In NSW, your Driving Test is evaluated based on your proficiency in demonstrating low-risk driving skills across varied scenarios. To pass, you must adhere to the driving standard and complete test activities within the specified time. The testing officer assesses your safety while driving, your interactions with other road users, and your compliance with road rules and road markings.
Before taking the Driving Test, you’re required to complete a Hazard Perception Test (HPT), paving the way to earn your driver’s licence. Successfully passing the Driving Test and the HPT earns you a provisional P1 licence, allowing you to drive without a supervising driver or a log book. Partnering with a professional trainer can significantly ease the process of passing your Driving Test.
Consider Professional Driving Lessons
Professional driving lessons are invaluable, equipping you with the necessary skills to pass your Driving Test. Experienced instructors provide guidance through various driving aspects, including navigating through 25 zones, understanding road rules, and mastering required observation checks. These lessons aim to make you a safer and more confident driver.

Instructors also focus on crucial test components like speed management, maintaining the correct road position, and safely navigating the test track. Choosing LTrent’s professional driving lessons means learning in cars designed for the Driving Test, featuring dual controls for safety.
The Driving Test Score Sheet: Understanding Your Assessment
Grasping the NSW driving test score sheet is crucial for understanding how your test is scored. This sheet is essentially your guide to the driving test, featuring three main parts:
- Assessments Panel: On the right-hand side, the testing officer documents your driving actions or lack thereof.
- Fail and Immediate Fail Items: On the left-hand side, critical errors like exceeding the speed limit or failing to perform safe road position adjustments are recorded.
- Administrative Details: This section logs the test’s administrative aspects, including the day, start time, and test track details.
Your performance is judged against the NSW Driving Test marking guide, assessing you on:
- hazard response
- speed management
- decision making
- road position
- vehicle control
What is the NSW P’s driving test score out of?
The NSW P’s driving test is a set course over 25 zones. In order to pass the driving test you must score at least 90% or more with no fail items.
Learn more: What are the main reasons that learners fail their test in NSW?
Improve Your Score with LTrent Driving School
LTrent Driving School stands as Australia’s premier driving school, offering detailed professional driving lessons tailored to learners under 25. Our NSW Safer Drivers Course is designed to instil safe driving principles, focusing on low-risk driving techniques and enhancing defensive driving skills.
Booking a lesson with LTrent not only prepares you for the NSW driving test but also equips you with lifelong safe driving skills. Contact us to learn how we can assist in achieving your driving goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NSW P’s driving test score out of?
The NSW P’s driving test is a set course over 25 zones. In order to pass the driving test you must score at least 90% or more with no fail items.
Learn more: NSW Driving Test Instant Fail Mistakes
How many mistakes are allowed in the NSW driving test?
There is no fixed number of mistakes you are allowed in the NSW driving test. To pass, you must achieve at least 90% overall with no fail or immediate fail items. Minor mistakes may reduce your score, but serious errors such as failing to give way, not stopping at a stop sign, or unsafe driving behaviour can result in an automatic fail.
The test assesses your ability to respond appropriately to traffic, maintain safe gaps, check blind spots and demonstrate consistent low-risk driving.
What causes an automatic fail in the NSW driving test?
An automatic fail occurs when you commit a critical safety error. This includes actions such as not stopping completely at a stop sign, failing to give way at a pedestrian crossing, creating a potential accident risk, or repeatedly demonstrating poor steering technique or unsafe vehicle control.
Fail items are recorded on the score sheet, and even one serious mistake can result in an unsuccessful test outcome.
What happens if you fail the NSW driving test?
If you fail the NSW driving test, you must wait a minimum period before rebooking. Your testing officer will provide summary details explaining where your score was affected across the three sections of the assessment.
Many learner drivers improve significantly on their second attempt by gaining more driving experience with a qualified driving instructor and refining skills such as parallel parking, hazard response and safe decision making.


