Quietly, in 2026, the DVSA made one of the most meaningful changes to the UK theory test in years — and it has nothing to do with bookings or bots. New questions on CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the use of public access defibrillators (AEDs) have been added to the theory test question bank, with the explicit aim of boosting cardiac-arrest survival rates on UK roads.
If you're sitting your UK theory test this year, these are questions you need to know cold. Here's exactly what's been added, why, and what the right answers actually are.
What's changed
The DVSA's 2026 update replaces some existing first-aid content in the theory test bank with new questions focused specifically on cardiac-arrest response. The changes don't affect:
- The number of theory test questions (still 50 multiple choice)
- The pass mark (still 43 out of 50)
- The time limit (57 minutes for the multiple choice section)
- The hazard perception test format (still 14 video clips)
- The test cost (still £23)
What changes is what you might be asked. CPR, AED location and use, the recovery position, and recognising the signs of a serious collision casualty are now explicitly covered.
Why these specific questions
The reasoning behind the update is straightforward: UK drivers are often first on the scene of a cardiac arrest. Whether at a road traffic collision or simply finding a pedestrian who has collapsed, the first few minutes determine whether the person survives. Survival rates drop by roughly 10% for every minute without CPR or defibrillation.
By baking the basics into the theory test, the DVSA ensures that every new UK driver knows what to do — at least at the survey level. It's a small change with a potentially enormous public-health payoff.
The CPR basics you need to know
The new questions test recall of standard UK CPR guidance. The key facts:
- Check responsiveness first. Shout and gently shake the casualty's shoulders before doing anything else.
- Call 999 (or get someone else to). Don't start CPR before help is on its way.
- Compressions: 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute, pushed 5–6 cm deep, on the centre of the chest.
- Rescue breaths: 2 breaths after every 30 compressions — the standard 30:2 cycle. (If you're untrained, hands-only CPR — compressions only — is still strongly recommended.)
- Keep going until paramedics arrive, the casualty starts breathing normally, or you become too exhausted to continue.
Public defibrillators (AEDs) — what to know
The other new content area is the public access defibrillator. Theory test questions test recognition and basic use:
- What an AED looks like: a small portable device, usually in a green or yellow cabinet on a wall in public places — train stations, shopping centres, sports clubs.
- How to find one: the 999 operator will tell you the nearest one, or you can use the GoodSAM app.
- How to use one: open the box, turn it on, attach the pads as shown on the diagram, and follow the audio instructions. The AED itself decides whether a shock is needed — you can't shock someone who doesn't need it.
- Anyone can use one — no training required. AEDs are designed to be used by the public.
The recovery position
For an unconscious casualty who is breathing normally, the recovery position is the right answer. The theory test may ask you to identify when it's appropriate (unconscious + breathing) vs. when CPR is needed (unconscious + not breathing normally).
How to revise it for the theory test
Don't memorise lists of compressions per minute — DVSA examiners test the broad ideas more than the exact numbers. The principles to internalise:
- Check responsive → call 999 → start CPR if not breathing → use AED if available → continue until help arrives.
- Anyone can use an AED. They're designed for untrained members of the public.
- Recovery position only if breathing. CPR if not breathing.
- Hands-only CPR is fine if you're untrained or uncomfortable with rescue breaths.
If you can answer the above without thinking, you'll handle the questions in the test.
Beyond the test
It's worth saying: these questions exist because they could save your friend, your family member, or a stranger one day. The British Heart Foundation runs free 15-minute online CPR courses (RevivR) which cover everything above in more depth — useful for a real-world skill, not just for ticking a theory test box.
Where SteerClear fits
SteerClear focuses on the UK practical driving test — real DVSA test centre routes, mock practical tests, live scoring on the same fault categories examiners use. But the site also covers the theory side: UK theory test practice with free questions and a Highway Code summary. Pass theory first; we'll get you ready for the practical.
Free on iOS and Android. Built for UK learner drivers.