Test 2 - The Practical
The driving ability test is broken down into the following categories.
An Eyesight Check
For the eyesight check you must be able to read a number plate from 26.5 metres for a new style number plate or 27.5 for an old style number plate. New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, e.g. AB51 ABC. If you fail the eyesight test it will be considered as 1 attempt but the test will be stopped straight away.
You must use glasses or contact lenses during the whole test if you need them to read the number plate.
You’ll fail the test if you don’t pass the eyesight test. It will count as 1 of the 3 attempts you’re allowed at the ADI part 2 test.
Vehicle Safety Questions
The Vehicle Safety Checks or Show/Tell questions as they are known are asked straight after the eyesight check. There are 19 potential questions and you will be asked 3 show questions. Which would be asked to “show” the examiner where the certain thing is and how it works. You will also be asked to “tell” me Questions during which the examiner will want you to tell them how to check something on the car for instance how you would check the brakes are working. You can get a minor driver fault for each question wrongly answered.
You’ll be asked 5 vehicle safety questions. These are also known as ‘show me, tell me’ questions.
The examiner will ask you 3 ‘show me’ questions where you’ll have to show them how you’d carry out the vehicle checks, and 2 ‘tell me’ questions where you’ll have to explain how you’d carry out the vehicle checks. You’ll get a driving fault for each incorrect answer you give.
You’ll get a serious fault and fail the test if you answer all 5 questions incorrectly.
You can find a full list of questions with videos at www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions
General Driving Ability
During the driving ability part of the test you'll have to show the examiner all of the following:
- excellent handling of the controls
- understand correct road procedure
- anticipation of the actions of other road users and then react appropriately
- making good judgement of distance
- speed and timing
- show consideration for the convenience and safety of other road users
- drive in an environmentally friendly manner
You’ll drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways where possible.
You must be able to carry out all of the following manoeuvres:
- Pull away straight ahead or at an angle overtake
- Meet or cross the path of other vehicles
- Turn left-hand and right-hand
- Complete an emergency stop
- Reverse into limited openings to the right and left
- Reverse-park the vehicle into the space behind a parked car
- Reverse-park into a parking bay
- Turn the vehicle to face in the opposite direction using forward and reverse gears
You'll also have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the examiner for around 10 minutes, this is known as the independent drive. You’ll have to follow either:
- Traffic signs
- A series of directions given to you before you set off
- A combination of both
At the end of the test you will be given your results, with feedback. To pass these you must not get more than 6 minor driver faults.