Uturn for mandatory sitting in on test

Plans to force driving instructors to sit in on their pupils L tests have been put into reverse according to a report in the daily mail on the 12th October.
The controversial plan introduced by the Government's much hyped Learning to Drive consultation has now been dropped according to the mail. The Department for Transport has now ruled that Candidates will be encouraged to take an observer who could be a parent, friend or an Instructor to help them understand feedback from the examiner and tailor further learning.

Toyota iQ banned on test by the DSA

The DSA has announced that the Toyota iQ is not being accepted for driving tests with an immediate effect. According to the DSAs technical standards department the thick B and Cs pillars and rear porthole windows prevent the examiner from being able to see clearly at angled junctions.

Their advice to any instructors who owns an iQ needs to part exchange it for another car should contact their local Toyota dealer

Driving lessons theory test DSA

Taking your theory test

The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer and the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button.

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 each multiple choice test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for eg a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in any other test.

For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, the items are drawn from the same pool, and each vehicle category takes the same test. However the pass mark is different for different categories of tests.

Lorry and bus multiple choice and hazard perception tests are booked and taken separately.

Part one - multiple choice

Before the test starts you'll be given instructions on how the test works.

You can also choose to go through a practice session of the 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 answer options will appear onscreen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.

Some car and motorcycle multiple choice questions will be given as a case study. The case study will show a scenario that five questions will be based on. The subject of the scenario focuses on real life examples and experiences that drivers could come across when driving.

You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test. After the multiple choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.

multiple choice test types

Category	Time allowed	Passmark
Car and motorcycle	57 minutes	43 out of 50
Lorry and bus	115 minutes	85 out of 100

Part two - hazard perception

After the break you'll then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception part works.

The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You'll be presented with a series of video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there'll be at least one developing hazard, but one of the car/motorcycle clips will feature two developing hazards.

To achieve a high score you'll need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each hazard is five.

You won't be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road, you'll only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.

hazard perception test details

Category	Video clips	Developing hazards	Pass mark
Car and motorcycle	14 clips	15	44 out of 75
Lorry and bus	19 clips	19	67 out of 100

At the end of the test

At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you'll be invited to answer a number of customer survey questions.

You don't have to answer the questions if you don't want to, and any information given is anonymous and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test.

When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once you have left the room, you'll not be allowed to enter it again. You'll then be given your result by the test centre staff.

For lorry and bus candidates once you have passed both tests you will also receive a pass certificate letter by post.

The driving theory test is changing From 28 September 2009

The driving theory test is changing

From 28 September 2009 some car and motorcycle multiple choice questions will be given as a case study

The theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple choice part and the hazard perception part. You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. Once you have passed the theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test.

Taking your theory test

The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer and the hazard perception part records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button.

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 each multiple choice test vary according to the category of vehicle you're hoping to obtain a licence for ie a motorcycle theory test will contain specific questions that don't appear in any other test.

For the hazard perception test there are no separate versions for different vehicles, each vehicle category takes the same test, however the pass mark is different for different categories of tests.

Lorry and bus multiple choice and hazard perception tests are booked and taken separately.

Part one - multiple choice

Before the test starts you'll be given instructions on how the test works.

You can also choose to go through a practice session of the 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 answer options will appear onscreen and you have to select the correct answer to the question by touching the screen. Some questions may require more than one answer.

For cars and motorcycles you'll be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes and the pass mark is 43 out of 50.

From 28 September 2009 some car and motorcycle multiple choice questions will be given as a case study. The case study will show a scenario that five questions will be based on. The subject of the scenario focuses on real life examples and experiences that drivers could come across when driving.

For lorries and buses you'll be asked 100 questions in 115 minutes and the pass mark will be 85 out of 100.

You can navigate between questions and 'flag' questions that you want to come back to later in the test. After the multiple choice part you can choose to have a break of up to three minutes before the hazard perception part starts.

Part two - hazard perception

After the break you'll then be shown a short tutorial video clip about how the hazard perception part works.

The hazard perception part is also delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You'll be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there'll be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.

To achieve a high score you'll need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each hazard is five.

You won't be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road, you'll only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.

The pass mark for the car and motorcycle hazard perception part of the theory test is 44 out of 75. For lorries and buses the pass mark is 50 out of 75.

The separate lorry and bus hazard perception test has 19 video clips, in each clip there will be at least one developing hazard. The pass mark will be 67 out of 100.

At the end of the test

At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you'll be invited to answer a number of customer survey questions.

You don't have to answer the questions if you don't want to, and any information given is anonymous and confidential. The survey questions don't affect the result of the test.

When you have finished the test you may leave the examination room. Once you have left the room, you'll not be allowed to enter it again. You'll then be given your result by the test centre staff.

For lorry and bus candidates once you have passed both tests you will also receive a pass certificate letter by post.

Portsmouth DVLA

DVLA Local Office - Portsmouth

• Contact point
  DVLA Local Office - Portsmouth
• Address
  5th Floor
  The Connect Centre
  Kingston Crescent
  PO2 8AH
• Phone number
  For enquiries about vehicles
  0300 790 6802
  For enquiries about driving licences
  0300 790 6801
• Text phone
  Minicom users
  For enquiries about vehicles
  0300 123 1279
  For enquiries about driving licences
  0300 123 1278
• Opening Hours
  Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm; 9.30 am to 5.00 pm on the second Wednesday of every month

Driving Instructors Driving lessons Driving Schools Portsmouth Gosport and Fareham

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Learning to Drive with 1st TOP GEAR DRIVING SCHOOL

1st Top Gear became established in 1997 and remains a very Professional Driving School covering all the Postal codes areas from Southsea to Petersfield, Havant to Chichester Gosport Fareham and Lee on Solent Titchfield and Hill Head.
Our Professional Male and Female Driving Instructors offer you the full hour or more from home work and college.
If you are looking for Automatic or Manual driving lessons in any of these areas and Discounts call us on
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