Practical Test

Your Practical Driving Test will last for approximately 2 hours. The first 40 minutes are a revision session with your Instructor where you will be able to practise for your test, and perform any manoeuvres you are unsure of. Your Instructor will be able to provide you with any last minute advice you may need.

The next 20 minutes will be spent preparing for your test. Your Instructor will ensure you arrive in plenty of time and prepare all the documents you will need to provide to your Examiner. You are responsible for bringing the correct documentation with you, which include your Provisional Driving Licence and Letter from the DSA confirming your test appointment. If you do not provide the correct documentation you will not be able to proceed with your test.

The Test itself will last approximately 40 minutes. You will be assessed on Safe Driving, Categories including Roundabouts, Crossroads and Motorways, Manoeuvres and the Emergency Stop.

The Examiner will have a standard assessment sheet which they will mark throughout your test. If you demonstrate a safe standard of driving throughout the test you will pass. There will be no prejudice used in failing a pupil.

Test Appointments

The appointment times set out by the DSA are to ensure your test takes place during everyday road and traffic conditions. The Standard Appointment will take place between 7.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

However, the DSA offer a Premium Appointment during the evening and on Saturdays if you are unable to take your test during the Standard Appointment. The Premium Appointment will be charged at a more expensive rate.

You are allowed to have your Driving Instructor, Friend or Family Member (over the age of 16) sit in the back of your vehicle during your test. Some pupils feel this calms their nerves and provides some support. The person sat in the back of the vehicle is not allowed to offer any help, guidance or assistance during your test, nor are you allowed to turn to them for any help, guidance or assistance. You will fail your test immediately should any communication take place.

Your driving test will not take place during bad light conditions or any adverse weather conditions. This is to ensure the safety of both the Candidate and the Examiner. Another test will be booked for you at no extra cost, however there will be no compensation offered for any inconvenience caused.

It is recommended that you contact the Test Centre atleast 24 hours before your test to confirm your appointment as cancellations may occur due to unforeseen circumstances.

If you fail to meet your appointment time for your test, or fail to complete the test for reasons responsible to you or your vehicle, you will have to pay the full cost of the test. Any future tests will have to be paid for at the usual fee.

Assessment

The first thing your Examiner will ask you is to confirm your eyesight is at the required standard. You will be asked to read out a Registration Plate from a vehicle atleast 20 Metres away. If you are unable to read the Registration Plate correctly you will fail the test immediately and will not be able to continue.

You will then be asked 2 questions regarding Vehicle Safety Checks. One will be from the Show Me category and one will be from the Tell Me category. (Please refer to the ‘show me’/’tell me’ section for the questions you may be asked.) Again, if you fail to answer these questions correctly, you will fail the test and will not be able to continue.

The Examiner will then direct you through 1 of 5 Test Routes around the area in which the Test Centre is based. They will expect you to demonstrate your knowledge of the Highway Code through safe driving.

During the test you will be asked to perform two of three manoeuvres. The three manoeuvres are:-

• Reversing round a corner;

• Reverse parking (this may either be a bay park or a parallel park);

• Turn in the road.

You will also be asked, without prior knowledge, to perform an Emergency Stop. Your Examiner could ask this at any point during the Test Route.

It is very important that you remember your Practical Driving Test is not complete until you have parked up back at the Test Centre and turned your engine off. Once you return to the Test Centre, the Examiner may ask you to Reverse Park into one of the bays. You will be assessed on this, and even though you may have performed very well prior to this in the test, you could fail the whole test based on this manoeuvre. Many pupils have failed at this point as they have not realised they are still under test conditions and have not taken the care they should have when parking their vehicle.

Do not worry if you make a mistake during your test. You are allowed to make up to 15 Minor Faults during your test. Any more and you will fail. However, if you perform to a safe standard throughout you will pass.

If you are unable to conduct your test to a safe standard, commit a serious fault or drive dangerously, you will fail. If the Examiner deems your driving too dangerous to be on the road, they will stop the test immediately and ask you to walk back to the Test Centre from wherever they have stopped the test.

Test Complete

Once you have safely parked your vehicle and turned your engine off upon completion of your test, your Examiner will inform you whether you have passed or failed.

If you pass your test the Examiner will provide you with a Pass Certificate, a copy of their Assessment Sheet and details for sending your Provisional Driving Licence to the DVLA in exchange for a Full Driving Licence. You will have to pay a fee to the DVLA for your Photo Card Full Driving Licence.

Your Instructor will then drive you home and explain the documentation given to you by the Examiner. It is highly recommended you discuss Pass Plus with your Instructor as this will provide you with good experience, in conditions different to those in your usual driving lessons, before going out on your own. The Pass Plus Certificate is recognised by most Insurance Companies in providing a discount to first time drivers on their Insurance Policy.

If you fail your test the Examiner will provide you with a copy of their Assessment Sheet and may offer any feedback to you. It is recommended you request feedback from the Examiner so you will know which areas of your driving you will need to improve for your next test.

Your Instructor will then drive you home. You should then pass the information given to you by the Examiner onto your Instructor, who will then assist you in improving these areas. You will be able to book your next test 10 days after your original test.