Drive On !
The practical driving test is designed to see if you:
can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
know the Highway Code and can show this through your driving ability
As long as you show the standard required, you’ll pass your driving test.
You must bring:
Your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you’re not exempt from
taking the theory test
both parts of your driving licence - the photo-card and the paper counterpart
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
You can write down what you see if you can’t speak English or have difficulty
reading.
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.
Find all the questions below
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.
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
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
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
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.
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 examiner will stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other
road users.
Taking someone with you
Your examiner will ask if you want your instructor, or another person, to:
sit in the back of your car during your driving test
be with you after the test for the result and feedback
This person will usually be your driving instructor, but it could also be a relative
or friend.
They must be over 16 and can’t take any part in the test.
The examiner’s supervisor
The examiner’s supervisor may come along as well. They will be watching the
examiner’s performance, not yours. The supervisor won’t have any say in how
you’re tested or in your result.
can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
know the Highway Code and can show this through your driving ability
As long as you show the standard required, you’ll pass your driving test.
You must bring:
Your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you’re not exempt from
taking the theory test
both parts of your driving licence - the photo-card and the paper counterpart
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
You can write down what you see if you can’t speak English or have difficulty
reading.
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.
Find all the questions below
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.
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
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
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
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.
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 examiner will stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other
road users.
Taking someone with you
Your examiner will ask if you want your instructor, or another person, to:
sit in the back of your car during your driving test
be with you after the test for the result and feedback
This person will usually be your driving instructor, but it could also be a relative
or friend.
They must be over 16 and can’t take any part in the test.
The examiner’s supervisor
The examiner’s supervisor may come along as well. They will be watching the
examiner’s performance, not yours. The supervisor won’t have any say in how
you’re tested or in your result.
