Bikash had been riding his father's motorcycle around Pokhara for three years. Every lane, every junction, every shortcut near Mahendrapul. He knew the roads better than most people his age. He applied for his Category A license, studied the night before, and walked into the DOTM exam center feeling fine.
He answered the first eight questions quickly. Then a traffic sign appeared on screen that he had driven past hundreds of times but could not identify by name. Then a question about the legal horn restriction near hospitals. Then one about what to do when you approach a pedestrian crossing with someone already on it. He passed, barely, with 16 out of 25 correct answers.
His friend Anita, who had never ridden a motorcycle in her life, took the same exam three days later. She had spent a week on the Merokalam practice tool. She scored 23 out of 25.
The Likhit exam does not test driving ability. It tests whether you know traffic rules, road signs, and road safety regulations well enough to be allowed on Nepal's roads legally. Knowing how to ride and knowing what signs mean are two completely different things.
25
Questions per exam. Drawn from a 500-question DOTM bank.
60
Pass mark out of 100. You need 15 correct answers.
30 min
Time limit. That is 72 seconds per question on average.
500
Total questions in the official DOTM question bank.
The Exact Likhit Exam Format
The Nepal DoTM Likhit exam, also called the likhit pariksha, is computer-based. You sit at a terminal at the DOTM office, select your language (Nepali or English), and begin. There is no paper. No pen. The screen shows one question at a time with four multiple-choice options. You click your answer and the next question appears.
| Format Detail | Value | Notes |
|---|
| Total questions | 25 | Drawn from the 500-question DOTM bank. Each session gets a different set. |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 | Each question is worth 4 marks. You need 15 correct (15 × 4 = 60). |
| Time limit | 30 minutes | Most candidates finish in 15 to 20 minutes. |
| Language | Nepali or English | Select at the terminal before starting. Same questions in both. |
| Question type | Multiple choice (4 options) | Some questions include traffic sign images. |
| Categories | Cat A (2-wheeler) / Cat B (4-wheeler) | Questions differ slightly in vehicle-specific sections. |
| Scoring | 4 marks per correct answer | No negative marking for wrong answers. |
| Retest after failure | 15 days waiting period | Rebook on dotm.gov.np. Fee approx. NPR 400. |
A note on conflicting pass mark information online
You may see different numbers on different websites. Some say 50 questions, some say 50 marks to pass, some say 80% required. The confusion stems from multiple rounds of DOTM revisions. The current standard, established under the Driving License Examination Operating Procedure 2077 BS and confirmed by the DoTM spokesperson, is 25 questions with a 60-mark pass requirement. No negative marking. Source: myRepublica report on the 2077 BS revision. When in doubt, the official source is dotm.gov.np.
Try 5 Sample Questions Before Reading On
These are the types of questions that appear in the actual Likhit exam. Click an option to see if you got it right. The full 762+ question practice tool is linked below.
The 6 Topic Categories in the Likhit Exam
The DOTM question bank is divided into 6 defined categories. Every set of 25 exam questions draws from all of them. Understanding how many questions come from each category helps you prioritize your study time.
📖
Category 1
Driving Knowledge and Road Rules
~6 to 8 questions
Right-of-way at intersections, overtaking rules, speed limits, lane discipline, parking rules, pedestrian crossing rules, and traffic light sequences.
🏛️
Category 2
Vehicle Acts and Regulations
~4 to 5 questions
Minimum driving age by category, license category definitions, renewal requirements, penalties for traffic violations, drunk driving blood alcohol limits, and insurance requirements.
🔧
Category 3
Technical Vehicle Knowledge
~3 to 4 questions
Brake maintenance signs, tire pressure checks, headlight requirements, dashboard warning lights, and basic pre-drive inspection steps. Category A and B questions differ here.
🌱
Category 4
Environment and Pollution
~2 to 3 questions
Vehicle emission standards, noise pollution rules, horn restrictions in sensitive zones (hospitals, schools), and environmental impact of old versus modern vehicles.
