LEARNING CENTRE

PRACTICAL TEST TIPS

Practical Test

The practical 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. At the test centre reception your Examiner will ask you:

to show them your provisional driving licence (no test without it).
to check they have your correct address and email address for your result.
to sign a residency and insurance declaration (same signature as the one on your provisional driving licence).
if you would like your instructor to join you (your instructor can go over the pros and cons).

The examiner will then gesture for you to walk out of the test centre reception. They will then ask you:

to read a number plate 20.5 metres away.
if you want to know about the test (say yes). They will say something like - Your test will last around 40 minutes driving on varying roads and conditions, it will include 1 manoeuvre and I may ask you to do an Emergency Stop. I have to ask you 2 safety check questions, one of them will be on the move, the other i will ask now.

The test will include:

2 safety check questions. (Click here for more information)
to follow the road ahead unless the road or the Examiner directs you otherwise.
to perform 1 manoeuvre (Parallel Park, Park Forwards or Backwards into a Parking Bay, Park on the Right Hand side of the Road, Reverse, then re-join traffic.
to drive independently following signs or sat nav for all or part of your test.
an increased amount of time on higher speed roads if possible.
park on the left 3 times.
1 in 7 chance you could be asked to perform an Emergency Stop.
The examiner will normally ask you an ice breaker question for example - What would you be doing today if you weren’t doing your test? This could lead to a discussion - if you cannot drive and talk give very short answers. Your examiner will understand.

At the end of the test your examiner will:

ask you to turn the car off/engine off.
ask you if you want your driving instructor there for the result and debrief (say yes).
pack away their sat nav and then give you the result and reasons for any driver faults.
ask if you want them to organise your new licence (they will take your provisional).

Whether you pass or fail it is better you let your driving instructor drive you home. It is up to the driving instructor and we opt for our driving instructor to drive you home.

Driving test candidates are no longer able to use interpreters on their test. Click here for more information from the DVSA.

For more details about the DVSA's new test introduced on 4th December 2017. Click here to read about it.

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How to Book

Practical Driving Tests Cost £62 (more for extended tests). Our local test centres are:

Sheffield (Middlewood) - 508 Middlewood Road, Sheffield, S6 1TQ

Sheffield (Handsworth) - Orgreave Way, Handsworth, Sheffield, S13 9LT

Chesterfield - Bus Garage Approach Road, Stonegravels, Chesterfield, S41 7LF

Rotherham - Mangham Way, Off Mangham Rd, Rotherham, S61 4RL

Barnsley - West Road, Barnsley, S75 2DH

Doncaster -Unit 10 & 11 Heather Court, Shaw Wood Business Park, Shaw Wood Way, Doncaster, DN2 5YL

Click here for the DVSA's directory of practical test centre addresses

Click here to book your practical driving test

To cancel or reschedule your test, you need to give 10 full clear working days notice. You may reschedule your test just twice (make sure your Driving Instructor is available).

Driving tests can only be booked, changed and swapped by learner drivers. Incredibly, swaps can only be done with a phone call. Can you imagine the wait times for the call? The number is 03002001122 (select option 1). The lines are open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

You provide your details, then provide your swap friends booking reference number. After you have provided your details, the DVSA contacts your swap friend by phone. IF security is passed, the swap will take place. Make sure to check your booking, make sure your driving instructor is available.

Full details are in this link - SWAPPING.

Learners can move their test only to nearby test centres. Full details in this link.

Middlewood - Handsworth, Barnsley, Rotherham

Handsworth - Middlewood, Rotherham, Worksop

Chesterfield - Ashfield, Handsworth, Middlewood

From 1 April 2014, candidates are able to ask for a rebooking at short notice with no charge if they can’t take their test because of a medically certified illness, a bereavement or school exams. DVSA will also continue to offer a refund or new test date to serving members of the armed forces who are called for duty.

Click here to change the date of your driving test.

SuperDriver Top Tips

Inform your instructor of any pre-test routines you have (smokers may need a cigarette, you may like chocolate, you like to arrive early to think over your test, you may like to arrive 1 minute before the start so you are not waiting around).

Hopefully you will not need to use the toilets. Whilst they have toilets, they are not the nicest and there is no guarantee they will be available.

On your test, don't look at the examiner's ipad. It will put you off/make you paranoid. Don't worry if your examiner's finger touches the screen, they have administration to do, it may not be a driving fault.

Don't worry if you go the wrong way. It is better to go the wrong way and do it right than go the right way and do it wrong!

Don't forget your documents - you cannot take a test if you cannot present your driving licence photocard. You may also be asked for your Theory Test Pass Certificate and confirmation of appointment letter/e-mail.

Watch test videos, examples of independent driving, safety check questions that are available on DVSA's You Tube page.

If you have your own car, practice in the test area if you can, below is a map of the test area.

SuperDriver

Call 07812377119

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