The Driving Test Elements
There are 4 main elements to the UK driving test as follows.
For a full explanation of what happens on the day of your driving test follow this link.
1. The independent element of the driving test lasts around 20 minutes
During this part of the test, you have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the driving examiner. This part of the test will last around 20 minutes, roughly half of the test. During your driving lessons in Bolton with me, you will be taught the key skills to enable you to drive independently following road signs, and or a satellite navigation system.
2. At some point during your driving test you may be asked to follow directions from a Satellite Navigation System.
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During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav. The examiner will provide the sat nav and set it up. You won’t need to set the route, the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make of sat nav you practise with. Again during your driving lessons in Bolton with me, we will practice using a Navigation System.
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You wont be able to use my own sat nav during the test, as you have to use the one supplied by the driving examiner. You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a driving fault whilst doing so. One in 5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav, you will just be asked to follow traffic signs instead.
3. The reversing manoeuvres that will be tested are as follows.
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The ‘reverse around a corner’ & ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres will no longer be tested, but you should & will still be taught them by your driving instructor, during your normal driving lessons. On test, you’ll be asked to do one of 3 possible reversing manoeuvres:
A. Parallel park at the side of the road.
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B. Park in a bay - either driving in & reversing out, or reversing in & driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do).
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C. Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic.
4. You will need to answer a vehicle safety question while you’re driving.
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The examiner will ask you 2 vehicle safety questions during your driving test - these are known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. You’ll be asked a 'Tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving.
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You will also be asked a 'Show Me’ question (where you show how you would carry out a safety task) while you’re driving - for example, showing how to wash the windscreen using the car windscreen washers and wipers. During your normal driving lessons in Bolton we will practice carrying out the answers to all of these questions.
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You can watch the DVSA videos below. They each show an example of how the new driving test changes will be implemented. read more on Preparing for the New Driving Test.