Theory	Hazard Perception
Show Me Tell Me	Practical Driving

 

Theory Test

    You must have a provisional driving licence before you can take your theory test which is taken at a designated test centre at the same time as the hazard perception test. Both tests must be passed, at the same time, before you can apply for your practical test.

Location of Theory Test Centres

   In this area the two local test centres are in Bristol & Bath. If you don't mind travelling or work further away there is a full list of available centres on the DSA web site.

Booking Your Theory Test

    You can book your theory test online, by phone or by post, the cost of this is, at present, £30

   To book online goto the DSA website

            Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence and a valid debit or credit card for payment 

 

   To book by phone call 0300 200 1122

       The call centres are open for booking and enquiries Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (except public and bank holidays).
       Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence and a valid debit or credit card for payment 

 

   To book a theory test by post you will need an application form.

       Application forms are available online or on request from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) booking line.

       Payment can be made by cheque or postal order, but cash payments are not accepted.

                Download a theory test application form (front page) (PDF, 251K)

                Download a theory test application form (back page) (PDF, 389K)

Taking Your Theory Test

 When arriving for your test ensure you have all the following with you

• Your appointment card

• Both parts of your provisional photo card licence.

    Failing to produce any of these items at the test will result in failure and you will not be eligible for a refund.

    At the test You will have to answer 50 multiple-choice questions based on the Highway Code and road safety matters.

    The test will be conducted under examination conditions, with one person supervising several candidates taking the test at the same time. Using a computer screen. all you have to do is select the answers by simply touching the screen. The 'touchscreen' system has been carefully designed to make sure it is easy to use.

    You will have a practise session lasting up to 15 minutes to get used to the system before starting the actual theory test. Staff will be on hand to help you if you have any difficulties in using the new system. The screens are easy to read. Only one question will appear on the screen at a time and you will be able to move backwards and forwards through the questions. You will also be able to go back to any questions which you want to look at again, and you should be able to change any answers.

    Most questions will require one option to be selected from a choice of four, some will ask for two, three or four correct options to be selected from a range of up to six possibilities. The selected answer(s) are to be indicated by touching the box(es) alongside on a computer screen.
    The test will last 57 minutes and will cover up to 12 topics including driver attitude, traffic signs, the effects of alcohol, drugs and fatigue and environmental aspects of vehicles.  

    The questions all come from a data bank of 1600 questions, all these questions and answers are readily available in books, dvds and on the net, so with the correct study it will not be difficult to answer the questions correctly.

    You will have 57 minutes to answer 50 questions. The pass mark is 43 correct answers.

  

Advice to help you pass the theory test

• Do your Homework!

• Read each question carefully and note how many answers are required.

• Answer the easy ones first and come back to any you find more difficult.

• When you think you've finished check through all your answers again, just in case!

 

Hazard Perception

    The hazard perception test is taken at the same time as the theory test.

    After the multiple-choice theory test, you may have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception element starts. The hazard perception element will consist of 14 video clips, which will feature real road scenes and developing hazards of various types such as vehicles and pedestrians. There are a total of 15 scoreable hazards in the test. Thirteen clips will contain one scoreable hazard and one clip will contain two scoreable hazards.

    Their is a wide choice of dvd's readily available and many mock tests available on the net so with the correct study it will not be difficult to pass this part of the test.

    The pass mark for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75

In order to pass the theory & hazard perception test

    Theory: You will have 57 minutes to answer 50 questions. The pass mark is 43 correct answers.

    Hazard Perception: The pass mark for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75.

    You must pass both parts of the test at the same time.

 

 

Practical Test

     You must have a provisional driving licence and have passed your theory test before you can take your practical test which is taken at an approved DSA test centre.

Location of Practical Test Centres

   In this area three local test centres are available in Bristol. If you don't mind travelling or work further away there is a full list of available centres on the DSA web site.

 

Booking Your Practical Test

    You can book your practical test online, by phone or by post, the cost of this is, at present, £56.50

   Remember you can't book your practical test unless you've passed your driving theory and hazard perception tests within the last 2 years.

 

   To book online goto the DSA website

            Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence, a theory test certificate number and a valid debit or credit card for payment 

 

   To book by phone call 0300 2001122

       The call centres are open for booking and enquiries Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (except public and bank holidays).
       Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence, a theory test certificate number and a valid debit or credit card for payment 

 

   To book a practical test by post you will need an application form.

       Application forms are available online or on request from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) booking line.

       Payment can be made by cheque or postal order, but cash payments are not accepted.

                    Download an application form for a practical driving test (PDF, 143K)

 

Show me - Tell me

    This will be carried out at the beginning of your practical test. You will be asked to 'show and tell' how you would carry out safety and maintenance checks on your car. You‘ll need to answer two questions correctly. Answering one or both of your questions incorrectly will count as a driving fault in your test. There are only 19 questions the examiner can choose from so with the correct study it will not be difficult to answer the questions correctly.

 

Practical

    Remember you can't take the practical test unless you've passed your driving theory and hazard perception tests within the last 2 years.

    You should arrive 10 minutes before your practical driving test is due to start. This will give you time to relax and calm your nerves before the practical test begins.

    Make sure you have all the following with you

• Your appointment card

• Your theory test pass certificate.

• Both parts of your provisional photo card licence.

• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure you take them with you.

    Failing to produce any of these items at the test will result in failure and you will not be eligible for a refund.

    When it is time for your practical test, the examiner will enter the waiting room and introduce themselves. Your papers will be checked and you will be asked to sign a declaration to say the car you are driving is insured. You can ask for your instructor to sit in the back at this stage. It is also possible that a supervising examiner will sit in the back to examine the examiner. You will then be escorted out of the room and to the car park.

    Before the practical test begins you will be required to pass an eyesight test. You must be able to read a new style number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. You can, wear glasses when taking the eyesight test, if you do, then you must wear the same glasses throughout the rest of the test.

    If you fail this test then the practical driving test will go no further.

    If you pass the eyesight test you will then take the show me, tell me test.

    Then the examiner will ask you to get into the car while he walks around the car and checks to see if the vehicle is roadworthy and legal. He will then join you in the car and will ask you to drive away when you are ready.
    During the practical driving test you will be expected to drive for about 40 minutes in various road situations. You will be asked to perform two of the four reversing manoeuvres, either parallel parking, reversing into a side road, turn in the road or bay parking. You may also be required to perform an emergency stop.

Drive as you have been taught!!

    After 40 minutes it's all over and its back to the test centre. The moment of truth. The Examiner faces you and tells you that the test is over . and will tell you the result. At this point the Examiner will ask you if you would like an explanation of any faults that you have occurred. If you say. "yes". A debriefing will follow when the Examiner has asked you if you want your Instructor to hear the debriefing with you. This choice is entirely up to you, however if you decide to listen to the Examiner's debriefing without your Instructor present then you may run the risk of not fully understanding the Examiners wording.

 

In order to pass the practical driving test

You must drive without committing any serious or dangerous fault or without committing more than 15 driving errors of a less serious nature.

Dangerous faults - a fault that results in actual danger. Commit such a fault and you will fail the practical driving test immediately.

Serious faults - this is when a potentially dangerous incident occurs, when the candidate reveals a recurring driving fault or fails to perform a manoeuvre (parallel parking, bay parking, reversing into a side road, turn in the road, emergency stop) correctly. Receive a serious fault and you will fail the practical driving test.

Minor driving faults - less serious faults, such as hesitating too long at a junction, faults that don't provide any immediate danger. Receive 16 or more minor driving faults and you will fail the practical driving test.