ABOUT THE PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST
We arrange your practical test when you book a course with us.
Our 1st time pass rate is extremely high due to the way our driving courses are structured and adapted to suit you the pupil's driving ability and needs.
by steven webb
Documents to bring to your Practical test
You must bring:
1. Your theory test pass certificate ( or confirmation ) if you're not exempt from taking the theory test.
2. your driving licence - the photocard
(you must take your driving licence)
Your test will be cancelled and you'll lose your fee if you don't bring the right documents.
You'll need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours.
This could take up to 15 days. You may have to rearrange your test if this happens.
What happens during the test
Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you’ll have an eyesight check and be asked 2 vehicle safety questions.
Eyesight check
You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of-
-
20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate.
-
20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate.
Vehicle safety questions: ‘show me, tell me’
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.
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.
Independent driving section
Your driving test will include around 10 minutes of independent driving. It’s designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions on your own.
This is the official DSA practical test video. When you book one of our courses we arrange everything for you and supply a free practical test which is booked for the last of your course as long as you pass or have passed your theory test.
We find that due to the amount of hours of in-car training on our courses, it allows you the pupil to make significant progress quicker than the 65 hours stated in the DSA video.
On average we find that a 5 day (30 hour) course is suitable for a complete beginner to reach test standard and be a very confident competent driver.
The driving ability part
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. We endevour to cover every aspect of the DSA syllabus to give you the best possible chance of passing 1st time.
Your general driving ability
During your test the examiner will give you directions that you should follow. You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions. You should drive in the way your instructor has trained you.
It should include:
-
normal stops
-
an angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle)
-
a hill start
Reversing your vehicle safely
You’ll have to show how well you can reverse your vehicle. The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:
-
reversing around a corner.
-
turning in the road.
-
reverse parking - either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road.
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
If you make mistakes Carry on if you make a mistake, because if it’s not a serious mistake it might not affect your result.
Your driving test result
You’ll pass your test if you make:
-
15 or fewer driving faults
-
no serious or dangerous faults
When the driving test has ended, you can call your instructor over if they didn’t go with you on your test. This is so they can listen to the result and help you with any feedback afterwards.
The examiner will:
-
tell you if you passed or not
-
explain how you did during the test
-
The different types of faults
There are 3 types of faults that can be marked:
-
a dangerous fault - involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
-
a serious fault - could potentially be dangerous
-
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
The examiner will give you a pass certificate if you pass the test. They will also ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically.
Once you have passed your test you can start driving straight away - you don’t need to wait for your full licence to arrive.
If you don’t pass
You have to wait another 10 working days before you can take another test if you don’t pass. Working days don’t include Sundays and public holidays.