CBR theory exam pass rate: English 37.5%, Dutch 42.0%
In 2025, 37.5% of the standard English car theory exams ended in a pass, against 42.0% of the Dutch ones (CBR open data). With extra time in English it was 32.0%, with an interpreter 47.2%. All variants together: 40.0%, retakes included. The exam content is the same in every language; the gap comes from preparation.
Pass rates per exam variant, 2025
| Exam (CBR open data, 2025) | Taken | Passed |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch, standard | 482,993 | 42.0% |
| English, standard | 31,577 | 37.5% |
| English, with extra time | 12,487 | 32.0% |
| With an interpreter | 20,268 | 47.2% |
| All variants together | 637,446 | 40.0% |
These figures count every exam, first attempts and retakes together. For first theory exams booked through a driving school the CBR reports 59.6% for 2025. A separate first-attempt figure for the English exam is not published.
Why English scores lower
The English exam asks the same questions as the Dutch one. Three things explain the gap:
- Terms. Six Dutch words stay Dutch on the English exam, and study material that translates them differently costs points: Dutch terms on the English exam.
- Experience from abroad. Drivers answer on instinct from home, and Dutch priority rules differ: Dutch rules vs the UK, US and India.
- Time. 50 questions in 30 minutes leaves 36 seconds each, and translating in your head eats into that.
Where candidates lose points
Practice answers in HaalTheorie's course show which topics go wrong most often. On average 15.0% of practice answers are wrong.
| Topic or question type | Wrong answers |
|---|---|
| Animation questions | 24.8% |
| Lane positioning before a junction | 22.0% |
| Buses and bus stops | 20.1% |
| Trams | 19.4% |
| Overtaking and lane positioning (topic) | 19.3% |
| Road signs and directions (topic) | 18.7% |
| Questions with a photo | 15.1% |
The animation questions go wrong most often: you judge a moving situation in a few seconds. How they work: animation questions explained.
A plan to be in the passing group: how to pass the CBR theory exam first time. Already failed: what to change before the retake.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate of the CBR theory exam in English?
In 2025, 37.5% of the standard English car theory exams ended in a pass, and 32.0% of the English exams with extra time. The Dutch standard exam: 42.0%. All variants together: 40.0% (CBR open data).
Is the English theory exam harder than the Dutch one?
No, the content is identical. The lower pass rate comes from preparation: material that translates CBR terms differently from the exam, and candidates who rely on driving experience from abroad.
What is the pass rate on the first attempt?
The CBR's overall 40.0% includes retakes. For first exams booked through a driving school the CBR reports 59.6% for 2025; the CBR does not publish a first-attempt figure for the English exam separately.
Which topics go wrong most often?
In practice answers in HaalTheorie's course: overtaking and lane positioning (19.3% wrong) and road signs (18.7%). Animation questions go wrong far more often than photo questions: 24.8% against 15.1%.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
- CBR: open data, exams per variant (2025)
- CBR: Jaarverslag 2025
- HaalTheorie: theorie-examen in cijfers (practice data)
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.