🚨
Category 5
Accident Awareness and First Aid
~3 to 4 questions
Causes of road accidents, first steps at an accident scene, when to move an injured person, when to call police, blood grouping awareness, and accident reporting rules.
🚦
Category 6
Traffic Signs and Signals
~4 to 5 questions
Mandatory signs (circular, red border), cautionary signs (triangular, red border), informational signs (rectangular or square, various colors), and traffic light meanings including flashing signals.
Where most study time should go: Categories 1 (road rules) and 6 (traffic signs) together account for roughly half the questions in most exam sets. If you only have two days to prepare, spend them entirely on these two categories. Everything else can be squeezed into day three.
Sample Questions From the DOTM Question Bank
These are real-format questions from the DOTM's published 500-question bank. The question types below are exactly what you will see on the exam terminal. Read the explanation for each correct answer and understanding the reasoning is more useful than memorizing the answer.
Traffic Rules and Right of Way
Category 1: Road Rules
When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, who has the right of way?
The vehicle going straight
✓ The vehicle coming from the right
The larger vehicle
The vehicle that arrived first
At an uncontrolled intersection in Nepal, the vehicle coming from the right has priority. This is the "right-of-way from the right" rule. Most candidates who miss this question incorrectly choose "the vehicle going straight."
Category 1: Road Rules
What is the maximum speed limit in a residential area unless otherwise posted?
50 km/h
30 km/h
✓ 40 km/h
25 km/h
The default speed limit inside residential areas in Nepal is 40 km/h. In school zones, it drops to 20 km/h during school hours. On highways outside city limits, the default is 80 km/h for two-wheelers and light vehicles.
Category 1: Road Rules
A pedestrian is crossing a zebra crossing ahead. What must you do?
Sound the horn and continue
Slow down and let the pedestrian cross first
✓ Stop completely and let the pedestrian finish crossing
Overtake from the left side
When a pedestrian is already on a zebra crossing, you must stop completely and wait until they finish crossing. Slowing down is not sufficient. This question trips many candidates who choose "slow down" thinking that is enough.
Traffic Signs
Category 6: Traffic Signs
A circular red-bordered sign with a car and motorcycle inside a red X means what?
Reduce speed ahead
✓ No motor vehicles allowed
Parking prohibited
Road ends ahead
Circular red-bordered signs are mandatory signs. They prohibit something. A crossed-out vehicle icon means that vehicle type is not permitted. Mandatory signs always have a circular shape with a red border in Nepal's road sign system.
High Fail Rate
Category 6: Traffic Signs
What does a flashing amber (yellow) traffic light signal mean?
Stop and wait
Traffic light is broken, proceed normally
✓ Proceed with caution, reduce speed
Only buses and trucks may proceed
A flashing amber light means slow down and proceed with caution. It does not mean stop. It is not a malfunction. Many candidates incorrectly answer "stop and wait," which is the response to a steady red light, not a flashing amber.
Vehicle Acts and Regulations
Category 2: Acts and Regulations
What is the legal minimum age to apply for a Category B (car) driving license in Nepal as of 2082 BS?
16 years
17 years
✓ 18 years
21 years
Under Nepal's updated driving age rules, the minimum age for Category B (cars, jeeps, vans, pickups) is 18 years. Category A (motorcycles, scooters) requires 16 years. Heavy vehicles (trucks, buses) require 23 years. These ages were updated in the recent revision to the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act.
Category 2: Acts and Regulations
According to Nepal traffic law, what is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers?
✓ 0.03% (30 mg per 100 ml)
0.05% (50 mg per 100 ml)
0.08% (80 mg per 100 ml)
Any detectable amount is illegal
Nepal's legal BAC limit is 0.03% (30 mg per 100 ml of blood). This is stricter than many countries including India (0.03%) and the UK (0.08%). Exceeding this limit results in license suspension and a fine under the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act.
Accident Awareness
High Fail Rate
Category 5: Accident Awareness
You arrive at a road accident scene. An injured person is lying on the road. What is the first thing you should do?
