For incorrectly answered questions, there are penalty points, ranging from two to five depending on the importance of the question. Ten penalty points are allowed, but not two questions with five points each. So you can even answer several questions incorrectly and still pass. It's a matter of learning the material for the exam.
But the failure rate for the theory test has been rising for years. In 2008, around a third of candidates failed the theory test; in 2021, the figure was 36.2 per cent, and today it is already around half. But what is the cause?
The first thought: language barriers could be the reason for the high failure rate. But the theory driving test can currently be taken in twelve languages: English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Standard Arabic. The same applies to the availability of training materials. There should be something for everyone.
Psychology professor Florian Becker sums up the causes of the problem: „For me, this is an indication of what we in psychology call serious ‚cognitive deficits‘.“ Prof. Becker also cites a lack of self-discipline. Becker continues: „Unfortunately, the rapidly increasing failure rate in theory tests fits into a sad pattern of data on children's performance that we are receiving from various sources. Our future in Germany:
- Around 25 per cent of children cannot read or write properly after primary school (IGLU study). Nevertheless, more and more are being allowed to attend grammar school.
- Performance in mathematics, science and reading has been in decline for over 10 years (PISA study).
- To ensure that children do not develop, standards have been continually lowered. Grades are getting better and better – despite objectively poorer performance. As a result, around 30 per cent of students nationwide now receive top marks in their school-leaving exams.
- Being the best somewhere or even winning is now frowned upon and is being systematically eliminated. One example is competition in the Federal Youth Games in primary schools.
- Increasing reports from the field complete the picture: children arriving late, no longer doing their homework, turning up without breakfast because it is too much effort for their parents or guardians to get up in the morning, disinterested and passive parents, disorder and violence. Headteachers who oppose this and demand discipline report political pressure.“
Meanwhile, lobbyists want to abolish homework and ban grades „because some children benefit more from them than others“. But that means: better that no one benefits than that someone could benefit more than others. The primary goal now seems to be equal results for all – instead of a high average performance.
Prof. Becker's conclusion: „The school system is in danger of becoming a comfort zone that discourages achievement and a playground for educational ideologues, where children no longer grow and receive distorted feedback. Everyone is supposedly great at everything! In fact, the best are being held back from developing so that everyone is equal. Equally small.“
Further sources:
https://www.adac.de/verkehr/rund-um-den-fuehrerschein/erwerb/theoretische-fuehrerscheinpruefung/
