If there is one number you should memorize before taking the Spanish DGT theory test, it is this: 3. You are allowed a maximum of 3 incorrect answers out of 30 questions. Get 27 or more right and you pass. Get 4 or more wrong and you fail. There is no grey area, no partial credit, and no appeal. The scoring system is as straightforward as it is unforgiving.
While the basic rule is simple, there are important details about how the scoring works, how it compares to other countries, and how you should approach the exam strategically given this tight margin. In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about the DGT scoring system so you can walk into the exam with complete clarity.
The Exact Scoring Rules
The Spanish DGT theory exam for the Permiso B (standard car licence) consists of exactly 30 multiple-choice questions. Each question presents three possible answers, and you must select one. There is only one correct answer per question. You have 30 minutes to complete the exam, which works out to one minute per question.
- 30 questions total, each with 3 answer options (A, B, or C)
- Maximum of 3 errors allowed to pass (you need at least 27 correct)
- 30 minutes to complete the entire exam
- No negative marking: a wrong answer counts as 1 error, nothing more
- Unanswered questions count as errors, so never leave a question blank
- No partial credit: each question is simply right or wrong
- All questions carry equal weight regardless of topic or difficulty
- The exam is taken on a computer at an official DGT exam centre
Critical point: unanswered questions are counted as errors. If you run out of time or accidentally skip a question, it counts the same as a wrong answer. Always ensure you have selected an answer for every single question before submitting, even if you have to guess on a few.
No Categorized Minimum Scores
One question I get frequently is whether you need to score a minimum number of correct answers in each topic category. The answer is no. Unlike some other countries where you must pass each section of the exam individually, the Spanish DGT theory test uses a single combined score. Your 3 errors can all come from the same topic area, and you will still pass as long as you get the other 27 questions right.
This is both good news and bad news. The good news is that a weak spot in one area will not automatically fail you if you are strong everywhere else. The bad news is that some students use this as an excuse to neglect certain topics entirely, thinking they can afford to get all the questions wrong in one area. This is a risky strategy because you cannot predict which topics will have more or fewer questions on your particular exam.
What Happens If You Get Exactly 3 Wrong?
Let me be absolutely clear on this because it causes confusion: if you get exactly 3 questions wrong out of 30, you pass. The rule is that you are allowed a maximum of 3 errors. Three is the limit, and the limit is inclusive. Getting 27 out of 30 correct is a passing score. You do not need 28 to be safe. However, I strongly advise aiming higher in your practice because exam-day conditions are more stressful than practice conditions.
No Negative Marking: What This Means for Your Strategy
The DGT theory exam does not use negative marking. This means that a wrong answer costs you exactly the same as a blank answer: one error. There is absolutely no penalty for guessing. If you are unsure about a question and cannot narrow it down, guessing gives you a one-in-three chance of getting it right, while leaving it blank gives you a zero percent chance.
This is a crucial strategic point. Never leave a question unanswered. Even if you have no idea what the correct answer is, pick one. Over the course of a 30-question exam, educated guessing on two or three questions you are unsure about could easily make the difference between passing and failing.
How Spain Compares to Other Countries
The Spanish scoring system is relatively strict compared to many other European and international driving theory exams. Here is how it stacks up.
- Spain: 30 questions, maximum 3 errors (90% accuracy required)
- United Kingdom: 50 questions, need 43 correct (86% accuracy required)
- Germany: 30 questions with weighted scoring, 10 error points allowed (varies by question difficulty)
- France: 40 questions, need 35 correct (87.5% accuracy required)
- Italy: 30 questions with true/false format, maximum 3 errors (90% accuracy required)
- Netherlands: 65 questions, need 54 correct across categories with minimums per section
As you can see, Spain ties with Italy for one of the highest accuracy requirements in Europe. The combination of only 30 questions and a maximum of 3 errors means that every single question matters. There is very little room for error, which is why thorough preparation is so essential.
Strategies for Managing Your Error Margin
Given that you only have a 3-error buffer, your exam strategy should be built around protecting that margin. Here are the approaches I recommend to my students.
First Pass: Answer What You Know
Go through all 30 questions in order, answering the ones you are confident about immediately. If a question makes you hesitate, select your best guess but flag it for review. Most exam systems allow you to mark questions for later review. On your first pass, you should be able to confidently answer 22 to 25 questions, leaving 5 to 8 for a second look. This approach ensures you do not waste time agonizing over difficult questions while easier ones sit unanswered later in the test.
Second Pass: Revisit Flagged Questions
After completing your first pass, go back to the questions you flagged. With the pressure of the unseen questions behind you, you may find that some of these questions now seem clearer. For questions you are still unsure about, try to eliminate at least one obviously wrong answer. This improves your odds from one-in-three to one-in-two if you need to guess.
Time Management
With 30 minutes for 30 questions, time is usually not a major issue for well-prepared candidates. Most students finish in 15 to 20 minutes, leaving ample time for review. However, if you find yourself spending more than 90 seconds on a single question during your first pass, move on. You can always come back to it. Do not let one difficult question eat into the time you need for questions you can answer correctly.
Handling Questions You Are Unsure About
Even with thorough preparation, you will likely encounter one or two questions on the real exam that feel unfamiliar or tricky. This is normal and expected. The question pool is large, and the DGT regularly updates it. Here is how to approach questions where you are not immediately sure of the answer.
- Read the question twice, paying close attention to qualifiers like "always," "never," "except," and "only"
- Eliminate any answer that you know is definitely wrong, even if you are not sure which of the remaining options is correct
- Think about the general principle behind the question rather than trying to recall a specific memorized answer
- Consider which answer best serves road safety, as the DGT generally favors the safest option
- If two answers seem similar, look for the subtle difference between them, which is usually where the correct answer lies
- Never leave the question blank, as guessing has no penalty and gives you at least a chance of being correct
Retake Rules and Waiting Periods
If you do fail the theory exam, you are not locked out permanently. The DGT allows you to retake the exam, but there are rules and costs involved. After a failed attempt, you must wait before scheduling a new exam date. The waiting period is typically around two weeks, though this can vary depending on availability at your local exam centre.
Your autoescuela will help you schedule the retake, and there will be an additional fee for each attempt. The exact cost varies by school and region, but you can expect to pay between 80 and 100 euros per attempt in most areas. This fee covers the DGT exam fee and administrative costs. Some autoescuelas include a certain number of exam attempts in their initial package, so check your agreement.
You have a total period of two years from the date you open your driving file (expediente) to pass both the theory and practical exams. Within that window, you can attempt the theory exam multiple times. However, each failure costs money and time, so it is far better to invest in proper preparation upfront than to rely on multiple attempts.
The Bottom Line on Scoring
The DGT scoring system is simple and transparent: 30 questions, maximum 3 errors, no tricks. There is no negative marking, no category minimums, and no weighted scoring. Every question is equal, and every error counts the same. This simplicity is actually an advantage for prepared students because the rules are clear and there are no hidden gotchas in the scoring itself.
The challenge is entirely in the tight margin. A 90 percent accuracy requirement means you need to know the material thoroughly, not just superficially. On SpanishDrivingTest.com, we recommend practicing until you consistently score 28 or above on practice exams, giving you a comfortable buffer above the pass threshold. That way, even if exam-day nerves cost you an extra mistake or two, you still pass with room to spare.
Understand the scoring, prepare accordingly, and you will walk out of the exam centre with your theory test passed. It is demanding but fair, and with the right preparation, it is absolutely within your reach.