7 Proven Tips to Pass the Oral Test in Mauritius on Your First Try

To obtain a driving licence in Mauritius, you have to pass 2 tests – a theory and a practical one. The theory part is most commonly referred to as the oral test because it used to be conducted as an oral examination. People who do not understand English or French usually take the actual oral version of the test which involves an examiner reading the questions and answers out loud in Creole. However most learner drivers nowadays opt for the 'computerised' version (in quotes) of the test.

Here are my 7 proven tips to help you pass the oral test the first time round:

• Familiarise Yourself With the Highway Code
• Choose Quickly As You Have a Time Limit
• Mark an Answer Even If You're Not Sure
• Don't Worry About the First 5 Questions
• Try to Recognise Traffic Signs When You're Out
• Ask Experienced Drivers When In Doubt
• Practice, Practice and Practice

Tip 1 : Familiarise Yourself With the Highway Code

You can buy a book to start learning the Highway Code or use an online oral test platform like Clever Dodo for more convenience. It really doesn't matter which method you choose to be honest but you need understand the different traffic signs and the rules & regulations around operating a vehicle on public roads.

This is on what they will be testing you for at the end of the day, so you can't just wing it. Well you can but you want to pass on your first attempt right?

Tip 2 : Choose Quickly As You Have a Time Limit

When you sit the test, you will have 20 minutes to answer 40 questions on the Highway Code. Although you have 30 seconds for a given question, if you are not able to answer within that 30 seconds period, you will not get the opportunity to go back to that question again as the computer system will move on to the next question until all 40 questions have been shown which then triggers the end of the exam.

So remember to mark your answer for each question before your 30 seconds time limit is up. And for those who are quick to answer, unfortunately you cannot go to the next question until all 30 seconds have elapsed.

Tip 3 : Mark an Answer Even If You're Not Sure

Contrary to popular belief, although the test is supposed to be computerised, only the questions and answers will be displayed on a computer screen but you will need to circle your chosen answer (A, B, C or D) on a sheet of paper as there’s no way to mark down your answer on the computer system itself. There is also an audio system in the test centre which reads out the questions & answers for everyone to hear, hence the name audio visual test.

So following on from the previous tip, since questions will not be read out or shown to you again, it is crucial that you choose an answer. It doesn't matter whether it's right or wrong, you need to select something at least. Maybe you can get lucky but if you don't select anything, that's definitely going to be recorded as incorrect.

Tip 4 : Don't Worry About the First 5 Questions!!!

To pass the oral test, you can make a maximum of 6 errors but if you get any more questions wrong, then you will fail. You should know that the first 5 questions do not count and are only included in the test to make you feel comfortable with the system, so only the 35 questions which follow carry points.

This means you should focus your attention on the questions starting from the 6th instead, as they will determine your overall score.

Tip 5 : Try to Recognise Traffic Signs When You're Out

When travelling to school, university or work, you're bound to see a lot of traffic signs on the way. Pay close attention to them and try to guess what they actually mean. Speed limits are very intuitive but controlled traffic flow can be more challenging. If you're travelling on the bus, you'll see plenty of signs on the motorway and when you're walking around in the city, there are loads of pedestrian and cycling ones to be aware of.

Tip 6 : Ask Experienced Drivers When In Doubt

Not everything makes sense in the beginning. So if there's something you're not sure of, don't be embarrassed to ask more experienced people like parents/friends/family who have been driving for a long time and can help you understand the bits that are a bit more complicated. Parking restrictions, for example, are tricky as there are set times when they are in force and it may take you some time to get your head around them.

A lot of learners find it hard to ask for advice and therefore miss out on simple and easy explanation of various things. Don't be one of them!

Tip 7 : Practice, Practice and Practice

Let's face it, the more you practice something, the better you become at doing it. So it goes without saying that you should be practising enough times to become confident you're going to nail it when the time comes.

To get an idea on where you currently stand in your understanding of the Highway Code, you can try our learner test below.

Since this is a skill for life, you shouldn't memorise the questions/answers. So don't learn by heart because you need to understand the concept and rules behind those questions to become a good driver. Revise well and you'll be fine.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the test, your answer sheet will be scanned by the police officer in charge and you will get your results immediately. If you fail, you will need to book another test and will have to pay another Rs500 again (fee for oral test appointment). For the learners who pass, they can now concentrate on the practical side of the driving test but for the less fortunate ones, it means another trip to re-take the test in Port-Louis or Curepipe at a later date.

Anyway, good luck to you all and I hope you pass with flying colours or at least the 4 colours of the Mauritian flag :)