1.1 Category AM Theory Test Structure, Scoring & Testing Rules

Category AM Theory Test Structure, Scoring & Testing Rules

Before you can take out a first learner permit for a moped or motorcycle in Ireland, you must pass the Driver Theory Test for that category. For two-wheelers the test is category AM – the Motorcycle/Moped Theory Test. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) owns the test, and Prometric Ireland Ltd. operates the Driver Theory Test service on the RSA's behalf through TheoryTest.ie.

According to the RSA, the theory test checks your knowledge of topics such as:

• The Rules of the Road
• Risk perception
• Eco-driving
• Hazard awareness
• Safe driving behaviour

This guide is independent study material by OpenExamPrep. It teaches those topics from a motorcyclist's point of view, but always confirm current logistics on TheoryTest.ie before you book.

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Which Licence Categories the AM Test Covers

TheoryTest.ie lists five Driver Theory Test categories. The motorcycle test sits alongside the car and heavy-vehicle tests:

A pass in the AM test is used for a first learner permit in any motorcycle or moped category, subject to the minimum age for that category: 16 for AM and A1, 18 for A2, and 24 for direct access to A (or 20 with progressive access). Section 1.2 explains the categories in detail.

Do you need to sit it again when you move up a category?

It depends on your history, so check your own case with the RSA and the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS):

• The RSA's motorcycle FAQ says that if you took out a first motorcycle learner permit since April 2001, you will already have passed a theory test and do not need to sit it again to get a learner permit in the motorcycle category, unless that learner permit has been expired for more than five years.
• TheoryTest.ie warns that, under the learner permit rules that apply from 1 November 2026, you must take the theory test again if your learner permit has been expired for 2 years or more, if you have already held four learner permits, or if you have not taken a driving test in the previous 2 years when applying for a third or fourth permit.
• TheoryTest.ie also warns that a candidate who passed the AM test at a young age may have to retake it when adding A2 or A after 1 November 2026 if more than 2 years have passed since the certificate was obtained.

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Test Structure, Timing and Scoring

The test is taken on a computer at a Driver Theory Test centre. TheoryTest.ie lists more than 40 test locations throughout the Republic of Ireland.

Examination parameters

• Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions, selected randomly from the question bank for the relevant test sections
• Time allowed: 45 minutes
• Pass mark: 35 correct answers (87.5%)
• What fails: 34 or fewer correct answers. Because the pass mark is a count of correct answers, a wrong answer and an unanswered question have the same effect: neither scores
• Language: tests for vehicle categories A, B, C and D are provided in Irish as well as English

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                   CATEGORY AM THEORY TEST AT A GLANCE                   |
|                                                                         |
|   [ 40 questions  ] ------------> [ Pass: 35 correct (87.5%)       ]    |
|   [ 45 minutes    ] ------------> [ At most 5 wrong or unanswered ]    |
|   [ EUR 45.00 fee ] ------------> [ Certificate valid for 2 years ]    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

A score of 34 out of 40 (85%) is a fail. Treat 35 as the minimum, not the target.

How the on-screen test works

TheoryTest.ie and the RSA describe these features:

1. Practice session: you can take a practice session on the day so you are familiar with how the test works before the real questions start.
2. Skip or mark questions: you can skip or mark questions and come back to them at any stage within your test time.
3. Change your mind: there is a simple way to cancel an answer and select another.
4. Finish early: you can exit the test at any time.

If you are not confident with computers, test centre staff are trained to help.

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Official Test Facts at a Glance

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Booking, Fees and Changing Your Appointment

Book online through TheoryTest.ie. The Candidate Services team can be reached on 0818 606 106. The AM fee is €45.00, and accepted payment methods include Mastercard, Visa credit and debit cards, Revolut cards, and cheque or postal order.

When you book:

• Use your full name exactly as it appears on your identification; the spelling must match.
• Schedule the test using an Irish address.
• Choose the correct category. A booking for the wrong test category cannot be changed at the test centre.

