Decided to put your mettle to the test at Cheltenham test centre? If you’ve not had the pleasure of visiting it just yet, you’ll be able to find it nestled away off All Saints Road. Smack dab in the centre of Cheltenham itself, the centre is convenient to reach for local learners. Though it might look small and unassuming, tests here won’t be a walk in the park. If you’re looking to properly prepare for your test at Cheltenham, we’d recommend reading up on our essential test centre guide below.
Address
Bishopsgate House
94 All Saints Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 2HQ
Tests Offered at Cheltenham
– Car
– ADI part 3
How To Get There
If you live in the centre of Cheltenham itself, it couldn’t be any easier to get to your local test centre. All you need to do is follow All Saints Road. Piece of cake! Don’t start flapping if you’re not so conveniently located. There are plenty of local A roads, like the A40 and A4019, that will help you get to Cheltenham test centre in one piece. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.
A Bit More About Cheltenham
If you’re heading to Cheltenham test centre for your practical, you’d best be prepared! Examiners here have an assortment of tricky road features to take advantage of. For starters, there’s a high number of roundabouts in the local area (so make sure you’ve mastered them before your big day). The centre’s proximity to the town centre also means you’re likely to face a high volume of foot and road traffic, meaning your observations will need to be on point. The examiner will also take you around high-speed A roads like the A49 and A4019, before taking you to a quieter residential area or car park so that you can demonstrate one of the driving test manoeuvres.
What To Expect On The Day
After hours of driving lessons, your test date is finally upon you. Talk about nerve-wracking. If your confidence isn’t quite where you hoped it would be, we’d advise you to read up on our top six ways to relax before your driving test.
Before you jet out of the front door on your big day, there’s one important question you need to ask yourself: do you have your provisional licence? If the answer’s no, you can wave goodbye to taking your test. You need to have your provisional licence with you to take the driving test, otherwise you will be turned around, so double-check you’ve got it before you leave. Additionally, you’ll want to get to the test centre 10 minutes before your test is due to start.
Your driving test will consist of:
– An eyesight test, where you’ll need to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
– Two “show me, tell me” questions covering vehicle safety and maintenance
– Twenty minutes of general driving, where you’ll be guided by the examiner, and will also need to perform one of the following manoeuvres:
– Parallel parking
– Bay parking
– Pulling up on the right
– Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination
Once you get back to the test centre and park your car, the test will officially end. The examiner will then walk you through the feedback sheet and list any driving test faults, whether they are minors or majors, that you may have accumulated. If you fail, keep hold of this sheet as it can be used to help you figure out which areas you need to improve on for your next test attempt. If you pass, you’ll also be handed a test pass certificate.
But What If I Fail?
Like any other test you take in life, if all doesn’t go according to plan with your driving test and you end up failing, it’s as simple as trying again. Of course, we don’t recommend just heading back in without any preparation. Instead, take some time to improve on the areas in which you picked up the most faults in. The best way to do this is by taking a refresher course with an instructor. They’ll be able to give you pointers to ensure you don’t trip up on them again.
