong answers

Accuracy matters more than speed. Read each statement carefully, word by word: with at most 3 mistakes allowed, every answer counts.

Specific learning disorders (DSA) are difficulties recognised by a certification, for example in reading or writing.

If you have a certified DSA, at the theory exam you can have more time available and audio listening of the questions. The Portale dell'Automobilista states that these rules continue to apply.

The advice: get informed in good time, before booking, on how to present the certification, so the right conditions are ready on the day of the test.

The exam outcomes are published on the Portale dell'Automobilista. To see them you must be registered on the portal or log in with SPID, the digital identity system.

The advice: sort out your access before the day of the exam. When the outcome comes out, you read it straight away without wasting time with registrations and passwords.