Basic Theory Test

Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living, housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in Singapore.
Post Reply
missis
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:37 pm
Location: Holland Road/6th Ave

Basic Theory Test

Post by missis » Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:58 am

OK, about to sit the driving Basic Theory Test. Anyone got any tips? I've been going through the books so not going in "blind' as it were....Is it the norm to pass first go?

x9200
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10057
Joined: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 4:06 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by x9200 » Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:26 am

It is simple but as with all these type of the tests if you think too much you increase your chances to fail :) If you want to be doublesure what is it about book one computerized training session for the theory. The BTT questions are (at least used to be) a random set of the same questions (literally) you could see during such self-training/evaluation.

missis
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:37 pm
Location: Holland Road/6th Ave

Post by missis » Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:32 am

"as with all these type of the tests if you think too much you increase your chances to fail "

Yes, probably! Seems that the way the questions are phrased can catch you out sometimes.

observer
Regular
Regular
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:00 pm

Post by observer » Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:26 pm

It's easy. But if I remember correctly, the passing mark is quite high. And the results are on the spot. The moment you submit your last answer, the screen tells you whether you passed or not.

Passed it on the first go, with I think 1 mistake. The girl next to me failed though, I couldn't help noticing the word "FAILED" in RED on her screen.

Keep your head on and you should do fine. There'll be a few trickier questions, but so long as you understand the law (as opposed to memorizing it), you should ace it.
It's common sense - if you try to come in before I go out, I can't go out. And you can't come in! Lose-lose!

User avatar
gravida
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 9:22 pm

Post by gravida » Wed, 07 Jul 2010 7:50 pm

observer wrote: so long as you understand the law (as opposed to memorizing it), you should ace it.
Oh, there are some questions answers to which you have to memorize i. e., the bus lane hours, the distance from traffic lights etc. allowed to park your vehicle in, the amount of alcohol in the breath versus blood etc. However, it is only a small percentage of the whole set of questions.

It is worth to buy the small booklet available in any bookshop, as it contains the whole range of questions/answers you will get on the test. I did not use the computerized training session and passed in the first try, just basing on the booklet itself.

curiousgeorge
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 549
Joined: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 1:12 am
Location: Singapore

Post by curiousgeorge » Thu, 08 Jul 2010 2:39 pm

There are private companies who do simulated tests online also for a couple of $.

I will be honest, I failed the first time. I had read the book and the sample questions, but the test itself was totally different.

Second time around, it took two and half minutes to pass. Go figure!

Some questions seemed designed to catch you out: the book will tell you the legal limit for blood alcohol is 80mg per 100ml...but the question will be phrased "What is the legal limit for blood alcohol per 50ml?" (A)80mg (B)60mg (C) 45mg (D)40mg.

Then assuming you don't confuse it with breath alcohol limit (45mg?) and you notice the question asks for the limit in 50ML of blood, you might figure out its 40mg...

One other question I got was "Which side of the KPE tunnel are emergency exits?" Well, there are exits on both sides if you look at the whole tunnel. But in your lane, there are mostly exits on the left side. Oh, and a couple on the right, which you'd have to cross traffic to reach...and this information ISN'T in the book!

Best advice is read the book, do some simulated tests.

Oh, and read up on police hand signals...the system in singapore is bizarre and so confusing even the police don't use it!

missis
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:37 pm
Location: Holland Road/6th Ave

Post by missis » Thu, 08 Jul 2010 2:45 pm

Thank you all! Both my husband and I passed first go (48/50). there were 2 that I genuinely didn't know the answer to (one had such badly phrased answers that there was no correct answer!) so relieved about that. There were no geography questions (like PP's tunnel question - what a bad one!) or acronyms (PIE, SLE etc) but there was a policeman hand signal which luckily I had read up on.

observer
Regular
Regular
Posts: 121
Joined: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:00 pm

Post by observer » Thu, 08 Jul 2010 6:31 pm

Congratulations! Did you get a good photo on your license? :D
It's common sense - if you try to come in before I go out, I can't go out. And you can't come in! Lose-lose!

carolynW
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 271
Joined: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 1:43 am

Post by carolynW » Thu, 08 Jul 2010 8:09 pm

Thank god I got my license in the days when they allowed you to just "transfer" from another recognised license! Am sure I won't pass it now! Double good fortune is that the drivers license never expires!!! but i have a bad photo on it. can't win it all.

missis
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:37 pm
Location: Holland Road/6th Ave

Post by missis » Fri, 09 Jul 2010 8:11 am

observer wrote:Congratulations! Did you get a good photo on your license? :D
Of course not :D

louy
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 243
Joined: Sat, 02 Aug 2008 5:29 pm

Post by louy » Sat, 10 Jul 2010 5:26 pm

It was probably one of the easier tests I have ever done. A flick through the book whilst on the bus to the test centre was enough for me to pass, plus some common sense

User avatar
Strong Eagle
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11504
Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
Location: Off The Red Dot
Contact:

Post by Strong Eagle » Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:28 pm

Took me 12 minutes with a review of the questions I answered.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Staying, Living in Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests