Practical Driving Test Information


When do I book my Practical Driving Test?


You will be advised by Steve when it is time to book your Practical Driving Test. Please DO NOT book a test before obtaining agreement as you MUST be test ready in order to book a test, or at least able to be test ready in the run up to booking a test.


You will take your test in my Tuition vehicle as you are familiar with it and you will have a 1 hour lesson just before your test.


When every element of the syllabus is completely independent, with no prompting on lessons ( for example, to check your mirrors, to read signs, to plan for other road users etc...) you will be ready for your test. NOT BEFORE!


A driving test should never be booked " to see how you will do" , it is the first time you will drive unsupervised on a public road and you MUST meet the high standards to keep yourself, the examiner and the general public safe. This is a legal requirement that I strictly adhere to.


You must keep up with regular weekly lessons in the lead up to your test and read and study regularly to keep up and improve your skills. Remember, you will be taking MY vehicle out on the road unsupervised, you need to be at a high standard of skill to pass the test. If you fail to study, actively develop areas of improvement or cancel lessons in the run up to test, you will be advise to move or cancel the test. My decision is final.


However, everything will be paced well and planned around your needs and providing you follow instruction and advice you will be ready for your test.


Check the DVSA's Ready To Pass site to see if you are ready to pass: Click HERE


IMPORTANT: I do not accept any tests booked by Test cancellation apps such as Testi, Speedytests etc. The reason for this is that their existence is the main cause of a lack of driving test availability on the government websites. The fewer people that use them the more tests will be available on the official portal. Some charge a significant extra fee, some don't actually book an official test and are a con.




Duration of test : 38-40 minutes


The driving test is designed for you to show your practical skills and understanding of the Highway Code and the theory of driving safely. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving. Find out about the different parts of your driving test.


The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you:


 

  • Can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
  • Make effective observation, anticipation and planning
  • Use signs, markings, common sense and safe judgement
  • Know The Highway Code and can show this through your driving ability

 

So long as you show the standard required, you'll pass your driving test. There are no pass or fail quotas.


You'll need these resources to help you pass: 

 

 

What you need to take to your driving test


You need to bring your Provisional driving Licence photo card to your driving test. You will take the Practical Driving Test in your Instructors Car as it's familiar to you.


Click here for information on   Reporting for your practical test

 

Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you'll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions. The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle to test your eyesight. If you fail the check, your driving test won't continue. You can find out how the eyesight check works by clicking on the link below.


Click here for information on Driving eyesight requirements

 

You'll be asked two vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the 'show me, tell me' questions.


Click here to   Watch videos about 'show me, tell me'


The examiner will ask you one 'show me' question, where you'll have to show them how you'd carry out a vehicle safety check. You'll also be asked one 'tell me' question, where you'll have to explain to the examiner how you'd carry out the check.


For example, the examiner might ask you to identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell them how you'd check the windscreen washer level. If you give the wrong answer for one or both questions, you'll be marked with one driving fault.


 

The driving ability part of your driving test

 

If you make a mistake don't worry - it might be a less serious driving fault and might not affect your result


The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.


During your test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You'll drive in various road and traffic conditions. You should drive in the way your instructor has trained you.


You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.


 Your ability to reverse your vehicle safely - You'll be asked to complete an exercise to show how well you can reverse your vehicle. The examiner will choose one exercise from:


 

  • Reversing into a parking bay
  • Forward parking into a parking bay, the reversing out 
  • Parallel parking at the side of the road
  • Pull up on the right, reverse and move off

 

Independent driving section of the driving test


Your driving test will include around 20 minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently. It will be either following a Satnav ( the examiner will bring this and set it up, you will not need to operate it)


Your driving test result

 

This will be given at the end of the test in the car.


You'll pass your test if you make:

 

  • 15 or less driving faults
  • No serious or dangerous faults

 

When the driving test has ended, your instructor will come over for the result and feedback if they didn't go with you on your test. 


The examiner will:


 

  • Tell you whether you passed or not
  • Explain how you did during the test

 


There are three types of faults that can be marked:


 

  1. A Dangerous fault - involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
  2. A Serious fault - could potentially be dangerous
  3. A Driving fault - not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault

 


If you pass your test


If you pass your test the examiner will give you a pass certificate. They will also ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically. Once you have passed you test you can start driving straight away - you don't need to wait for your full licence to arrive.



Taking another test if you don't pass


If you don't pass your test, you will be provided with feedback. You will need to make the time to work on the faults with additional lessons and another test can be booked when ready. You MUST work on developing any faults before taking another driving test. your instructor will not agree to another test until you can demonstrate improvement.


Click here for information on   How to book and manage your practical driving test appointment

 

Sometimes DVSA has to cancel or stop driving tests because of things like bad weather or vehicle problems. Find out what happens if your test is cancelled or stopped, and what you need to do when there's bad weather by clicking HERE


More useful links

 

 

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