What Are the 8 Key Questions on the Wolverhampton PHV Test?

If you are preparing for the Wolverhampton PHV test (the "taxi badge" knowledge test), the 8 key questions are the single most important thing to understand. Here is the rule that catches drivers out: if you get even one key question wrong, you fail the whole test — no matter how good your overall score is. You could answer 27 out of 28 questions correctly and still fail, because the one you missed was a key question.

This page explains what the key questions are, what topics they cover, and how to prepare for them, in plain English.

What happens if you get a key question wrong?

You fail automatically. The pass rule for the Wolverhampton PHV test has two parts, and you must meet both:

• Score at least 21 out of 28 overall (75%), and
• Answer all 8 key questions correctly.

Miss either one and the paper fails. This is why two drivers with the same overall score can get different results: one passed all the key questions, the other slipped up on just one of them.

How many questions are on the Wolverhampton PHV test?

The test has 28 questions and you have 45 minutes to complete it. That is plenty of time if you know the material — the danger is not the clock, it is rushing and misreading a key question. Read every question twice before you answer.

What topics do the 8 key questions cover?

The key questions focus on the areas where a driver's mistake could put a passenger at risk. They cover:

• Safeguarding — recognising and responding to signs that a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk, and knowing what a driver must do about it.
• Plying for hire — the legal difference between a private hire vehicle and a hackney carriage, and why a PHV driver must never pick up passengers who have not pre-booked.
• Disability awareness — a driver's legal duties towards disabled passengers, including assistance dogs and wheelchair users, under equality law.

These are not trick questions. The council treats them as non-negotiable because they are about passenger safety and the law — the things a licensed driver simply must know. The rest of the test draws on the wider syllabus, including customer care, licensing and compliance, vehicle and road safety, and law and regulations.

How many attempts do you get?

Only 3 attempts are permitted. If you don't pass within these 3 attempts, your application is voided and you'll need to wait 12 months before starting the application and training process again. Each attempt costs around £50 (training course plus test).

How do I prepare for the key questions?

Three things work, and they work together:

1. Drill the key topics until they are automatic. Safeguarding, plying for hire, and disability awareness are a small part of the syllabus, but they decide your result. Keep practising them until you stop getting any wrong — not "mostly right", but every time.
2. Practise under real exam conditions. Take timed mock tests with 28 questions in 45 minutes, marked the same way as the real thing — 21 correct plus all 8 key questions. If your mock passes are relying on a high overall score while you still drop key questions, you are not ready yet.
3. Learn from every mistake. Do not just note that an answer was wrong — understand why the correct answer is correct. Wrong answers you have understood rarely come back to bite you on test day.

If you want a structured way to do this, the PHV Prep UK app lets you drill the key questions until they're automatic, with timed mock exams scored exactly like the real test and a plain-English AI tutor for anything you don't understand.

Where to go next

The key questions are one part of a wider preparation plan — see our full guide on how to pass the Wolverhampton PHV test. You can also learn more about the app on the PHV Prep UK page, get help via support, or read our privacy policy.

PHV Prep UK is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by City of Wolverhampton Council or any licensing authority. Always check the council's official guidance for the latest test requirements and fees.