DVSA - Mock Test - Instructors

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) encourages driving instructors to carry out mock driving tests for their pupils. This can help your pupils understand how:

• the driving test works

• faults are assessed

• any mistakes they make would affect their test result

It can also help them to learn to deal with nerves when driving in a different environment.

When to use mock tests

Use mock tests with your pupil when they can consistently drive safely without any prompting.

You can choose to either:

• carry out the mock test yourself, playing the role of the driving examiner

• arrange for another driving instructor to carry out the mock test with your pupil

Arranging another driving instructor to carry out the mock test

If you think that your pupil will be particularly nervous driving with a stranger, it can help if you ask another driving instructor to do the mock test.

To avoid influencing their assessment, do not share your pupil’s strengths and weaknesses with the other instructor before they carry out the mock test.

This will give your pupil experience of dealing with their nerves before their driving test.

What your mock test should include

The mock test should take about 40 minutes and include everything covered during a normal driving test. This includes:

• checking your pupil’s driving licence

• an eyesight check

• ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions

• general driving ability

• reversing the car

• independent driving

• emergency stop

• giving the test result and feedback

The emergency stop may not be included in your pupil’s actual driving test - it’s used in 1 in 3 tests.

You can sit in on one of your pupils driving tests to see how they’re carried out. You need to check with your pupil beforehand if they want you to do this during their test. Sitting in on a test can help you understand:

• when you should give instructions and directions

• what you should say

• how to give feedback at the end of the test

Design mock driving test routes

You can either:

• create your own test routes that you’ll use for mock driving tests

• check if your local driving instructor association has developed any mock test routes you can use

DVSA does not publish the routes that are used for real driving tests. Avoid using roads you know are used for driving tests to help avoid causing distractions to people taking a real driving test.

The route should take about 30 minutes to drive.

What mock test routes should include

Your route should start in a suitable place to check your pupils eyesight and carry out a ‘tell me’ safety question.

Types of roads to include

Mock test routes should include as many of these as possible:

• rural roads with higher speed limits

• urban roads

• dual carriageways, including those with the national speed limit

• multi-lane roundabouts

• one-way systems

Driving abilities your pupil will need to demonstrate

When you plan the route, make sure it includes opportunities for your pupil to:

• change lanes

• pass parked or stationary vehicles and obstacles

• approach and cross junctions

• observe road markings, signs and react appropriately to potential or actual risks

Each route you create should be as consistent as possible, with similar hazards on each route.

Plan where you’ll do the manoeuvres

Depending on which manoeuvre you ask the pupil to do on the route, it will need to include:

• a straight section of a main road, with clear visibility ahead and behind where you can pull up on the right and reverse

• a straight section of a main road with cars parked on left, with clear visibility ahead and behind where you can parallel park

• a car park suitable for parking in a bay (either driving into a bay and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out)

Choose suitable car parks

When you choose car parks to use, make sure that:

• there are no restrictions stopping you from practising in it

• it can be driven around and exited if no bays are available

• there are several bays to choose from

• bays require the pupil to steer into them on the left or right

• bays are clearly defined

• you use a quieter area of the car park

Plan the independent driving section of the route

You need to ask your pupil to drive independently for 20 minutes of the mock test. This can be either:

• following directions from a sat nav

• following traffic signs

1 out of 5 real driving tests ask candidates to follow traffic signs, so you should make sure you have mock test routes which also use traffic signs.

Set up a sat nav to give directions

You can set up your sat nav to give directions by either:

• creating, saving and using set routes, if your device has that feature

• setting a destination to drive to - however, be aware the device might not always suggest the exact route you want to use

DVSA examiners use a TomTom Start 52 sat nav for the driving test, as it can save custom routes. However, you do not need to use the same make and model for mock tests.

Check your device’s user guide to find out the best way to safely use it to give directions.

Carry out the mock test

You should make the mock test experience as realistic as possible by:

• avoiding giving any instruction during the test

• using the wording included in this guidance (under ‘What you should say’)

• saving feedback on any faults until the test has finished

If your pupil’s driving becomes dangerous during the mock test, you should stop it early and explain why you have decided to stop the test.