Immediately move the person to the side of the road
✓ Secure the scene and call for emergency help
Give the person water to drink
Leave the scene to find a hospital
Moving an injured accident victim without knowing the extent of injuries can cause further harm, especially in cases of spinal injury. The correct first response is to secure the scene (warn approaching vehicles), call for emergency help, and do not move the person unless there is immediate danger (e.g., fire). Many candidates instinctively answer "move the person" because it feels helpful.
Technical Knowledge
Category 3: Technical Knowledge
Your motorcycle's brake light is not working. Under Nepal law, can you ride it on a public road?
Yes, if you drive slowly
Yes, during daylight hours only
✓ No, the vehicle must be repaired before use on a public road
Yes, if you use hand signals instead
A non-functioning brake light is an illegal vehicle defect under Nepal's Motor Vehicles Act. The vehicle cannot legally be operated on a public road until the defect is repaired. There are no exceptions for daylight or slow speed. This also applies to cars, buses, and trucks.
The Questions Most Candidates Get Wrong
These are the question types with the highest error rate based on patterns in the DOTM question bank and what candidates report after failing.
| Question Type | Why People Fail It | The Correct Rule |
|---|
| Flashing amber signal |
Confusion with steady red (stop) or green (go) |
Proceed with caution. Reduce speed. Do not stop. |
| Uncontrolled intersection right-of-way |
People assume straight-going traffic has priority |
Vehicle from the right has right of way. |
| Pedestrian on zebra crossing |
Candidates choose "slow down" instead of "stop" |
Stop completely. Wait for pedestrian to finish. |
| Accident scene: move or not move |
Instinct to help overrides the correct protocol |
Secure scene and call help first. Do not move victim. |
| School zone speed limit |
Candidates answer 40 km/h (residential) instead |
20 km/h during school hours in school zones. |
| Horn in hospital zone |
Not obvious without studying. Often skipped. |
Horn use is prohibited near hospitals and schools. |
| Overtaking on a curve |
People assume it is allowed if the road seems clear |
Overtaking is strictly prohibited on curves and hills. |
| Meaning of yellow road markings |
White markings are better known than yellow ones |
Yellow center line = no overtaking in either direction. |
Eight of the most commonly wrong question types appear in the table above. Print it out or screenshot it. Before your exam, read through this list one more time. These 8 types account for a disproportionate share of the wrong answers for first-time candidates.
Category A vs Category B: What Is Different
Both categories use the same 25-question format, 30-minute time limit, and 60-mark pass requirement. The main differences appear in the technical vehicle knowledge category and in a few vehicle-specific regulation questions.
| Area | Category A (Motorcycle/Scooter) | Category B (Car/Jeep/Van) |
|---|
| Minimum age |
16 years |
18 years |
| Vehicle-specific questions |
Motorcycle brakes, chain, tires, helmet law |
Car brakes, seatbelt law, gear, rearview mirror rules |
| Helmet requirement |
Compulsory for rider and pillion both |
Not applicable (replaced by seatbelt questions) |
| Common specific question |
What to check before riding a motorcycle on a long trip? |
What to check before driving a car on a long trip? |
| Traffic signs questions |
Same as Cat B |
Same as Cat A |
| Road rules questions |
Same as Cat B |
Same as Cat A |
| Practice tool on Merokalam |
Category A questions |
Category B questions |
Both in one tool
The Merokalam Driving License Test at
merokalam.com/nepal-driving-license-test covers both Category A and Category B. Toggle between them at the top. The 762+ question bank includes all six topic categories for both, with section-wise practice, mock exams, and instant scoring. Bilingual: Nepali and English.
How to Prepare in 7 Days: A Practical Plan
Most people have a week between registering at DOTM and their exam appointment. Here is how to use those seven days without wasting time on what will not appear in the exam.
