Before You Arrive
Your instructor will pick you up as usual and give you a pre-test lesson to warm up and settle your nerves. This is normal — don't skip it. The familiar routine of a lesson helps you get into the right headspace before you walk into the test centre.
Make sure you bring:
- Your provisional driving licence (both parts if you have an old-style paper counterpart)
- Your theory test pass certificate (or reference number)
Meeting Your Examiner
Your examiner will introduce themselves in the waiting area and ask you to sign a declaration confirming your eyesight meets the required standard. They'll then walk you to the car.
Before you get in, they'll ask you to read a number plate from 20 metres away. This is the eyesight check — make sure your glasses or contact lenses are with you if you need them.
The 'Show Me, Tell Me' Questions
Once in the car, the examiner will ask one 'tell me' question (you answer verbally) and one 'show me' question (you demonstrate while driving). These cover basic vehicle safety checks such as:
- How you'd check the engine oil level
- How to check tyre tread depth
- How to use the rear demister
A wrong answer here counts as one minor fault — it won't fail you on its own.
The Drive Itself
The test lasts around 40 minutes and covers a mixture of road types — town, rural, and dual carriageway where available. You'll complete one reversing manoeuvre and spend around 20 minutes following sat-nav directions independently.
The Result
Back at the test centre, the examiner will tell you whether you've passed or failed. If you pass, they'll collect your provisional licence and issue you with a pass certificate to drive on immediately. Your full licence arrives by post within a few weeks.
If you don't pass, the examiner will talk you through your faults. Don't be disheartened — many excellent drivers don't pass first time, and the feedback is genuinely useful for your next attempt.
From our instructors: "The most important thing you can do on test day is drive exactly as you've been trained. Trust your preparation and stay in the moment — one junction at a time."