The Award for Personal Licence Holders is a professional certification assessment in United Kingdom. Thorough preparation is essential to demonstrate your knowledge and competency in this field.
Our comprehensive collection of free APLH practice questions covers all exam domains and topics. Use these detailed study materials to build confidence and improve your test performance.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (BIIAB) | 40 multiple-choice questions[1] | biiab.co.uk · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Passing score (BIIAB) | 28 out of 40 (70%)[1] | biiab.co.uk · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Delivery (BIIAB) | Externally set and marked multiple-choice exam[2] | biiab.co.uk · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Age 18+ and a licensing qualification such as the APLH Level 2[3] | BIIAB Qualifications Limited (awarding organisation for the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders). The licence its · Oct 24, 2026 |
Important: The APLH examination requires thorough understanding of all core subject areas. Review the official UK exam guidelines and ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before scheduling your test date.
Interactive Personal Licence APLH resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to BIIAB Qualifications Limited (awarding organisation for the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders). The licence its, “Candidates are assessed by a 40 question, 40 minute, multiple choice examination.”[1]
Prepare for the APLH - Award for Personal Licence Holders exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is a 'test purchase' in the context of alcohol licensing?
Answer: B. An undercover enforcement operation where a person under 18 (supervised by an adult officer) attempts to buy alcohol to test compliance with age verification procedures
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. A test purchase is an enforcement operation. A person under 18, supervised by an officer, tries to buy alcohol to see whether the premises checks age properly. A failed test can lead to prosecution of the seller or the premises.
A is wrong because the exercise has nothing to do with comparing prices. C is wrong because it has nothing to do with the quality of brands. D is wrong because a staff training exercise with simulated customers is an internal activity run by the business, not an operation run by trading standards or the police.
The rule to remember: a test purchase is a real enforcement check by the authorities, and the safe habit is to ask for proof of age every time you have any doubt, because you cannot tell which customer is the tester.
Question: What is the role of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) under the Licensing Act 2003?
Answer: B. To be the individual who holds day-to-day responsibility for ensuring that the premises operates in accordance with its licence, and in whose name each sale of alcohol is authorised
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. The Designated Premises Supervisor holds day-to-day responsibility for making sure the premises runs in line with its licence, and each sale of alcohol is authorised in their name.
A is wrong because general staff management and HR are not the legal purpose of the role. C is wrong because the DPS does not have to watch every sale in person. What matters is that sales are authorised under their name and that they have set up proper systems and supervision. D is wrong because being a contact for the licensing authority is a side effect of the role, not its definition.
The rule to remember: the DPS is the named personal licence holder who is accountable for how alcohol is sold day to day, not a person who must stand over every transaction.
Question: The police have concerns that the appointment of a proposed new Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) would be detrimental to the prevention of crime and disorder. What is the primary action the police can take in this situation?
Answer: C. Object to the appointment within a 14-day period.
Explanation:
The correct answer is C. If the police believe that a proposed new DPS would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder, they can object to the appointment. They must do so within a 14-day period, counted from when they are notified of the application, and the objection goes to the licensing authority.
A is wrong because a fixed penalty notice is not the route for challenging a DPS appointment. B is wrong because revoking a premises licence is not an immediate response to a proposed DPS change. It would follow a separate process, such as a review. D is wrong because the police have no power to order staff to retake APLH training.
The rule to remember: for a DPS change, the police response is an objection on crime prevention grounds, made inside the 14-day period, and the licensing authority then decides.
Start with a cold attempt at the main free APLH practice test. Do not revise first. Your wrong answers show which topics need time, and you should write them down as a list.
Next, work through the topic sets that match your weak spots. For the law itself, use APLH Licensing Act and APLH Licensing Objectives. For people and duties, use APLH DPS Responsibilities and APLH Personal Licence Conditions. For day-to-day selling, use APLH Age Verification and APLH Alcohol Disorders. For premises, use APLH Premises Licences.
After every question, read the explanation, including for the ones you got right. Ask yourself why each wrong option fails. Many exam questions test whether you know who has a power and what the limit on it is.
Read the BIIAB qualification guide alongside your practice, and use it to check any point you are unsure about. Our questions are written by us and do not replace it.
In the last few days, sit the main test in one go, timed to match the exam: 40 questions in 40 minutes. Aim to score at or above 28 out of 40 on repeated attempts, not once. Spend the remaining time on the topics where you still slip.
Join thousands of candidates who have used our free practice tests to prepare for the Award for Personal Licence Holders. Start practising today and build the confidence you need to succeed. Practice with the free Personal Licence APLH practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (14 questions with answer explanations).
Try these questions from our free Personal Licence APLH practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
When submitting a premises licence application, who must the applicant give notice to?
Answer: C. All relevant responsible authorities
The applicant must give notice of the application to all relevant responsible authorities, which include the police, fire service, environmental health, trading standards, and other specified bodies.
What is the annual premises licence fee used for under the Licensing Act 2003?
Answer: B. It is paid to the licensing authority to fund the costs of administering and enforcing the licensing regime
The annual fee (set by the Secretary of State on a tiered basis by rateable value) is retained by the licensing authority to fund its licensing administration and enforcement functions.
An environmental health officer enters a pub at 11:00 am using their powers under the Licensing Act 2003. What is the primary purpose for which they can exercise this right of entry?
Answer: A. To determine whether licensable activities are being carried on in accordance with the premises licence.
The power of entry for an authorised person under Section 179 of the Licensing Act 2003 is specifically for determining if licensable activities are being conducted in line with the authorisation and to assess how the four licensing objectives are being promoted. Other matters, such as tax or specific employment issues (though immigration status can be checked by Immigration Officers under the same Act), are generally covered by different legislation and powers of entry.
Which of the following is a mandatory condition that must be adopted by all premises licensed for the sale of alcohol to promote the protection of children from harm?
Answer: B. Having an age verification policy in place.
It is a mandatory condition under the Licensing Act 2003 that all premises licensed for the sale or supply of alcohol must have an age verification policy in place. This policy must require staff to ask for identification from anyone who appears to be under 18 (or a higher age like 21 or 25 as chosen by the premises).
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