THE PRACTICAL TEST

Once you’ve passed your Theory Test, and you’ve reached a good level in your practical lessons, it’s time to book your practical test!

Has your instructor told you you’re ready? We’ll be honest with you!

Is the car (and instructor) available when you want to take your test? Make sure you check!

Do you want your instructor to come on your test with you? We can do if you like.

 
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WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY

Eyesight Check

You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres

Show me tell me

The examiner will ask you 2 vehicle safety questions during your driving test – these are known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

You’ll be asked the:

  • ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving
  • ‘show me’ question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving – for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car controls and wipers

Manoeuvres

You’ll be asked to do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres:

  • parallel park at the side of the road
  • park in a bay – either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
  • pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic

You might be asked to do an emergency stop.

To pass, you need to make 15 or less driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.

Independent Driving

This part of the test will last around 20 minutes.

During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav.

The examiner will provide the sat nav (a TomTom Start 52) and set it up. You won’t need to set the route – the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make or model of sat nav you practise with.

You can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test – you have to use the one supplied by the examiner.

You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.

One in 5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs instead.

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