CPR and Defibrillator Questions: What Changed in the 2026 Theory Test

The DVSA refreshed the first aid bank of the UK theory test in February 2026. The big change: questions on CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED use (automated external defibrillators) are now in the multiple choice section. Same number of questions, same pass mark, same 57 minute time limit. New content.

If you are sitting your theory test from February 2026 onwards, the new questions will show up alongside the existing road sign, hazard, and Highway Code categories. Here is what is on the syllabus and why the DVSA added it.

Why CPR is in the theory test now

Around 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the UK every year. Without intervention, the survival rate is below 10 per cent. Quick CPR plus a public-access defibrillator can lift that rate to as high as 70 per cent, especially when help arrives in the first few minutes. Drivers are often first on the scene at a roadside collision, so the DVSA, the British Heart Foundation, and NHS partners pushed for these questions to be added.

What you actually need to know

The new content is practical, not medical. You will not be asked for hospital-level detail. The questions cover four areas:

• Recognising cardiac arrest. Signs include unresponsiveness, no normal breathing, and no response to gentle shaking or shouting.
• Calling for help. Dial 999, ask for an ambulance, and ask if there is a public AED nearby. The 999 operator can direct you to the closest one.
• CPR technique. Hands in the centre of the chest, compression depth of 5 to 6 centimetres, compression rate of 100 to 120 per minute, and minimal interruptions.
• Using an AED. Switch it on, follow the spoken prompts, place the pads on bare skin as shown on the device, and stand clear during the shock.

Where these questions show up in the test

The new CPR and AED items sit inside the existing first aid bank in the 50-question multiple choice section. The pass mark stays at 43 out of 50. You will not see all of these topics every time, the bank rotates, but you should expect at least one CPR or AED question on a typical 2026 test.

How to revise the new content

The DVSA's "Safe Driving for Life" learning materials have been updated and are free to read. The Highway Code app and the DVSA Theory Test Kit also contain the new questions in their refreshed editions.

Inside Theory Test Passed we refreshed our first aid practice set in March 2026 to match the new DVSA learning materials. The CPR and AED items are tagged so you can drill them on their own, take a full first aid mock, or hit them inside a mixed 50-question mock that mirrors the real test. Try the updated first aid set free.

Add ten minutes of CPR practice to your revision schedule and these questions become free marks on the day.