[!WARNING] TheoryTest.ie warns that a number of unlicensed apps and websites sell revision material that does not contain the official Driver Theory Test questions. Buy official revision material only through TheoryTest.ie or its Prometric store, and use independent study resources such as this guide alongside it.

Rescheduling and cancellation rules

If you fail to arrive in time, arrive without the required ID, or are late, you will not be allowed to test and you lose the fee. A name correction is free before the test date, but a €15 fee applies if the change is needed on the day.

Identification you must bring

Bring one of these hard-copy documents, as listed on the TheoryTest.ie booking page:

• Public Services Card (with photograph)
• Valid passport
• Irish Passport Card
• EU/EEA National Identity Card
• Irish learner permit or driving licence
• Irish Travel Document
• Current Ukraine driving licence

Failure to bring correct identification means you cannot sit the test and you lose your test fee.

Test day assistance

Candidates with a disability or who need support can book Test Day Assistance in advance through Candidate Services. Options described by TheoryTest.ie include a voiceover (questions and answers read out through headphones), extra time, and a reader recorder service in which a staff member reads the questions and records your answers.

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At the Test Centre

1. Arrive 30 minutes early so there is time for check-in.
2. ID check and scan: staff check your identification and scan it for security. If you refuse the ID scan, you will not be permitted to test.
3. Security checks: wanding detects mobile phones and Bluetooth devices, and you may be asked to roll up trousers or sleeves or turn out your pockets. Smart glasses are not permitted in the testing room and must be stored in your locker with your other belongings.
4. Monitored room: your test session is monitored and recorded, and the centre is video and audio monitored at all times.

Any attempt to cheat is reported to the RSA and can lead to a non-testing period of up to 3 months. Abusive or anti-social behaviour can also result in a non-testing period.

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Results, Certificates and Retakes

At the end of the exam a pass or fail result is displayed on screen. You are also emailed a link to your score report, which shows the category areas where you answered questions correctly or incorrectly. You can look the report up on Prometric's report lookup using your confirmation number and last name. You will not receive feedback on individual questions, because the test is designed to check the full range of knowledge areas.

If you are unhappy with a result, you can request a rescore by calling Candidate Services within 10 days of the exam; the fee for this process is €15.

The two-year certificate window

[!IMPORTANT] Your Driver Theory Test certificate is only valid for 2 years from the date of your test. If you have not applied to the NDLS for your first learner permit within those 2 years, you will have to sit and pay for the test again.

After a pass you can apply for your learner permit online through NDLS using your Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID account. Section 1.3 covers the application.

If you fail

There is no limit on the number of times you can take the test. TheoryTest.ie strongly advises waiting at least 3 complete business days before re-sitting so that you have time to revise, and each attempt must be booked and paid for.

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Changes from 1 November 2026

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Proven Study and Time-Management Strategies

With 40 questions in 45 minutes you have roughly 1 minute 7 seconds per question. Most factual questions take far less, which leaves time for scenario questions that need careful reading.

The three-pass method

1. First pass: answer every question you are sure about. If a question makes you hesitate, choose your best answer, mark it, and move on.
2. Second pass: return to the marked questions, re-read the wording slowly, and eliminate options that break a rule you know.
3. Final check: make sure no question is left unanswered. An unanswered question can never count towards your 35 correct answers.

Common candidate traps

• Relying on car knowledge: motorcycle-specific rules, such as the L tabard, IBT, the ban on carrying a passenger on a learner permit, and helmet rules, do not appear in the same way in car training.
• Out-of-date study notes: speed limits, fines and learner permit rules have changed recently. For example, the default speed limit on rural local roads fell from 80 km/h to 60 km/h on 7 February 2025.
• Misreading signs: regulatory signs are mostly circular, warning signs are yellow diamonds, road works signs are orange, and motorway signs are blue.