That’s compared with the 70-to-80-per-cent pass rate with the old test.
But Phuket’s pass rate is at least better than that of Chiang Mai. According to a recent Bangkok Post report, just 10 per cent of applicants managed to pass the test in the first few days.
A senior officer from the Provincial Land Transport Department (PLDT) told The Phuket News that the test questions are not more difficult but there are more of them, with the aim being to check whether people really understand how to drive on the roads.
The test consists of multiple-choice questions, answered on a touch screen. “Before, we had 500 questions and the computer would pick 30 at random for the test. Now we have 1,000 and 50 are picked. It’s not more difficult. There are just more questions.”
Although he argued that the test questions are no more difficult than before, the required pass rate is much higher – 90 per cent as opposed to 75 before.
“In the past, out of 30 items, people had to answer 23 correctly. Now they must get 45 out of 50. It may be a little bit more difficult because we have a higher standard, but we believe that in the future, the number of people passing will increase.
“We have to make sure that the people who are going to drive on public roads will not cause problems. Most of the time, problems happen because of lack of knowledge and understanding of roads rules and road safety.
“The 1,000 questions are on our website, along with the answers. But you need to study.
“We are not ‘teasing’ people or trying to stop them from passing, but we want to increase safety on the roads. I don’t want to let unqualified people drive on the road by letting them pass the test too easily.”
A number of foreigners report having had problems passing the test, which can be taken in either Thai or English. This is not just foreigners who have English as a second or third language, but also native speakers.
“The test is very confusing,” said an American teacher. “Some of the questions have two right answers and some have none.”
However, the PLDT official said that the questions in English had been translated by the Land Transport Department in Bangkok.
“I believe that the Department of Land Transport is professional enough. The English driving test must have been approved by a native speaker. The problem must be with misunderstanding on the part of the foreigners themselves,” he said.
Those wanting to take the test can practice in Thai or English at the DLT website here: http://tinyurl.com/Thaidrivetest