There are two types of tests conducted before a person gets a driving license. One is a theory test and other is practical test. This test includes a set of safety questions, eyesight check, and around forty minutes of driving. It involves independent driving scenarios that prepare a driver to drive under real time scenarios.

Digital method of assessment

Earlier the marking system was paper based. Nowadays, driving examiners use a digital tablet to perform practical driving tests. Test evaluators will make use of the tablets at the time of the driving test to enter the assessment information into the software.  

Besides this change, there are no other changes to the DSA online booking practical test, assessment, or the method of recording the information at the time of the test. This implies that candidates who have their email address registered into the database can get the test output emailed to them post completion of the test. If they have cleared the test appropriately, then their license will be get issued automatically.

Eyesight check

As the name of the test implies, this is an eyesight check. If you do not pass this test successfully, your test won’t be able to continue. This test needs a candidate to read a number plate that is kept at a certain distance.

What are the eyesight requirements to be a driver?

Once the eyesight test is done successfully, a candidate will have to answer two questions related to vehicle safety. These are the fundamental safety checks that any driver needs to carry out to ensure that the vehicle is absolutely safe to use. Some checks also involve the candidate to open the bonnet to physically check levels of fluid.

There will be one “show me” question that an examiner will be asked to perform a vehicle safety check. This is just to see whether or not a candidate is able to perform safety check of a vehicle. Some of these checks involve identification of the location of windscreen washer reservoir and checking the level of windscreen washer, engine state, and tyre pressure.

Reversing exercise

Once you successfully clear the eye exercise, you will then get examined on general driving skills and reversing exercise. This exercise will be selected from:

• • Reversing around a corner

• • Reverse parking. It can be performed either on a parking bay or road

• • Turning in the road

• You will also need to carry out an urgent stop exercise.

A driving examiner will look for an overall safe driving standard. You can even make a maximum of fifteen driving faults and pass the test. If you make sixteen mistakes, then it will lead to failure.

Independent driving

There is a section wherein candidates are asked to drive on their own without any assistance. For all other sections of the test, examiners will provide candidates with step-by-step instructions. In this section, you are assessed under following areas:

• • Traffic signs

• • A series of directions

• A combination of traffic signs and directions

Conclusion

To successfully clear a driving test, you need to thoroughly understand both the patterns of the test.  By being prepared in advance will help you clear the exam successfully.