Start the mock test and check your pupil’s driving licence

Explain to your pupil that you will be starting the mock test and you’ll be playing the role of the driving examiner from that point on.

Make sure they understand you will be roleplaying a driving examiner until you tell them otherwise.

Start by checking that the pupil has a valid UK driving licence.

What you should sayGood morning/afternoon may I see your driving licenceCan you confirm your name is correct?The test will last about 38 to 40 minutes and will include about 20 minutes of independent driving and various roads and traffic conditions.I will ask you to complete one manoeuvre and we may carry out an emergency stop. The sort of things you have been practising with your instructor and accompanying driver.Which car are you using?

Check your pupil’s eyesight

Ask your pupil to read a number plate on a parked vehicle which is at least 20m away - this is around 4 car lengths.

If they need to wear glasses to read a number plate, they must also wear them whenever they are driving.

If your pupil has dyslexia, they’re allowed to:

• read a rear number plate instead of a front number plate (the black text on a yellow background can be easier for them to read)

• read back to front or in a non-uniform order

• misread certain numbers and letters that are similar shapes such as B and 8, D and O, 5 and S

• write down the letters and numbers rather than reading them out

What you should sayWill you read the number plate of [description and colour of] car [where it’s parked, for example near the tree]

Ask a ‘tell me’ vehicle safety check question

Before getting in the car ask your pupil one ‘tell me’ vehicle safety check question.

Choose a question from the list of ‘tell me’ questions.

Make sure it’s appropriate for the weather conditions - for example, do not ask them to open the bonnet in high winds or heavy rain.

Your pupil is allowed to:

• refer to a vehicle information system (if fitted) when answering questions, for example, a tyre pressure monitoring system

• explain how they’d do a practical check if they have a disability which means they cannot physically do it

Make sure your pupil does not touch a hot engine or physically check the fluid levels when answering the question.

What you should sayNow I should like to ask you one question about your vehicle and other matters relating to vehicle safety.[Ask the first question].The second question will be a ‘show me’ question on the move. If you would like to make yourself comfortable in your car now please, I will join you in a moment.

Start the car and move off

Join your pupil in the car, explain how your instructions will work, and ask them to move off.

Watch them to make sure the handbrake is applied and the car is in neutral gear before they start the engine.

What you should sayThroughout the drive continue ahead, unless traffic signs direct you otherwise. When I want you to turn left or right, I will tell you in plenty of time.Move off when you are ready, please.

Give directions and instructions to your pupil

Give clear directions and instructions to your pupil in good time, especially where signs and markings show an option of lanes.

At complex junctions, roundabouts and gyratory systems, you might need to use extra wording to make the direction and route clear. The ‘What you should say’ section gives examples.

If your pupil has dyslexia or dyspraxia, you can make adjustments such as confirming directions by pointing or using hand signals.

What you should sayDrive on when you are ready, please.Take the next road on the left/right, please.Will you take the second road on the left/right, please. (If necessary, add this is the first.)At the end of the road turn left/right, please.At the roundabout turn left please.At the roundabout turn left please - it’s the first exit.At the roundabout follow the road ahead.At the roundabout follow the road ahead - it’s the second exit.At the roundabout turn right please.At the roundabout turn right please - it’s the third exit.

Ask a ‘show me’ vehicle safety check question

While your pupil is driving you’ll need to ask them one ‘show me’ vehicle safety check question when it’s safe to do so.

You can ask them at any point during the test including the independent drive.

Choose a question from the list of ‘show me’ questions.

General driving

Stopping normally and moving off

You should ask the pupil to make at least 2 normal stops during the test. This can include when pulling up to start the independent driving section, as long as the road conditions allow.

Wherever possible, you should test the pupil’s ability to move off on a reasonably steep uphill gradient.

If stopping on a hill is not possible you should include another designated stop.

The test must always include moving off at an angle from behind a stationary vehicle

What you should sayPull up on the left at a safe place, please.Drive on when you’re ready

Carrying out a reverse manouevre

Ask your pupil to do one of the following exercises:

• parallel park at the side of the road

• park in a parking bay (reverse in and drive out)

• park in a parking bay (drive in and reverse out)

• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

You can ask them to do this at any point during the test including the independent drive.