1-2
Day 1 and 2: Traffic Signs (Category 6)
Open the Merokalam tool in section-wise mode and do all traffic signs questions. Traffic signs account for 4 to 5 questions in most exam sets and are purely visual memory tasks. The three families to master: mandatory signs (circular, red border), cautionary signs (triangular, red border), and informational signs (rectangular or square, green or blue). Give each sign image one careful look and say the name aloud. Visual memory anchors better when you speak it.
3
Day 3: Road Rules and Right of Way (Category 1)
This is the heaviest category by question count. Focus on: right-of-way rules (from the right, always), speed limits by zone (20 school, 40 residential, 80 highway), overtaking rules (prohibited on curves, hills, intersections), pedestrian crossing rules, and traffic signal sequences. Do not try to memorize every rule. Learn the logic: pedestrians always come first, overtaking is never allowed where you cannot see far ahead, yield to the right.
4
Day 4: Acts and Regulations (Category 2)
This is mostly number memorization: minimum ages (16 Cat A, 18 Cat B, 23 heavy), BAC limit (0.03%), fine amounts for common violations, renewal periods, and what happens when you drive without a license. Section-wise practice on the Merokalam tool for Category 2 covers these specifically.
5
Day 5: Technical Knowledge and Environment (Categories 3 and 4)
Combine these two smaller categories in one day. For technical: pre-drive checks (brakes, tires, lights, mirrors), dashboard warning light meanings, and what to do with a defective vehicle. For environment: horn restrictions near hospitals and schools, emission rules, and why old vehicles pollute more. The total from both categories is only 5 to 7 questions in the actual exam.
6
Day 6: Accident Awareness (Category 5)
The most instinct-defying category. The correct answers here often feel wrong. Do not move accident victims unless in immediate danger. Do not give food or water. Secure the scene first. Call emergency services. First aid: ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) is the standard. Study the 8 "high fail rate" question types from the table above and repeat them until the correct answers feel natural.
7
Day 7: Full Mock Tests Only
Do not study new content on Day 7. Take 3 to 4 complete mock exams of 25 questions each at merokalam.com/nepal-driving-license-test. After each mock, review only the questions you got wrong. Find the category those wrong answers came from. Do 10 targeted questions in that section. Repeat mock tests until you are scoring above 20 out of 25 (80%) consistently. At 20+, you walk into the exam with a comfortable buffer above the 15-correct-answers pass threshold.
Scoring, Results, and What Happens if You Fail
The exam result appears on screen immediately after you submit your last answer. You see your score as a number out of 100. If you scored 60 or above, you passed. The word "Pass" or "Fail" appears clearly on the result screen.
Passing candidates receive a slip confirming eligibility for the trial (practical driving test). This slip is required on trial day. Keep it safely.
Failing candidates can see their score and the number of correct answers on the result screen. The system does not show which specific questions you answered wrong. The result is also published on the DOTM office notice board and on the official DOTM Facebook pages of major offices (Bagmati, Lumbini, Koshi, Gandaki province offices all post results).
| Situation | What Happens Next | Action Required |
|---|
| Pass (60 marks or above) |
Eligible for trial (practical test). Receive pass slip on screen. |
Book trial test appointment through DOTM portal. |
| Fail (below 60 marks) |
Must wait 15 days before retaking. No automatic rebooking. |
Rebook on dotm.gov.np after 15 days. Pay approx. NPR 400 retest fee. |
| Multiple failures |
No limit on the number of attempts. |
Same process: rebook, pay fee, study the category you keep failing. |
| Check result online |
Results published on DOTM official portal. |
Check dotm.gov.np or send SMS to 33001. See the Merokalam smart license guide for details. |
The 15-day wait is enforced
You cannot rebook your exam before the 15-day window is up. The DOTM online portal blocks rebooking before that date. Do not visit the office hoping to get an exception. Use those 15 days to study properly, particularly the categories you missed.
