Standard, Intensive and Advanced Driving Lessons

This page contains lots of important information regarding the various driving courses that we provide and also detailed information on the theory and practical driving tests.
Please use the links below to navigate to the section that is relevant to you:

The Theory Test The Practical Test Pass Plus Intensive Courses

The Theory Test

How the theory test works

The theory test is made up of a multiple-choice part and a hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other you’ll fail the whole test, and you’ll need to take both parts again.
The questions in the multiple-choice test will depend on the category of vehicle you are hoping to get a licence for. For example, a motorcycle theory test will contain questions that don’t appear in any other test. For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, but the pass mark is different for them.

At the theory test centre

You aren’t allowed to take any personal items into the test room with you. All your personal items must be stored in the lockers provided. If you’re found with any prohibited items in the testing room your test will be stopped, you’ll be asked to leave and you’ll lose your test fee. Once you’re in the test room you aren’t allowed to talk to or distract other candidates.

The multiple-choice part

Before the test starts you’ll be given instructions on how it works. You can choose to do a practice session of multiple-choice questions to get used to the layout of the test.At the end of the practice session the real test will begin.
A question and several possible answers will appear on a computer screen – you have to select the correct answer. Some questions may need more than one answer. You can move between questions and ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later in the test.
Some car and motorcycle questions will be given as a case study. The case study will:

Show a short story that 5 questions will be based on
Focus on real life examples and experiences you could come across when you’re driving

The car and motorcycle multiple-choice part lasts for 57 minutes and the pass mark is 43 out of 50.
After the multiple-choice part you can choose to have a break of up to 3 minutes before the hazard perception part starts.

The hazard perception part

Before you start the hazard perception part, you’ll be shown a short video clip about how it works. You’ll then be shown a series of 14 video clips on a computer screen. The clips:

Feature everyday road scenes
Contain at least one ‘developing hazard’ – one of the clips will feature 2 ‘developing hazards’

A developing hazard is something that may result in you having to take some action, such as changing speed or direction.

Hazard perception test scoring

The earlier you notice a developing hazard and make a response, the higher you will score. The most you can score for each developing hazard is 5 points. To get a high score you need to respond to the developing hazard as soon as you see it starting.
If you click continuously or in a pattern during a clip a message will appear at the end. It will tell you that you have scored zero for that particular clip. You won’t be able to review your answers. The pass mark for cars and motorcycles is 44 out of 75.

Your test result

You will be given the results of your theory tests at the test centre after taking it. If you pass your theory test, you’ll get a pass certificate. You’ll need this when you book and take your practical test. Your theory test pass certificate lasts for 2 years after taking your test. If you haven’t passed your practical test by then, you’ll need to take and pass the theory test again.

The Practical Test

The practical driving 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

As long as you show the standard required, you’ll pass your driving test. There are no pass or fail quotas.

Documents to bring to your test

Your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you’re not exempt from taking the theory test
Photo card driving licence –

Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you’ll have an eyesight check and be asked 2 vehicle safety questions.

Eyesight check

You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:

20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

You can write down what you see if you can’t speak English or have difficulty reading. New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, e.g. AB51 ABC. You’ll fail your driving test and the test won’t continue if you can’t pass the eyesight test.

Vehicle safety questions: ‘show me, tell me’

You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. The examiner will ask you one ‘show me’ question, where you’ll have to show them how you’d carry out a vehicle safety check. You’ll also be asked one ‘tell me’ question, where you’ll have to explain to the examiner how you’d carry out the check.

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.

Your general driving ability

During your test the examiner will give you directions that you should follow. You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions. You should drive in the way your instructor has trained you.
It should include:

Normal stops
An angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle)
Possible hill start

You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.

Reversing your vehicle safely

You’ll have to show how well you can reverse your vehicle. The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:

Driving forward into a parking bay to the left or the right
Parking on the right hand side of the carriageway then reverse then rejoin
Reverse parking – either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road

Independent driving section

Your driving test will include around 20 minutes of independent driving. It’s designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions on your own. It’s not a test of your orientation and navigation skills.

How the test works

During your independent part of your test you’ll have to drive independently by either following:

Traffic signs
Following a sat nav

It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way. Driving independently means making your own decisions – this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going. The examiner will confirm the directions to you if you ask for a reminder of them.

Going off the independent driving route

It won’t affect the result of your test if you go off the independent driving route, unless you make a driving fault. The examiner will help you get back on the route if you go off it or take a wrong turning. You can then continue with the independent driving.

