The Practical Test
What’s the test all about?
To pass this test you have to prove that you can control the vehicle
and drive safely, observing the correct rules and procedures and that you will not significantly impede the progress of other road
users.
The test takes around 45 minutes, of which approximately 35-40 minutes will be spent driving. During the time you
are driving, the examiner will be looking for errors and will record them on a report sheet. To pass, you must commit no serious
or dangerous faults and not more than 15 driving faults.
- Driving faults are those which are of a minor nature and not regarded as potentially
dangerous.
- Serious faults are acquired if the examiner judges your error to be potentially dangerous.
- Dangerous faults are given if
your driving puts someone in danger.
Be aware that the examiner will award a serious fault marking if the same driving fault occurs
more than 3 times.
For the day of the test you must book your instructor for at least 2 hours. This gives you an hours
‘warm up’ lesson before the test, use of the driving school car to take your test in and a lift home after the test.
What will I have to do on the test?
Before you start your drive, the examiner will check your licence, test your eyesight and
ask you two questions on basic vehicle maintenance and safety checks (Show Me Tell Me).
The test is designed to assess your driving
in a range of situations so there could be some out-of-town driving as well as urban driving. You will also be required to carry
out two of the low-speed manoeuvres, which you have been taught. If reversing into a bay is one of them, this will be done
at the test centre, either right at the beginning of the test or at the end.
There will also be a number of occasions when the
examiner will ask you to pull up at a convenient place and then move away. At least one of these will involve pulling up close
behind a parked car. When you are asked to do this, a cars length will be close enough to satisfy the examiner and easily manageable
for you.
Emergency stops are carried out on a random basis, but you will be told if you are required to carry out this exercise.
There
should be no surprises if you have prepared thoroughly.
What if I’m not ready for my test?
This often happens since the
test has to be booked well in advance. It is a simple matter to change the date (see Book a Test page). However this
must be done about 1 week before the current test date (the latest date for changing is given on the booking confirmation which you
receive).
Your instructor may help you with this if you are unable to do it.
