The Driving Test & How to Pass: An Examiner's Guide to the 'L' Test

By UK Driving Skills

Written by a driving examiner!

There are many stories going around about the driving test, and most of them are not very accurate. People sometimes exaggerate, or they just invent stories to cover up their own mistakes. There is too much misleading information spread by people who express opinions instead of facts.

That's why anyone about to take the driving test should read this book.

Faults Explained

You will find out:

- how faults are assessed
- where they are marked
- the difference between a driving fault and a serious fault
- what the most common mistakes are and
- how to avoid them

What Happens on Test

The book takes you step by step through each part of the test, for example:

- the show me tell me questions
- the manoeuvres
- independent driving
- what your examiner wants to see

There is no better way to prepare for your driving test than to read this book!

© UK Driving Skills – All Rights Reserved
www.ukdrivingkills.co.uk
.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781446139097

Book preview

ALSO FROM UK DRIVING SKILLS

LEARNING TO DRIVE

Teaching a Learner Driver –

A Guide for Amateur Instructors

Learning to Drive –

The Learner Driver’s Manual

Teach Yourself Traffic Signs

& Road Markings

The Learner Driver’s Logbook –

Lesson Plan & Progress Record

The Driving Test & How to Pass –

An Examiner’s Guide to the ‘L’ Test

250 THEORY TEST QUESTIONS:

Cars - Motorcycles - LGV - PCV - ADI

HIGHWAY CODE & THEORY TEST QUESTIONS:

Cars - Motorcycles - LGV - PCV - ADI

The Highway Code

How to Drive on a Motorway

Driving at Night & in Bad Weather

All available from www.ukdrivingskills.co.uk

The Driving Test & How to Pass

An Examiner’s Guide to the ’L’ Test

UK Driving Skills

Learning to Drive Series

Don L. Gates

www.ukdrivingskills.co.uk

Revised: 25/01/24

The Driving Test & How to Pass

An Examiner’s Guide to the ‘L’ Test

ISBN: 9781446139097 Imprint: Lulu.com

1st edition © copyright 2019 Don L. Gates

This edition © copyright 2024 Don L. Gates

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

All rights reserved.

Contents

Introduction

Theory Test Practise

CHOOSING A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

CAN I USE MY OWN CAR?

Vehicle Condition

Visibility

THE MYTHS

A SENSE OF HUMOUR

BOOKING A TEST

TAKING THE TEST

The Beginning of the Test

Candidates with Physical Disabilities

Safety Questions (Show me tell me)

The Drive

Moving Off

The Independent Drive

The Sat Nav

Making Progress

Safety Question on the Move

Making a Normal Stop

Controlled Stop (Emergency Stop)

Driving Along

Parallel Parking

Bay Parking Reverse

Bay Parking Forward

Pull Up on the Right

The Angle Start

Hill Start

ASSESSMENT OF FAULTS

Will I Fail if I Do This?

Eyesight Test

Show me / Tell me

Controlled Stop

Reverse Park

Forward Park

Pull Up on the Right

Control:

Accelerator

Clutch

Gears

Footbrake

Parking brake

Steering

Precautions

Ancillary controls

Move off:

Safety

Control

Use of mirrors:

Signalling

Changing direction

Changing speed

Signals:

Necessary

Correctly

Timed

Junctions:

Approach speed

Observation

Turning right

Turning left

Cutting corners

Judgement:

Overtaking

Meeting

Crossing

Positioning:

Normal driving

Lane discipline

Pedestrian crossings

Position / normal stops

Awareness / planning

Pedestrians at Junctions

Other common faults

Clearance

Following distance

Use of speed

Progress:

Appropriate speed

Undue hesitation

Response to signs / signals:

Traffic signs

Road markings

Traffic lights

Traffic controllers

Other road users

The End of the Drive

Did you Pass? Let us Know!

Annex A

Show Me Tell Me Questions

1. About the questions

2. ‘Tell me’ questions

3. ‘Show me’ questions

Annex B

Driving on Your Own for the First Time

Car Controls

Stay Local

Introduction

There are many stories surrounding the driving test, and most of them are not very accurate. There is far too much misleading information put around by people who express opinions which are not based on fact; that's why anyone who is learning to drive should read this book.

It's written by someone who has worked for many years both as a driving examiner and driving instructor. Don knows the system inside out and will guide you through everything from applying for your test to what happens when you get there.

He explains about all the most common faults and how they are assessed by your examiner. This is an invaluable guide to the driving test and will help you achieve that first time pass!

Theory Test Practise

Visit our website at UK Driving Skills and get access to around 800+ revision questions, produced under licence from the DVSA. Each online test has 50 questions and is timed just like the real thing. You’ll also be given a score at the end, plus an explanation of the answers.

CHOOSING A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

When you’re learning to drive, knowing how to choose a driving instructor can be a tricky business. There are lots of them out there. Some work with larger driving schools, others work on their own; but they all have their own style and personalities.

How do you know which one to choose?

The best way is to get personal recommendations from other people. Some might say that they have a laugh with their instructor, or tell you to choose a driving instructor because they are very friendly; so is that good enough? An ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) should be friendly, but that in itself is no guarantee of quality training. Anyone who recommends them should hopefully already have passed their tests at first or second attempt with this instructor to show proof of their ability.

Don’t let low prices and special offers fool you. A good instructor should not have to sell themselves cheaply!

When you first meet with your new instructor there are certain things that they need to carry out with you:

a check to make sure that you have a valid driving licence

a basic check on your eyesight by asking you to read a car number plate

and an introduction to the car’s controls

Car Controls Lesson

If you have never driven before, your instructor should give you a detailed car controls lesson. However, if this just a car that you have not driven before, you should still have an introduction to the controls so that you know where they all are.

If you have had previous experience, then your instructor’s job is to find out where to begin with you. They should ask questions about what you have covered before; what you feel confident about and what you feel you need to work on.

As your lessons continue, you need to feel comfortable with the speed of your progress. If you feel you are being held back, you should let your instructor know this. Similarly, if you feel that they are pushing you into situations that you are not ready for; let them know. There should always be two-way conversations, and the ADI needs to listen to you and tailor the training to suit your needs.

Ask Questions

Always be ready to ask if there is something you are not sure about; and if you feel that you are not being taught something that you need to know, ask why.

When things go wrong, your trainer should be patient with you; you don't choose a driving instructor to make you feel bad about your ability! If you are struggling with a particular aspect, they should try approaching it in different way. Again, they should also ask you if there is anything you feel that is causing you difficulty; and at no time should they lose their temper or shout at you.

You need to