DRIVING TESTSDSA THEORY TEST

The DSA Theory test for car drivers is split into 2 parts. The multiple choice/response quiz and the hazard perception test.



Part 1 - The multiple choice/response quiz

The multiple choice / response quiz for car drivers consists of 35 questions, associated with each question is a list of potential answers. You need to select the correct answer, or indeed answers, by touching the appropriate area of the computer screen. You will be given 40 minutes to complete the test. To pass you need to correctly answer 30 out of the 35 questions (i.e. 86%).



Before you start the actual quiz a short video tutorial will explain how the quiz should be undertaken. You will also be given the opportunity to complete some practice questions to make sure you are familiar with the computer screens. As you can see from the layout of the theory test computer screens below, you move from one question to the next by touching the arrowed buttons at the bottom. Why don’t you have a go at answering the question below by clicking on the two answers you think are correct.



Part 2 - Hazard Perception Test

This part of the theory test will start with a short tutorial video played on the computer screen that will explain how the hazard perception test works and what you are required to do. You will then be shown 14 video clips of approximately one minute each, with one developing hazard on 13 of the clips , and one clip having 2 developing hazards. The clips will not contain any sound - just like the old silent movies.



Each clip will start with a freeze frame of the start of the video and a count down from 10 will commence. At the end of the count down the clip will start to play and you will be required to click the mouse each time you see a potential hazard. To let you know that the program has registered your click a red flag will appear on a grey band across the bottom of the screen - one flag for each click you make in any particular clip. At the end of the clip all the flags will be removed before you start the next clip. Although each clip contains several potential fixed hazards only the one that materialises into a real developing hazard and involves other road users is marked (i.e. that required the driver to take some form of action to avoid the hazard, either by changing speed or road position).



The score you obtain will be dependant upon how quickly you spot the potential developing hazard as it materialises. The time from when the hazard could be potentially seen on the screen to when the vehicle arrives at the hazard is the time frame or window used to determine your score. This window of time is divided into 5 equal segments. If you click the mouse while in the first segment (i.e. just has the potential hazard appears) you will obtain the maximum score of 5 points. If you click in the second segment of this window of time you will score 4 points, then 3, then 2 and then in the last segment just 1. This is accurate to one twenty fifth of a second. If you don't click the mouse in this window of time you will score nothing in respect to that hazard.



If you try to cheat the system by clicking the button repeatedly the program will pick this up by looking at the number of clicks over the clip as a whole and the pattern of clicks. Within the scoring window no such checks are made and if you click several times in this window only the first click will be used to determine your score (i.e. the highest scoring click). There is a certain maximum permitted which is over the potential hazards that anybody could reasonably perceive. The computer program also looks for any regular pattern of repeated clicking. If this is detected a message window will appear at the end of the clip letting you know that an irregular clicking activity was detected and that as a result the score for that clip will be zero.



When the clip ends the screen will turn black for a few seconds before the freeze frame for the next video clip appears and the count down commences again warning you to get ready. This pattern is repeated until all 14 video clips have been shown.



At the end of the hazard perception part of the theory test you will be given the option to complete a customer care survey if you so wish. You will then be directed to leave the room and collect your score for the 2 parts of the exam. The maximum score that can be obtained for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 75 (i.e. 15x5). To pass the hazard perception part of the Car, moped and motorcycle theory test you must obtain a score of 44. To pass the theory test you must pass both parts. If you fail either part you are required to take both parts of the test again.









PRACTICAL TEST.



The Driving Standards Agency practical driving test for car drivers is about 35 - 40 minutes long. During this time the examiner will expect you to satisfy the eyesight test, show and tell him how to undertake certain vehicle safety checks (total 2) and demonstrate an ability to drive the car safely around a given test route. The route will encompass a wide variety of different road conditions and at various points along the way the examiner will also require you to complete certain set test manoeuvres. In particular you will be required to undertake two of the following set manoeuvres and optionally the emergency stop (1 in 3 tests):-



Reverse parking behind a parked car or into a parking bay; reversing round a corner to either the left or right; turn in the road.



Driving on the test is a little different from driving with your driving instructor on a driving lesson. The most obvious difference is that the examiner is not going to help you with your driving or your answers to the “show me tell me” part of the test. However, the examiner will be happy to clarify any instruction he or she may have given to you. The examiner will also try to put you at ease, as the last thing that they what is to make you feel unnecessarily anxious. The examiner wants to test your driving ability not your nerve.



Therefore don’t be surprised at how friendly they are. You may find that your examiner offers encouragement or advice in the regards to your test nerves. Once the examiner has introduced, him or herself, he or she will ask you to read a number plate at the required distance. Assuming that you are able to do this, the examiner will ask you to take him or her to your vehicle were he or she will check its condition before entering the vehicle. At this point the examiner will ask you two questions, one ‘show me’ and one ‘tell me’. One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one minor driving fault being recorded. If the “show me” question requires you to open the bonnet this question will be asked before you get into the vehicle otherwise the “show me tell me” part of the test will commence after you have entered the vehicle.



Next you would start the driving part of the driving test. While still in the car park the examiner may ask you to pull forward and complete the bay park exercise or drive out straight onto the road. The examiner will tell you in good time which way to go. If you go the wrong way do not panic the examiner is testing your ability to drive not your ability to follow directions. It is better to go the wrong way correctly than to go the right way incorrectly. If at any time you are unsure what the examiner requires do not hesitate to check what he or she wants; the examiner appreciates that you may be nervous and will be happy to repeat or clarify any instructions given. At certain points on the route the examiner may ask you to complete a set manoeuvre.



As soon you are asked to move off the examiner will start to assess your driving ability, noting any driving faults you may commit on the Driving Test Report – the DL25. There are three types of fault that you can commit – minor, serious or dangerous. A serious or a dangerous fault will result in a test failure. An accumulation of more than 15 minor driving faults will also result in a test failure.



If a minor fault is committed the examiner denotes this by a ‘/’ slash in the first box against the appropriate report heading. At the end of the test the examiner will use the second box to denote the total number of minor driving faults against that heading. If a serious fault is committed the examiner will denote this by placing a ‘/’ in the third box against the appropriate heading. Finally, if a dangerous fault is committed the examiner will denote this by placing a ‘/’ in the fourth box against the appropriate heading.



A dangerous fault results in test failure because the examiner or another road user had been forced to take evasive action to avoid an accident.

A serious fault results in test failure because the fault affected another road user or had the potential to affect another road user.



A minor fault does not result in a test failure because it would not normally cause an accident but could be a contributing factor in certain circumstances. Fifteen or more such faults would suggest that the candidate was lucky not to have committed a serious or dangerous fault and should therefore fail the test.