Practical Driving Test
What happens during the test?
The driving test consists of the following five (5) parts:
1. The eyesight check
The examiner will check that your eyesight is good enough to drive. Don’t forget your glasses if you need them!
You’ll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres away, which is roughly the length of 5 cars. If you can’t read the plate you’ve failed the test and it ends there.
2. ‘Show me, Tell me’ safety questions
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions by the examiner, known as ‘show me, tell me’. This is to show you know how to perform basic safety checks.
The ‘tell me’ question will require you to explain how you’d carry out a certain activity - for example, how to open the bonnet and check there’s sufficient oil in the engine, or where to find the recommended tyre pressures, and how to check the pressure. There are 14 possible ‘tell me’ questions.
For the ‘show me’ question you'll need to demonstrate how to carry out a certain activity - for example, wash and clean the rear windscreen, or sound the horn. There are 7 possible ‘show me questions’.
3. General driving ability
The examiner will give you direct you, much the same as you’ll be used to from your lessons.
You will be asked to pull over at least 3 times and perform the following:
4. Reversing the vehicle
To test your reversing ability, the examiner will ask you to do one of these:
5. Independent driving
This section of the test is to show you can follow directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or both - rather than from the examiner. If you’re following a sat nav, the examiner will set it up for you. Although the examiner won’t ask you anything during this part of the test, you can ask them questions.
There are times the examiner might step in, for example, if you take a wrong turn or you can’t read an obstructed sign. If the examiner has to give directions, don’t interpret this as having failed or being marked down. Going off-route won’t necessarily affect your test result.
Useful Links related to the driving test:
The driving test consists of the following five (5) parts:
1. The eyesight check
The examiner will check that your eyesight is good enough to drive. Don’t forget your glasses if you need them!
You’ll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres away, which is roughly the length of 5 cars. If you can’t read the plate you’ve failed the test and it ends there.
2. ‘Show me, Tell me’ safety questions
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions by the examiner, known as ‘show me, tell me’. This is to show you know how to perform basic safety checks.
The ‘tell me’ question will require you to explain how you’d carry out a certain activity - for example, how to open the bonnet and check there’s sufficient oil in the engine, or where to find the recommended tyre pressures, and how to check the pressure. There are 14 possible ‘tell me’ questions.
For the ‘show me’ question you'll need to demonstrate how to carry out a certain activity - for example, wash and clean the rear windscreen, or sound the horn. There are 7 possible ‘show me questions’.
3. General driving ability
The examiner will give you direct you, much the same as you’ll be used to from your lessons.
You will be asked to pull over at least 3 times and perform the following:
- Pull over in a safe, legal place selected by you.
- Angled start, pull away from behind a parked car.
- Pull away on a hill.
- Perform an emergency stop - only 1 in 3 tests will feature this.
4. Reversing the vehicle
To test your reversing ability, the examiner will ask you to do one of these:
- Reverse Park into a parking bay. You’ll be asked to reverse in and drive out.
- Forward Park into a parking bay. You’ll be asked to drive in and reverse out.
- Parallel park. This will be performed at the side of the road by at least one parked car.
- Reverse for around two car lengths. For this, you will be asked to pull up on the right-hand side of the road. Once you’ve completed the manoeuvre, you’ll be asked to rejoin the traffic.
5. Independent driving
This section of the test is to show you can follow directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or both - rather than from the examiner. If you’re following a sat nav, the examiner will set it up for you. Although the examiner won’t ask you anything during this part of the test, you can ask them questions.
There are times the examiner might step in, for example, if you take a wrong turn or you can’t read an obstructed sign. If the examiner has to give directions, don’t interpret this as having failed or being marked down. Going off-route won’t necessarily affect your test result.
Useful Links related to the driving test:
- The Highway Code
- Explanation of the Test
- Understanding Your Driving Test Result
- SHOW ME TELL ME QUESTIONS
- Top 10 Reasons for Failing the Driving Test
- Car driving test data by test centre
