You've booked your learner's test. Now what? The NaTIS test covers a wide range of topics, and knowing exactly what to study — and in what order — is the difference between passing and failing. This guide breaks down every topic you'll be tested on, ranked by importance.

The 3 Sections You'll Be Tested On

Section B — Rules of the Road

28 questions covering driving laws, right of way, speed limits, overtaking, parking, and general road behaviour. Pass mark: 74% (22 out of 28).

Section C — Road Signs, Signals & Markings

28 questions covering all categories of road signs plus road markings and traffic signals. Pass mark: 77% (23 out of 28) — the highest on the test.

Section D/E — Vehicle Controls (Code-Specific)

8 questions. Code 2/3 applicants write Section D (car/truck controls). Code 1 applicants write Section E (motorcycle controls). Pass mark: 75% (6 out of 8).

Rules of the Road — What to Study

Right of Way and Intersections

This is the single most important topic in the Rules section. Know who goes first at:

• Four-way stops — first to arrive goes first; if simultaneous, yield to the right
• T-junctions — traffic on the through road has priority
• Uncontrolled intersections — yield to traffic from the right
• Traffic circles — yield to traffic already in the circle

Speed Limits and Zones

• Urban / built-up areas: 60 km/h (unless otherwise posted)
• Rural / open roads: 120 km/h
• Freeways: 120 km/h (minimum usually 60 km/h)

Know the default limits without signage — the test asks about these frequently.

Overtaking Rules

You may overtake when the road ahead is clear, the line is broken, and it's safe. You may not overtake on a solid white line, near a pedestrian crossing, at an intersection, on a hill crest, or near a curve. These "when you must not" questions are test favourites.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Rules

Always yield to pedestrians at marked crossings. Give cyclists at least 1 metre of space when passing. Know the rules for school zones and areas where children are present.

Alcohol and Driving Laws

The legal blood alcohol limit in Namibia is 0.05g per 100ml. For professional drivers, it's 0.02g. The test may ask about limits and penalties.

Road Signs — What to Study

Regulatory Signs (Must-Know)

These are the signs you must obey. Two types:

• Prohibition signs (red circle): No entry, no overtaking, speed limits, no parking
• Command signs (blue circle): Keep left, minimum speed, pedestrians only

Plus the comprehensive signs: Stop, Yield, and Priority Road. For a deep dive, see our Regulatory Signs Guide.

Warning Signs

Yellow triangles with red borders warning of danger ahead. Intersection warnings, curve warnings, pedestrian crossings, railway crossings, and construction zones. See our Warning Signs Guide.

Information and Guidance Signs

Blue, green, and brown rectangles providing information (hospitals, fuel, parking) and direction (route numbers, exit signs, town names). See our Information Signs Guide and Guidance Signs Guide.

Road Markings (Lines, Arrows, Zones)

The golden rule: solid line = do not cross; broken line = may cross when safe. Know the difference between white lines (same-direction traffic) and yellow lines (no stopping/no parking). See our Road Markings Guide.

Vehicle Controls — What to Study

Dashboard Instruments and Gauges

Know what the speedometer, tachometer, temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and oil pressure gauge do. Know the meaning of each dashboard warning light — especially the red ones (oil, temperature, battery, handbrake).

Pedals, Gears, and Steering

From left to right: clutch, brake, accelerator. Know when to use each pedal and how gears work. The test may ask about gear selection for hills and different speeds.

Lights, Indicators, and Wipers

Know when to use headlights (from sunset to sunrise), high beams vs low beams (switch to low for oncoming traffic), hazard lights (emergency stops only), and indicators (always signal before turning or changing lanes).

Code 1 (Motorcycle) — Specific Controls

If you're writing for Code 1, you'll get Section E instead. Study: handlebars, throttle, front brake lever, rear brake pedal, clutch lever, gear shift, kick start / electric start, and motorcycle instruments.

What to Study First — Priority Order

Start With Road Signs (Highest Pass Mark Required)

At 77%, the signs section has the highest bar. It's also the most visual — you need to recognise signs instantly, which takes practice. Start here and spend the most time on this section.

Then Rules of the Road (Most Questions)

With 28 questions, Rules is tied for the largest section. The concepts are logical but there are many edge cases (who goes first at a four-way stop?) that trip people up. Study this second.

Finish With Vehicle Controls (Fewest Questions)

Only 8 questions, but the tight margin (only 2 wrong allowed) makes it dangerous to skip. Study this last, but don't skip it.

The Hardest Topics (Where Most People Fail)

Commonly Confused Road Signs

• No parking vs No stopping — both use red circles but the cross pattern differs
• Priority road vs End of priority road — same diamond shape, different markings
• Sharp curve vs Gentle curve — similar triangles, different arrow angles

Tricky Rules of the Road Questions

• Four-way stop timing (what if three cars arrive at exactly the same time?)
• Overtaking in specific scenarios (can you overtake on a broken line near a hill?)
• "Most correct" answer format — multiple options sound right, but only one is best

Vehicle Controls People Overlook

• Dashboard warning lights (people study signs but forget instrument panel lights)
• Pedal order (seems obvious, but under exam pressure people mix them up)
• When to use hazard lights vs indicators

Best Study Resources

Official K53 Learner's Book

The single most important resource. It covers every topic on the test. Buy it from PnA Stationers or bookshops for around N$160–N$190.

DriveItNam Practice Tests

Try the free demo to get a feel for NaTIS-style questions. The full platform gives you hundreds of questions organised by section with progress tracking — you'll know exactly which topics need more work.

Free Online Resources

Elidge offers free quiz questions, but they lack section-specific tracking. YouTube has some cheat sheet videos for road signs. These work as supplements but shouldn't be your only study material.

How to Know You're Ready

Target Score in Practice Tests

If you're consistently scoring 85% or higher in every section on practice tests, you're ready. The extra buffer above the pass mark accounts for exam nerves and unfamiliar question phrasing.

Signs You Need More Preparation

• You can't name a sign's meaning by looking at it without options
• You still mix up right-of-way rules at four-way stops
• You haven't studied vehicle controls at all

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to study differently for Code 1 vs Code 2?

Sections B and C are the same. The only difference is Section D (car controls) vs Section E (motorcycle controls). Study the controls section that matches your code.

Can I use the elective study book or must it be K53?

The K53 book is the standard. Other books may cover the material, but the K53 is the official reference aligned with the NaTIS test. Stick with K53.

How long does it take most people to prepare?

Most people need 2–3 weeks of dedicated study (30–60 minutes per day). If you already know some road signs and rules, 1–2 weeks may be enough. See our NaTIS Study Plan for a day-by-day schedule.