Last updated: July 2026 (Shrawan 2083). Exam format and thresholds follow DoTM’s current practice — the briefing at your exam center is final.
The driving license written exam (लिखित परीक्षा) is the first gate after your eDLVRS application — and the most Google-searched step of the whole license journey. The format is friendlier than the rumors: it’s a short computer-based test from a public question bank. Here’s the current format, the syllabus, where to practice free, how results come out, and what happens if you fail.
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Exam Format at a Glance
| Item | Detail (commonly applied) |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based MCQ at the transport office center |
| Questions | 25 multiple-choice |
| Time | 25 minutes |
| Language | Nepali or English option |
| Source | DoTM question bank (public) |
| Pass mark | Commonly cited around 60% — the current threshold is announced at your center; aim for 20+ correct and thresholds stop mattering |
The Syllabus: What the 25 Questions Cover
1. Traffic Signs (the biggest scorer)
Mandatory signs (नियमक), warning signs (सचेतक), informational signs — shapes and colors matter: red circles prohibit, triangles warn, blue circles instruct. Most students lose marks here from confusing similar signs, not from difficulty.
2. Traffic Rules & Road Behavior
Right-of-way, overtaking rules, speed limits by area/vehicle, lane discipline, horn/light usage, drink-driving provisions (MaPaSe checks) and penalties.
3. Vehicle & Mechanical Basics
Simple mechanics: braking distance logic, tire/brake condition, engine oil basics, what dashboard warnings mean — practical knowledge, not engineering.
4. First Aid & Accident Duty
What a driver must do at an accident scene, basic first response, and reporting duties.
Where to Practice (Free and Official)
- Official question collections: DoTM and provincial transport offices publish objective question banks — the real exam draws from these. Search the official sites for the current PDF for your category.
- Free mock tests: several Nepali practice sites and apps simulate the 25-question format — do timed mocks until you consistently score 22+.
- Category matters: A/K (two-wheeler) and B (four-wheeler) banks differ in vehicle-specific items — practice your category’s set. Adding a category? The written applies there too — see the category add guide.
Exam Day: How It Actually Goes
- Arrive on your scheduled visit date/time with originals (citizenship, application/reference number, payment proof — the checklist applies).
- Verification/biometrics per your application stage.
- You’re seated at a computer; the test starts — 25 questions, 25 minutes. Flag-and-return works; don’t camp on one hard question.
- Submit and you’re done — no essay, no interview.
Results: When and How
Computer-based results process fast — same day publication (center notice board / portal status / SMS as your office practices). Your eDLVRS account status and the office notice are the reliable sources; our print-status guide Wednesday covers the later card-tracking stage.
Pass → Trial. Fail → Re-Exam.
- Passed: your trial (practical) date follows — tomorrow’s trial day checklist is your next read. Note: your written pass supports your trial attempts within the application’s validity window — you don’t repeat likhit between trial retries.
- Failed: you re-sit the written per your office’s re-exam scheduling. Treat it as data: your wrong areas are almost always signs or numeric rules — drill those question-bank sections and return.
7 Preparation Tips That Actually Move Marks
- Do the official question bank twice — once open-book, once timed.
- Make a one-page sheet of confusable signs and read it the morning of.
- Memorize the number-type answers (speed limits, fine amounts, distances) as a flashcard set.
- Practice in the language you’ll take the exam in.
- Take 3 timed mocks minimum; 25 minutes is generous if you’ve practiced, brutal if you haven’t.
- Read the full question — several bank questions differ by one word (except, not, minimum vs maximum).
- Sleep. The exam is easy for a rested brain and slippery for a 5 AM-quota-warrior brain.
FAQ
How many questions is the license written exam in Nepal?
25 multiple-choice questions in 25 minutes, computer-based, drawn from the DoTM question bank, in Nepali or English.
What is the pass mark?
Commonly reported around the 60% line, with the exact current threshold stated at your center. Target 20+ correct and you’re safely through.
Can I take the exam in English?
Yes — a language option is offered at the start. Choose the language you practiced in.
If I fail the written, do I lose my application?
No — you re-sit per your office’s schedule. You lose time, not the application. Fail the trial stage repeatedly, though, and bigger resets apply — tomorrow evening’s retrial guide explains.
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Disclaimer: Digital Solution Nepal is an independent educational/digital-service assistance website, not a government body. Exam format, thresholds and scheduling follow DoTM/office practice and can change — your exam center’s instructions are final.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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