The Practical Driving Test

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

* can drive safely
* know The Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving

The test will cost £48.00 from April 2006. Weekend and evening tests are £58.00 This fee is included in the cost of the packaged courses I offer.
Generally I will advise you when I believe you have reached a standard where you should consider applying for, and booking, your practical test.

What will the test include?

The test will include an eyesight test (if you fail this, your test will not be allowed to continue) . The eyesight test is essentially the ability to read a standard vehicle registration plate from 20m away You can read the full eyesight requirements by clicking on the roadsign on the right, if you can see it you're half way there :o)

After the eyesight test you will be asked some 'show me' / 'tell me' questions about vehicle safety and operation. these are questions like 'how would you check the oil level' or 'show me how you would check that the lights are working' etc. Click on the link on the left to download a pdf copy of the show me / tell me quesions.

Next you will be examined on your general driving and on two reversing exercises. The reversing exercises will be chosen from:

* reversing around a corner
* turning in the road
* reverse parking


You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.

A standard driving test takes about 40 minutes.

What happens during the test?

During the driving test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions. During the test, the examiner will ask you to carry out set exercises.

Throughout the test you should drive in the way you have been practising in your lessons. I will be teaching you to drive using the skills and procedures that the DSA will be testing you on. If you agree your test booking schedule with me you can be confident that you will be ready to take (and pass) your test.
If you make a mistake, don’t worry about it, it might be a less serious driving fault and may not affect your result. The examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.

You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous error you will fail the test. If at any time your examiner considers you to be a danger to other road users your test will be stopped.

You are allowed to take someone with you on the test, this person must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.


Driving test standards

All examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate that you can drive to the standard set by the DSA you will pass your driving test.

back