The Merokalam Driving License Practice Tool
The practice tool at merokalam.com/nepal-driving-license-test was built specifically for Nepal's DOTM question format. It covers both Category A and Category B, works in Nepali and English, and includes 762+ questions across all six categories.
| Feature | How It Helps |
|---|
| Section-wise practice | Study one category at a time. Drill traffic signs until you know every one, then move to road rules. |
| Mock exam mode | 25 questions, 30-minute timer, instant score. Exactly the format of the real exam. |
| Traffic sign images | Sign questions include the actual sign graphic, not just a text description. Visual practice for the visual part of the exam. |
| Bilingual support | Toggle between Nepali and English any time. Useful if you are more comfortable with Nepali vocabulary for specific terms. |
| Wrong answer review | After each mock, see which questions you answered wrong. Click any wrong answer to see the correct one with explanation. |
| Mobile-first design | Works on phone without login. Practice on the way to the DOTM office. Works on slow mobile data. |
| No login or account | Open and start immediately. Your practice scores save in browser. Nothing uploaded to any server. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the Likhit exam in English? +
Yes. At the DOTM exam terminal, you select your language at the start. Both Nepali and English options are available. The questions are identical in both languages. If you are more comfortable with English road sign terminology or find Nepali legal terms confusing, choosing English is a valid strategy. The Merokalam practice tool supports both languages with a toggle at the top.
How soon can I take the trial test after passing the Likhit? +
The trial (practical driving test) is typically booked through the DOTM portal on the same day you receive your Likhit pass result. Trial appointment availability depends on your DOTM office's schedule. In Kathmandu offices, the wait for a trial slot is usually 1 to 3 weeks. In smaller district offices, slots may be available sooner. You receive a pass slip from the Likhit exam that you must present on trial day.
Do all 25 questions come from traffic signs? +
No. Questions are distributed across all 6 categories. Traffic signs typically account for 4 to 5 of the 25 questions. Road rules and right-of-way account for the most, around 6 to 8 questions. Vehicle acts and regulations are next at 4 to 5 questions. Technical knowledge, accident awareness, and environment together make up the remaining 7 to 10 questions. The exact distribution varies slightly between exam sessions because questions are drawn randomly from the bank.
Is the DOTM question bank the same for all 77 districts? +
Yes. The question bank is a single national DOTM bank of 500 questions. All DOTM offices across all 77 districts draw from the same bank. Whether you take the exam in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Birgunj, Dharan, or Dhangadhi, the questions come from the same pool. The Merokalam Driving License Test covers the full question bank.
Can I use my phone during the Likhit exam? +
No. Phones are not permitted in the exam room. DOTM offices require you to leave your phone with the exam staff or in a designated area before entering the computer terminal room. This is strictly enforced. Attempting to use a phone during the exam results in immediate disqualification.
What documents do I need on Likhit exam day? +
Bring the DOTM application form printout with your exam appointment confirmation, your original citizenship card or passport, and any medical fitness certificate if required for your category. The full list of required documents and the application process is covered in the Merokalam Nepal Driving License Process Guide at merokalam.com/blog/nepal-driving-license-process-guide/.
Bikash and Anita Both Got Their Licenses
Bikash passed on his first attempt, barely. He got lucky on the traffic signs because two of the five appeared in his morning practice session at the DOTM office. He is not the one to ask for study advice.
Anita passed with 23 out of 25. She did not know how to ride a motorcycle when she started studying. She knew every road rule, every sign category, and every accident scene protocol because she had done section-wise practice every evening for a week. She got her license before she ever sat on a bike.
The exam does not care how many years you have been riding or driving. It cares whether you know the rules. That is actually good news. The rules are all published. The questions are all in the bank. The practice tool has all of them. What is left is just showing up with the right preparation.
Start your Likhit pariksha preparation with the Merokalam tool
762+ questions, both Category A and B, section-wise practice, mock exams, traffic signs with images, bilingual support, mobile-ready. No login. No account.
🚗 Open Driving License Practice Tool →
Exam format details in this guide are based on the DOTM Driving License Examination Operating Procedure 2077 BS and confirmed by current reports from myRepublica (August 2021 revision news) and the Merokalam Driving License Process Guide. The DOTM question bank has approximately 500 questions as of 2082 BS. Always verify the latest format at dotm.gov.np before your exam date.