Photo: Adrien Olichon / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
The most reliable way to know you are ready to pass is to sit the test before the test. A mock driving test is a full practice run of the Great Britain car test: about 35 minutes of driving, marked the way a DVSA examiner marks it, with the supervisor saying nothing except directions. Your result tells you whether to keep your test date, and exactly which faults to fix first. This guide is for learners in England, Scotland and Wales and the instructors, parents or friends running the mock.
Build your mock around the real test
Copy this structure so your mock feels the same as test day:
| Part | What happens on the real test | How to copy it in a mock |
|---|---|---|
| Eyesight check | Read a number plate from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an old-style plate). Failing ends the test. | Pick a parked car, pace 20 metres, read the plate first |
| “Tell me” question | One vehicle safety question before you drive | Ask one from the show me, tell me list |
| General driving | Varied roads and traffic, but not motorways | Mix town, faster roads, junctions and roundabouts |
| Independent driving | 20 to 35 minutes following a sat nav set by the examiner, or traffic signs | Set a sat nav to a destination, or say “follow signs to…” |
| “Show me” question | One vehicle safety task while driving | For example, ask for the rear windscreen heater to be switched on |
| Reversing exercise | One of: parallel park; bay park (drive in and reverse out, or reverse in and drive out); pull up on the right, reverse about 2 car lengths and rejoin traffic | Choose one without warning |
| Pulling over and away | A normal stop at the side of the road, pulling out from behind a parked vehicle, and a hill start | Ask for each at least once |
| Emergency stop | You might be asked to do one | Only in a safe, quiet place, after warning the learner of the signal you will use |
Total driving time is about 35 minutes. Plan a route of roughly that length that starts and ends at the same place.
Mark it like an examiner: the three fault types
| Fault | DVSA definition | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Driving fault (minor) | Not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault it could become a serious fault | You can pass with up to 15 |
| Serious fault (major) | Something potentially dangerous | One means a fail |
| Dangerous fault (major) | Actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property | One means a fail |
To pass the real test you need no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. More on how examiners judge them: driving test faults explained.
Running the mock, step by step
- Agree the rules first. The supervisor gives directions only: no hints, no “watch out”, no comments until the end. The learner drives as if alone.
- Prepare a marking sheet. List the skill areas below down one side, with three columns: driving, serious, dangerous. Tally faults as they happen.
- Start like the real test. Eyesight check, then the “tell me” question at the car.
- Drive the route. Include a stretch of independent driving, one reversing exercise and the pull-up exercises.
- Do not rescue unless you must. If you have to step in, use dual controls or speak up to keep everyone safe, and mark it as a serious or dangerous fault.
- If the learner goes the wrong way, just give new directions. On the real test, the examiner will not give a fault for taking a wrong turning.
- Debrief after parking. Count the faults, then talk through the two or three most important ones.
What goes on the marking sheet
- Controls: accelerator, clutch, gears, footbrake, parking brake, steering
- Moving off: safely and under control
- Use of mirrors before signalling, changing direction and changing speed
- Signals: necessary, correct and timed
- Response to signs, road markings, traffic lights and other road users
- Speed: appropriate for conditions and within limits
- Following distance
- Progress: not too slow or hesitant
- Junctions: approach, observation and turning
- Judgement: overtaking, meeting and crossing traffic
- Positioning and lane discipline
- Pedestrian crossings
- Normal stops and awareness and planning
- Reversing exercise: control and observation
These headings are a practical checklist, not an official DVSA list. Your instructor may use their own.
Roads your mock route should cover
You do not need to know the exact test routes. Test centres use a variety of roads, so cover the types instead:
- busy town centre streets, including one-way streets
- roundabouts of different sizes, including mini and double roundabouts
- residential roads with parked cars
- faster roads such as dual carriageways or national speed limit roads
- a hill for the hill start
- pedestrian crossings and traffic lights
Reading your result: keep the date or move it?
| Mock result | What it suggests | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Any serious or dangerous fault | Not test-ready yet | Practise that skill, then repeat the mock. If the test is close, consider moving it while you still have enough notice |
| No majors but many driving faults in one area | A habit is forming | Fix that area before it turns into a serious fault |
| A few scattered driving faults, no majors | Close to test standard | Do another mock on a different route to confirm |
| Passes two mocks in a row | Likely ready | Keep the date and keep the routine up until test day |
Changing a practical test with under 10 full working days’ notice means losing the fee, so run your first mock early enough to act on it. The most common reasons for failing the real test are worth checking against your marking sheet: top reasons people fail the driving test.
Common questions
How long is a mock driving test?
Aim for about 35 minutes of driving, the same as the real test, plus time for the eyesight check and questions.
How many mock tests should I do before my test?
There is no set number. Many learners do one when they first feel ready and another in the last week or two before the test.
Can a parent or friend run a mock test?
Yes, if they meet the rules for supervising a learner, and the car is insured for you and displays L plates. See supervising a learner driver.
Will the examiner stop the test if I make a serious fault?
GOV.UK says the examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users. Otherwise you finish the test even after a serious fault.
Can I use my own sat nav in independent driving?
No, on the real test the examiner provides and sets up the sat nav.
Should my instructor sit in on the real test?
You can ask for someone to sit in. They must be over 16 and cannot take any part in the test, but their notes can help you work on any faults if you need to retake.
Related guides
- The car driving test in GB and NI
- Driving test manoeuvres explained
- Independent driving and sat nav
- Dealing with test nerves
Looking for lessons or an instructor? Our sister site Compare Driving Instructors covers lesson prices and choosing an instructor.
Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Great Britain.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “Driving test: what happens during the test” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving test faults and your result” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving eyesight rules” (gov.uk)