The CBR theory exam is a major challenge for many candidates. Every year, thousands of people fail, sometimes multiple times, before they finally pass. That can be very frustrating, especially if you have already put a lot of time and energy into preparation. Often the cause is not a lack of knowledge, but making the same theory exam mistakes over and over.
Good news: if you know what the pitfalls are, you can avoid them. In this blog, we discuss the top 10 common mistakes during the theory exam. We provide practical tips for the CBR theory exam to prevent them. This way you significantly increase your chances of passing and enter the exam with much more confidence.
One of the most common theory exam mistakes is insufficient practice. Many students think it is enough to read a theory book once. But CBR asks questions in a specific way, often with tricky wording, trick questions, or images you have to analyze in a split second.
Without practice exams, you are not used to the CBR’s question style.
Candidates panic during the real exam or doubt themselves too much.
Result: unnecessary mistakes, even though you may know the rules.
Tips for the CBR theory exam:
- Plan preparation well. Free up enough time for practice questions/exams.
- Always analyze your mistakes afterwards and note patterns (e.g., priority rule mistakes).
- Use our online learning material so that you are well enough prepared when you attend our physical course.
Nerves cause many candidates to rush through the questions. The result: wrong answers due to carelessness. This common mistake unnecessarily costs points.
Some questions look alike but differ in small details.
- Candidates read, for example, “are you allowed to park here” and think it is about stopping.
- Candidates don’t read all the answers, they immediately click the first one that seems correct without checking the others.
Tips for the CBR theory exam:
- Always read each question twice.
- Pay extra attention to words like may or must. These completely change the meaning.
- Look closely at the image: where exactly is the sign, what is the other traffic doing? This is important information.
The theory exam is time-bound. For a standard exam you have 30 minutes and for an extended exam 45 minutes. Many candidates linger too long on a difficult question and then feel the pressure increase on the next questions. This stress leads to more mistakes.
Common mistakes:
- Staying too long on a tough question, which increases time pressure.
- Changing your answers because you doubt under time pressure.
Tips for the CBR theory exam:
- Skip difficult questions and mark them with the flag (but fill in an answer first). You can return later if time remains.
- Keep an eye on the clock, but don’t let it stress you.
- Practice with online exams at Nutheorie to get used to the time pressure. This way you remain calm and divide your attention better.
Traffic rules change regularly. Think of new environmental rules or new traffic signs. A common mistake is learning from old books.
Tips:
- Always check if your study material is up-to-date.
- Use recognized trainers such as Nutheorie, who continuously update their material.
- Keep an eye on the news for new rules that may appear on the exam.
Using outdated knowledge means answers may no longer be correct. Avoid this mistake.
The exam is not only about memorizing rules, but especially about traffic insight. You must understand situations and assess what safe driving behavior is.
Candidates know the rules by heart but don’t understand why they apply.
Result: they cannot apply them in unexpected situations on the exam.
Tips:
- Look carefully at the whole situation in the image to be sure you understand the question and miss nothing.
- In our online and physical course, we extensively discuss such situations as you will see them on the exam.
- Practice especially priority rules, they go wrong most often in the exam.
Many candidates pay too little attention to special traffic rules, such as:
- Priority at trams, military convoys, and funeral processions.
- What to do with special maneuvers, such as pulling away or parking.
Tips:
- Take extra time to study these topics. We cover them specifically in the course.
- Do practice questions in our material that focus on special situations.
- Pay attention during driving lessons, if you have them, to how this works in real life.
Even the best-prepared candidates sometimes make mistakes due to nerves. The pressure to pass in one go makes you click too fast or choose wrong answers.
Common mistakes:
- Panicking at a difficult question, losing focus on the next ones, and doubting yourself.
- Thinking you’ve already failed if some questions are difficult, while you may have answered them correctly.
Tips:
- Do short breathing exercises before the exam to calm down. Press “start exam” only when you are calm.
- Think positive: one mistake doesn’t mean you’ve lost.
- Stick to your first answer, changing due to nerves often backfires.
Calmness is a key success factor: rest is the key to passing!
Many candidates study late into the night and arrive tired at the course or CBR exam. This leads to concentration problems and unnecessary mistakes.
Common mistakes:
- Thinking an all-nighter will get you through the exam.
- Rushing breakfast or skipping it.
Tips:
- Start with our online material on time. Revise the day before and ensure a good night’s sleep.
- Eat a light breakfast so you have energy. Bring enough food for the day.
- Be at the CBR well in advance so you don’t start in a hurry. A rested mind works much better.
Since April 7, 2025, the CBR has renewed the theory exam. The old hazard perception with static photos is gone. Instead, realistic traffic situations are shown via animation videos, testing knowledge, insight, and hazard perception in one integrated whole.
Why this is a pitfall:
- Many candidates still practice with old static images and miss the dynamics of real traffic with moving visuals.
- Animations require quicker traffic insight. You see movement (speed, direction, unpredictability) and must immediately assess what to do to stay safe. Luckily, you can replay animations multiple times during the exam.
Tips:
- Practice with our online material. We have included moving images and cover these situations in the course.
- During animations, pay attention to key elements: position relative to other vehicles, unexpected actions by others, weather conditions, etc.
- Ask yourself: “What is the safest action here?” Then choose the safest answer.
Not everyone learns easily from a book. Still, many candidates try to pass completely on their own.
Result: multiple failures, which is unnecessary.
Common mistakes:
- Trying everything alone, without guidance.
- No learning structure or strategy.
Tips:
- Take a theory course with a recognized trainer like NuTheorie.
- In our one-day courses we cover all common mistakes and practice with exam questions. We make sure you understand the complete theory.
- With professional guidance, you greatly increase your chance of passing.
A good course is often the shortest way to success.
The theory exam mistakes we discussed are familiar to almost every candidate. The good news: all these mistakes are preventable with the right preparation and approach. By knowing the common mistakes and using the tips above, you significantly increase your chance of passing in one go.
At Nutheorie, we help students daily to pass their theory exam successfully. With our practical courses for car, motorcycle, and scooter, we prepare you optimally in one day. No endless self-study, but focused learning, practice, and personal guidance.
Do you also want to pass the theory exam and avoid the same pitfalls?Sign up now for the online theory course or follow the one-day theory course from NuTheorie and pass in one day! Enter the theory exam with confidence!
