The driver's license theory exam: format, tracks and CDE

Two papers: the theory exam and the CDE exam

New applicants sit the Automated Theoretical Examination (ATE). LTO publishes no question count, pass mark or time for it. The figures most consistently reported are 40 questions with 30 to pass for a non-professional license and 60 with 45 to pass for professional licenses and the conductor's license, with no time limit. The app uses them and labels them as an estimate.

License holders renewing sit the CDE online validation exam: 25 questions, 20 (80%) to pass, no time limit. This format is published — it is stated on LTO's LTMS page. The CDE is needed before the first renewal of a five-year license.

The four tracks

The reviewer follows the license you are applying for: non-professional (A/A1 motorcycle, B/B1/B2 car) with 789 questions; professional, light vehicles with 274; professional, heavy vehicles with 189; and the conductor's license with 105 — in each language. The CDE paper is open to every track.

English or Filipino

The exam is offered in English and in Filipino nationwide. The app carries all 1,357 questions in both languages and lets you switch any time in Settings; the other language's question pack downloads first.

Of the Filipino questions, 75 are in LTO's own Filipino wording and 1,282 are our own translations.

What the questions cover

Road signs, signals and pavement markings, right of way, parking and stopping, overtaking, vehicle handling, motorcycle riding, emergencies, licensing, penalties and special laws. 276 questions per language carry road-sign artwork, and 443 carry the Safety badge because they bear on safe driving.

Where the reviewer questions come from

Mostly from LTO's own published reviewers: the 2018 non-professional, professional light, professional heavy and conductor questionnaires, the 2019 Filipino reviewer, and the reviewer inside the Filipino Drivers Manual Vol. 1 (2021). To these are added vetted third-party reviewer sets (ltoportal.ph, myltotracker.ph) and 16 CDE items written from LTO's own CDE modules.

In the English bank 1,070 questions are LTO-origin, 271 are third-party and 16 were written from LTO's modules. The pack has answer keys but no explanations.

Reviewing with the app

Exam draws a fresh paper for your track — and asks "Which paper are you sitting?" when both the ATE and the CDE apply. Practice by topic shows every topic with your mastery. Weak spots brings back the questions you last got wrong, Bookmarks the ones you saved, and Readiness shows coverage, mastery and your recent exams.

The question pack is about 51 MB per language. It downloads once and then works offline.

Common questions