Poor traffic signs

The examiner will give you directions until you can see the next traffic sign if there are poor or obscured traffic signs. You won’t need to have a detailed knowledge of the area.If you make mistakes
Carry on if you make a mistake, because if it’s not a serious mistake it might not affect your result. Your examiner will stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users.

Taking someone with you

Your examiner will ask if you want your instructor, or another person, to:

Sit in the back of your car during your driving test
Be with you after the test for the result and feedback

This person will usually be your driving instructor, but it could also be a relative or friend. They must be over 16 and can’t take any part in the test.

The examiner’s supervisor

The examiner’s supervisor may come along as well. They will be watching the examiner’s performance, not yours. The supervisor won’t have any say in how you’re tested or in your result. Your test might be cancelled and you could lose your fee if you don’t let the examiner’s supervisor go with you.

Your driving test result

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults
No serious or dangerous faults

When the driving test has ended, you can call your instructor over if they didn’t go with you on your test. This is so they can listen to the result and help you with any feedback afterwards.The examiner will:

Tell you if you passed or not
Explain how you did during the test

The different types of faults

There are 3 types of faults that can be marked:

A dangerous fault – involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
A serious fault – could potentially be dangerous
A driving fault – not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault

If you pass your test

The examiner will give you a pass certificate if you pass the test. They will also ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically. Once you have passed your test you can start driving straight away – you don’t need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

If you don’t pass

You have to wait another 10 working days before you can take another test if you don’t pass. Working days don’t include Sundays and public holidays.

Feedback on how eco-efficient your driving is

The examiner will also give you feedback about how eco-efficient your driving is.

Pass Plus

Pass plus is designed by the dsa for the inexperienced driver. Did you know that 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident in their first year and in general are more likely to have a accident in their first 2 years of driving than at any other time in their driving career. That’s why pass plus was created to give new motorists more skills and knowledge to help them in all driving situations.

Pass plus is made up of six modules :-

Town driving

The first module in the course begins with a introduction to pass plus aims. The second part of this module is a practical session covering town driving.
You will concentrate on :-

Observation, judgement awareness
Eye contact
Consideration for vulnerable road users
Being cautious but not over cautious
Keeping space around your car

All weather driving

As much of this module as possible will be covered as practical training. You will focus on correct speed, safe stopping distances, plus seeing and being seen in :-

Rain sleet snow and ice ,mist and fog ,bright sunshine.
You will also look at skidding
What causes them, How to prevent them, correcting low speed skids,
Braking on poor surfaces, aquaplaning

Driving out of town

This module taken on country roads it will look at the differences between town driving and country driving which will include:-

Observing the road ahead, making progress safely, bends,hills, uneven roads and dead ground, keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, safe overtaking.
It focuses on being aware and showing consideration for:-
Pedestrians, horse riders and animals in the road, farm entrances, slow moving vehicles,
Appropriate use of the horn, coping with mud and debris in the road

Night driving

This module covers aspects of driving in the dark and also at dawn and dusk including:

The importance of the correct use of headlights and keeping them clean
Adjusting to the dark
Judging speed and distance
Dealing with dazzle
Road users who can be hard to see
Parking issues

Dual carriageways

Are multi lane high speed roads when carriageways are separated by a central reservation they demand particular skills including:-

Effective observation
Using your mirrors
Checking blind spots
Judgement and planning ahead
The need for safe separation distance
Joining and leaving a dual carriageway
Overtaking and lane discipline
The correct use of speed

Motorways

Like dual carriageways but with extra lanes to deal with and more hazards:-

Planning your journey
Joining and leaving the motorway
Using slip roads,safe speeds in differing circumstances
Effective observation all around your vehicle
Signs,signals and markings
Overtaking and lane discipline
Courtesy to other road users
Motorway fatigue
Breakdown procedures
Use of lights, including hazard warning lights
Debris on the carriageway
Crosswinds

Intensive Courses

Intensive courses come in a variety to suit all levels of experience and are tailored to suit your needs. If you already have some training under your belt then we can offer a 2 hour assessment to see how much training you need.
We only instruct on a one to one basis so you only pay for your own training. If you are just starting training then we can tailor a plan that suits your needs to get that pass.
Packages include:

Complete beginner

For anyone who has no experience or up to 5 lessons of basic training. 40 hours over 2 weeks. 4 hours a day for 10 days to include your test period.

Novice

For anyone who has had 5 to 10 hours of tuition.35 hours 4 hours a day to include your test period.

Intermediate to Experienced

You will be given a 2 hour assessment to see how much more training is needed.

Failed test

For anyone who has failed a test within a couple of months.12 hours of tuition in preparation to retake your test.