A Guide to Your Driving Test at Cardington Driving Test Centre, Bedford

On the Day With your instructor.

For most pupils, I will pick you up around an hour before your test. This gives you enough time to get warmed up and driving your best without spending too long and getting tired. We can run over the show me tell me questions in this time.  Some pupils do prefer a little longer, perhaps to run through the manoeuvres, you can discuss this with Jason leading up to your test date.  When I pick you up the I’ll check you’ve got your licence, no point getting to the test centre and realising we’ve forgotten it. 

Arriving at the Test Centre

We’ll arrive at the test centre 10 minutes before your booking time, we’ll reverse park in the car park.  Once parked we’ll head to the waiting room to wait for your examiner.

Meeting Your Examiner

Once your examiner joins us, they will get you to sign the test marking sheet, make sure this signature matches the one on your provisional licence.  An example of the marking sheet you are signing can be found here.  It’s a this point the examiner will ask if you wish for your instructor to accompany you on your test.  This is completely your choice and we will have discussed the pros and cons of this leading up to your test.  Once the introductions and checks have been made you’ll be asked to lead the examiner to your vehicle. 

The Test

As you walk to your car, the examiner will perform the eyesight test by getting you to read a number plate from the required distance.  They will often ask you the Tell me question at this point although sometimes they will ask in the car. Once in the car the examiner will explain the test to you along these lines. “The test will last about 38-40 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.” At this point the examiner will now start driving part of the test by saying “Throughout the drive continue ahead, unless traffic signs direct you otherwise, and when I want you to turn left or right I will tell you in plenty of time.” You now may be asked to perform the reverse bay park manoeuvre which is always done at the start or end of the test at the centre carpark.  If this isn’t the manoeuvre you’ll be doing you’ll be asked to move off when you are ready and to exit the car park. From this point on the examiner will give you directions as to where they would like you to go except during the independent drive section of the test. From Cardington Test Centre you will continue ahead at the roundabout and at the end on the road you’ll turn right on to Harrowden Lane, This is a closed junction with limited view as is the junction at the end of Harrowden Lane, so treat these with caution and take your time.  During your test you examiner will get you to do a number of things including.

Pulling Up:

These are just normal stops where the examiner will just ask “Pull up on the left in a safe place please”. This is to see you identify a safe, legal and convenient place to pull up, you’ll be asked to pull up at least twice like this, but possibly more times.  Once you have pulled up and secured the car the examiner will ask “Drive on when you are ready, please”.  At various times on the test your examiner may specify exactly where they want you to stop often with words like “Pull up on the left before the next parked car, leaving enough room to move away”. In this instance, again it’s not a trick they want you to pull up there so don’t worry about driveways etc.

Independent Drive Section:

You’ll be asked to drive without turn by turn directions from the examiner, either by following Sat nav directions or by following road signs.  As with when getting directions from examiner, try not to worry if you go the wrong way by mistake.  As long as you do so safely this isn’t a problem.

Emergency Stop:

One out of every 3 test will include an emergency stop.  The examiner will pull you up first before asking you to perform this.  After performing the Emergency stop the examiner will ask you to drive on again.

Manoeuvres:

You’ll be asked to perform one of the 4 manoeuvres that you have been practicing.  The reverse bay park is usually conducted at the test centre and the forward bay park will normally be in a public car park. (Note: at the end of the test you will be asked to pull forward into a parking bay, if you have already done your manoeuvre then this is not the examiner testing you, just pull forward into the bay as normal, keep between the lines as you normally would but don’t worry if you haven’t got it spot on) If at any point during the test you are unsure about what is being asked of you, feel free to confirm with the examiner, they are more than happy to confirm what they want you to do.  

Debrief

At the end of the test the examiner will let you know the outcome and will give you some feedback on your drive.