Study strategy
How to prepare for the Brighton taxi knowledge test without relying on question luck.
There is no honest shortcut or guaranteed-pass formula. A stronger plan is to work backwards from the current test structure: build road knowledge first, attach places to it, keep safeguarding and licence conditions active, then introduce timed exam-style practice.
Step 1
Let the current test weighting shape your study time.
The current Brighton paper contains 45 road-location questions, 5 places-of-interest questions and 5 safeguarding questions. With 45 of 55 questions on roads, geography deserves the largest share of your study time, but not all of it.
Step 2
Learn in connected layers.
- Area first.Know roughly where a road belongs before testing fine detail.
- Road relationships next.Connect roads to neighbouring roads and junctions so the network becomes retrievable from more than one cue.
- Add places.Attach destinations and places of interest to the road structure instead of learning them as a separate list.
- Rotate safeguarding and licence conditions.Short repeated sessions keep non-geographic material from being forgotten while you focus on roads.
Step 3
Use practice to diagnose, then revise the cause.
Random question repetition can produce a flattering score if you have simply remembered the wording. After each incorrect answer, identify the underlying road, place, relationship or safeguarding concept and revise that item before doing more questions. A mistakes list and weak-area view should change what you study next.
Step 4
Add the clock only after accuracy is developing.
The current Brighton test allows 45 minutes for 55 questions and requires at least 70%. Timed mocks matter, but starting with constant timed tests can hide the difference between a knowledge gap and a pacing problem. First build the knowledge, then use realistic timing to test retrieval under pressure.
Step 5
Prepare for what starts after Brighton.
The council currently requires Brighton before Hove, then says Hove and the route test must be completed within 8 weeks of the Brighton pass. Route work and light Hove study therefore belong in the preparation plan before you sit Brighton, even though Brighton remains the first priority.
Verification
Checked against council guidance.
Factual test-process claims on this page were checked on 22 August 2026. Brighton Taxi Knowledge is independent and does not replace the council's own licensing guidance. Requirements can change, so candidates should always check the council source before relying on a deadline, test format or application requirement.
- After you submit your application to be a licenced taxi driverBrighton & Hove City Council
- Blue handbook for hackney carriage and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators — 6th EditionBrighton & Hove City Council
Next step
Use the free sample as a baseline, not a revision bank.
Use the fixed free sample first, then move into structured Brighton and Hove learning, practice, mocks and route preparation when you are ready.