The driving test.

Practical test.

Introduction


You now have agreed with your driving instructor that you both feel confident to sit your driving test. 

Before you take the test it’s important that you understand how the test works so that you do not get any unnecessary surprises on the day. 

So your instructor will of already of taken you around quite a few test routes areas and give you a couple of mock driving tests with verbal instruction and sat nav (this might not be possible if you haven’t been with 1st choice from day one) and worked on your driving weaknesses.


Lesson aim


Your aim on driving lesson's leading up to your test is to drive independently with no help from your instructor, your instructor is there to work on your minor mistakes when you are going around test areas. 


Lesson objectives


Your objective is to drive around any area your instructor takes you making no very little mistakes leading up to your driving test. If you are unable to do this you need to ask yourself are your really ready to pass your practical test.

Top 10 fails on a driving test
Lesson brief

The Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) driving test for car (category B) drivers is about 40 minutes long. During this time the examiner will expect you to read a number plate from 20.5m (eyesight test), answer a show me and tell me question (the show me question is asked at the beginning of your test and the tell me question is asked when you are driving on your practical test.

Your driving test (route) will be challenging with different road conditions and at various points along the way the examiner will also require you to complete one set reverse test manoeuvres. 
In particular you will be required to undertake one of the following set manoeuvres:-
  • Parallel park 
  • Reverse park into a parking bay (on the left or right)
  • Drive into a parking bay and the reverse out of it (on the left or right)
  • Drive onto the right hand side of the road and reverse back 2 to3 car lengths
  • One in three candidates will get the Emergency stop
The driving test is a little different from driving with your driving instructor on a driving lesson, however your examiner will be happy to clarify and repeat any instruction he or she may have given to you.  The examiner will also try to put you at ease as the last thing that they what is to make you feel unnecessarily anxious.  

All examiner wants to test your driving ability and will know you are nervous. Therefore don’t be surprised at how friendly they are, you may find that your examiner offers encouragement or advice in the regards to your test nerves.

What do you need to bring on your driving test
At the test centre

Documents needed

  • Provisional licence
  • Theory certificate

Waiting room

The examiner will come out of the office and call your name then introduced him or herself.  They will then ask to see:-
  • Your driving (provisional) licence
  • Theory certificate (not all test centres ask for this but better safe than sorry)
Failing to produce your documents may result in you not taking your practical test.

Once your examiners has checked your provisional licence they will ask you to ensure your details are correct on there I pad are correct, then tick a couple of boxer to confirm your address and email are correct (with covid -19 the examiner will ask you to show them your provisional licence and sign your signature on a piece of paper that is handed to you).

Eye sight test

Once your documents have been checked you will be asked to make there way out to there vehicle that you are taking your driving test in.  While your outside you will then ask you to read a number plate (that is in the car park of the driving test centre) at the required distance 20.5 metres, assuming that you are able to do this the examiner will ask you to take him or her to your vehicle were they will check the condition of your vehicles tyres and check and lights on your dash board before entering the vehicle.
Eye sight check

Show me tell me question


Once you have successfully read a number plate you will make your way to your vehicle and your examiner will ask you one show me question and on your general drive you will get one show me question. Please remember if you get one or both questions incorrect will result in a minor driving fault being recorded for each one.

If the show me question requires you to open the bonnet this question will be asked before you get into the vehicle.

Show me/tell me information

Demonstration of your driving ability


Once you and your examiner are in your vehicle your examiner will ask you to start the engine and explain clearly tell you to "FOLLOW THE ROAD AHEAD UNLESS I, ROAD MARKINGS OR SIGNS DICTATEOTHER WISE".   


You will then start the driving test


While still in the car park your examiner may ask you to pull forward and complete the reverse bay park exercise or to drive out of the DVSA carpark and start your driving test and leave the DVSA carpark.


9 out of 10 times


As soon as you have left the carpark and turned left you are normally immediately asked to pull up on the left hand side of the road (please note on your driving test you will be asked to pull up on the left hand side of the road at lest 5/6 times).  The examiners do this to ensure you drive on safe (6 point checks).


Examiners instruction


On your driving test your examiner will tell you in good time which way to go (just like a driving lesson).  If you go the wrong way do not panic the examiner is testing your ability to drive not your ability to follow directions. It is better to go the wrong way correctly than to go the right way incorrectly.

If at any time you are unsure what the examiner requires do not hesitate to check what he or she wants, the examiner appreciates that you may be nervous and will be happy to repeat or clarify any instructions given. At certain points on the route the examiner may ask you to complete a set manoeuvre, as soon you are asked to move off the examiner will start to assess your driving ability noting any driving manoeuvre.


Here is a breakdown of how your test will go:-


1. Independent driving (following signs) or follow a sat nav

 

a. Ether a 20 minute independent drive (roughly half of the test you follow road signs). During this part of the test you have to drive following road signs and without directions from the driving examiner.

b. Following directions from a sat nav (TomTom Start 52), during the independent driving part of the test, (four out of five will use a sat nav).

If you get confused the examiner will give you some guidance but remember you have don’t this on driving lessons already.

2. On your driving test your examiner will ask you to pull up on the left hand side of the road at least 4/6 times. They are doing this to see how well you can park up on the left and to assess your M.S.M routine including blind spots when pulling off.

Reversing (you’ll be asked to do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres)

a. Parallel park

b. Driving into a bay and reversing out

c. Reverse into a parking bay and drive out

d. Pull up on the right-hand side of the road and reverse for 2/3 car lengths and re-join the traffic

*The reverse around a corner and turn-in-the-road manoeuvres is no longer in the driving test,

but you still will be taught them by your instructor*.

Location


On your driving test you will be tested on numerous situations from the dual carriage way, two lane roundabouts, town driving, 20 mph roads and even one way streets. So before you book you’re driving (practical) driving test make sure you are independent and ready to pass your test.

At the end of your test your examiner will ether give you some good news or bad news. If you are unfortunate and fail you can rebook your driving test for 10 days after the day you failed.

However on the success of you passing ( we have more 1st time passes than most driving schools) you have two options


Option 1


Your examiner with take your licence and send it to the DVSA and you will receive a full B licence within 3 weeks.


Option 2


You have 2 years to change your provisional licence to a full B licence (if you do not change it within 2 years you will loose your licence and will have to buy another provisional licence, pass a theory test and take another driving test) so option 1 is best unless you need to change your address your driving licence.

So good luck and we will leave you with looking at the test report form you will be tested on.

Click to view the old style test form Click to view test form explained New I pad version test form
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