8 Jul 2025
Anyone preparing for the theoretical driving test in Belgium wants to know one thing very clearly: how many mistakes can I make? In this article, we explain exactly how many mistakes you can make, how the exam is structured, and what you should keep in mind while practicing.
How many mistakes are allowed?
The theory test for driving license B consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. You start with 50/50 and points are deducted for each wrong answer. You must score at least 41 out of 50 to pass. This means you can make a maximum of 9 ordinary mistakes. These are worth 1 point each.
That sounds achievable in itself, but beware: not all mistakes are assessed equally heavily.
Are all mistakes equal?
No. The exam distinguishes between ordinary mistakes and so-called serious mistakes. A serious mistake is an error on a question that concerns a dangerous or life-threatening situation. Consider:
Yielding at a junction
Running a red light
Ignoring a closed railway crossing
Serious mistakes are worth 5 points. So if you make two or more serious mistakes, you automatically fail – even if you have more than 41 correct answers in total. If you make one serious mistake and lose 5 points, you can still pass, but then you must score nearly perfectly for the rest.
An example from practice
Imagine: you get the following question.
You approach a junction without traffic signs. Another car is coming from the right. What do you do?
The correct response is: you yield to the right.
If you choose "I drive on because I think I have priority", then not only do you have a wrong answer, but also a serious mistake, because you are violating a basic rule that is crucial for road safety.
What happens if you fail?
If you do not pass, you can retake the exam. After two failed attempts, you are required to take theory lessons at an accredited driving school before you may make a third attempt.
Tips to avoid mistakes
Practice with realistic exam questions. The more situations you recognize, the faster you can assess them correctly.
Pay extra attention to priority rules. That’s where most serious mistakes occur.
Review difficult topics such as distances, speed limits, and signals.
Practice under time pressure. During the actual exam, your stress level also counts.
Note your mistakes while practicing. Review why you were wrong and how you can avoid it next time.
Do you want to practice like in the real exam?
On our app RAPP, you can:
learn the complete theory for free
practice realistic exam questions
take tests under time pressure
view your own error analysis
You start for free, with no installation, on desktop or mobile. When you're ready to practice everything, you can switch with a one-time fee for full access: €9.99 for 2 weeks.
In conclusion
You can therefore make a maximum of nine mistakes on the theoretical driving test, but it is important to pay extra attention to the questions that are considered serious. These can make the difference between passing and failing.
Prepare well, learn not only the rules but also the 'why' behind those rules, and practice regularly. This significantly increases your chances of passing. Be sure to check the blogs about the difficult questions in the theory exam!
Good luck with your preparation!