What happens on Practical Test Day?

I have put together some information about what happens on the day of your practical test. I hope you find this information useful!

You will have booked your driving test using my instructor licence number. Ensure that you forward on the booking confirmation email after you have received it so that I will also have the test details - any correspondence about the test will come directly to you, so you must keep an eye out for any updates between booking and the test day itself.

I will pick you up at least an hour before your test, depending on how far away from the test centre you are located. Pupils from Westbury, Trowbridge and Melksham would generally have a 2 - 2.5 hour session booked into the diary on test day, unless you have agreed you would like a longer pre-test lesson. Pupils from Warminster or Frome will have a 3 hour session booked into the diary on test day, this will ensure that we have plenty of time to transit to and from the test centre before and after your test and alleviates any additional stress of getting caught in an accident or heavy traffic.

I will ask to see your driving licence before we set off to ensure that you have it on you – so many students forget their licence! If you forget your licence, the driving test will be cancelled and you will lose your driving test fee.

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You will have a lesson with me, going over any last minute things you wish to do. As a rule I do not practice manoeuvres in case of any pre-test jitters. Some students like to go to McDonalds and get a coffee! This is YOUR time, and you can spend it however you wish. I will ensure that we arrive at the test centre around 10 minutes before the start time of your test.

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If we are more than 10 minutes early, we will wait near the test centre, but not in a location which could hinder any returning tests which were out prior to yours.

Once it’s 10 minutes before the test, I will direct you into the test centre car park, and you will reverse park into any bay near the rear of the car park. I will fully talk you through this reverse bay park, to prevent any jitters creeping in.

We will then secure the car and make our way into the waiting room inside the test centre, and take a seat. Ensure you have your licence on you! Make sure you have practiced your signature and that it looks the same as it does on your licence - You will not be allowed to take the test, and you will lose your driving test fee if the signatures do not match!

The examiner will come out, call your name, introduce themselves, check your licence, and ask you to sign the declaration on the digital test sheet which confirms that you have lived in the UK for the past 185 days and that the car you are using for the test is insured – rest assured that my car has the appropriate insurance for tests. Please ensure you sign the document with the same signature as is on your licence!

The examiner will ask you if you would like me to sit in on the test. If you say no, the examiner will ask if you would like me to join you at the end of the test for the debrief – this is useful so that I can listen to any faults and feedback from the examiner, which will help me to help you later on, should you not pass on this attempt.

The examiner will take you outside and ask you to read a number plate from 20 metres. If you fail the eyesight test, you will automatically fail the driving test. You will not be allowed to take the test, and you will lose your driving test fee.

If you do pass the eye sight test, the examiner will then either ask you to sit in the car or open the bonnet for your 'tell me question'. If you have an under the bonnet 'tell me' question the examiner will ask you to close the bonnet when complete and then ask you to sit in the car. Do NOT start the engine at this stage.

The examiner will make some basic checks on the car to ensure it’s roadworthy and legal, and then they will join you in the car.

The examiner will set up the sat nav, if required, and explain what happens on the test.

The examiner will then ask you a ‘tell me’ question, if not already done so under the bonnet.

The examiner will ask you to drive on when ready – don’t forget to start the engine!

The examiner will give clear directions and ask you to make a few stops throughout the test – this is completely normal.

You will be asked to follow a sat nav or road signs as part of the independent drive. Sat Navs are used in 4 out of 5 tests. The examiner will tell you when the independent driving section starts and finishes.

You will be asked to complete one manoeuvre during the test. This could be at the beginning of the test before you leave the test centre car park, during the test enroute, or at the end of the test as you come back into the test centre car park.

You may be asked to complete an emergency stop. This happens on 1 in 3 tests.

You will drive for around 36 minutes and the examiner will direct you back to the test centre. If you have not yet completed a manoeuvre, you will complete a bay park, either forward or reverse, as you come back into the car park. If you have completed a manoeuvre, you will be asked to pull forward into any bay, or pull up along side the test centre, and you will not be marked for it.

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If I waited at the test centre, I will join you by the car – open your door so that I can listen to the debrief. Otherwise, I will already be in the back of the car, so will be able to listen to the debrief too.

The examiner will tell you whether you have passed or failed and they will explain why. They will explain any serious or dangerous faults, and a brief explanation of any driving faults. As I will be listening to the debrief, I will be able to help you understand these faults in more detail later on, and you can review any of my dash cam footage with me afterwards.

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If you have failed, the examiner will mark the digital test sheet accordingly, a copy of which will be sent to you via email (please forward this on once you receive it), wish you luck, and leave the car.

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If you have passed, the examiner will mark the digital test sheet accordingly, and a copy of the test sheet will be sent to you via email (please forward this on once you receive it). They will also give you a pass certificate and a promotional booklet. You have the option of giving your provisional licence to the examiner and they can send it directly to the DVLA to be exchanged for a full driving licence. This will arrive to you by post. If your address is wrong on your licence, or you need your licence for anything in the next week or so, tell the examiner you would like to keep your licence, and you can send your licence off yourself to be exchanged for a full driving licence at a later date – be aware that you need to do this within 2 years, otherwise your pass certificate becomes invalid. You can drive using your pass certificate straight away, you do not need to wait for your full driving licence to come through the post.

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I will then drive you home after completing any final paperwork and taking a photograph of you next to my car. Whether you have passed or failed, emotions will be running high, and it isn’t safe for you to drive home. It is a myth that you can not drive an instructors car after a test due to the insurance. Instructors cars are insured for all types of learners. If you have used your own car for the test, then your insurance will be void as you will no longer be a learner driver. To be able to drive your own car home, you will need to either have your accompanying driver insured to drive the vehicle or update your own insurance to cover you aa a full licence holder.

Take all the time you need to debrief with me, talk about the faults that occurred, and review any dash cam footage.

If you have passed, remember that I will always be here for you in the future, if you decide you need refresher lessons, lessons to get used to your new car, or would like motorway lessons etc.

If you have failed, make a plan with me before you leave the car. Make a plan as to what you'd like to do - you may want to take a break from driving for a little while, or you may decide to carry on your lessons, and you may decide to book another test straight away. You cannot take another test for 10 working days, however you can book another test once the examiner has updated the system.

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I hope this helps you understand what will happen on your driving test day! If you have any other questions or concerns about the driving test, please talk to me!