What Happens If I Fail My Test?

Being unsuccessful at anything is never a nice feeling, but taking a positive attitude to bounce back goes a long way to ensuring future success. We’ve put together everything you need to know about failing your driving test and the steps you can take to ensure you have the best chance of getting that pass next time around.

How many times can I fail my driving test in the UK?

Fortunately, there is no limit on the number of times you can fail your practical driving test. As people learn differently, some may pass the first time, while others will need several attempts in order to get through.

Despite having unlimited attempts at your practical driving test, it is always best if you are unsuccessful to thoroughly review the email you receive from the DVSA when your test is complete before rushing to rebook.

The report summarises your driving test faults into specific categories for different fault types. By sharing this with your instructor and speaking with them to understand how and why you failed your exam, you’ll be best placed to pass the next time you take your test. Looking through the faults and working with your instructor to improve these areas moving forward is the best approach to take.

Additionally, learners should be aware that if they do not pass the practical driving test by the time their theory certificates have expired, they will have to pass their theory exam again before being able to sit another practical driving test. A theory certificate is valid for 2 years from when you pass your theory test.

Booking your driving lessons with expert driving instructors, who are DVSA registered, will help to get you up to test standard as quickly as possible.

How long after failing my driving test can I rebook?

You are able to rebook your practical driving test 10 working days (2 weeks) after the day that you failed your exam. The reason for the minimum 10 day period is to make sure that you have enough time to work with your driving instructor and receive the adequate amount of training that you need to maximise your chances on the following attempt.

It is also worth noting that some driving test centres, especially the larger and/or busier ones, will have a longer waiting time (this may be further increased by factors including the COVID-19 backlog).

What shall I do after failing my driving test?

The first thing that you need to do is not give up! The national average for passing your practical test has been roughly 50% for a very long time. This means you shouldn’t feel too disheartened if you do not pass, as passes and fails are generally close to a 50/50 split.

It may be the case that you were just unfortunate, perhaps you were forced into a particularly difficult situation by other road users which caused you to fail. Whatever the reason, you’ll now know what to expect on your driving test, which will help ensure that you’re less nervous this time around and more familiar with the overall exam structure.

We understand that it may be hard to hear that you’ve failed your test on the day, but as long as you read the examiner’s feedback and then work with your driving instructor to cover the areas that need improvement, you’ll be in a great position. If you consider your failed attempt as a learning experience, and constructively develop a plan to address the issues that you experienced, you’ll have much greater confidence in getting your pass certificate.

You should also get out and practice with family and/or friends as much as possible, as private practice has been shown to improve pass rates, even if just for a few hours on topics such as manoeuvres.

What will make me fail my driving test?

There are two main factors that will cause you to fail your practical driving exam:

Accumulating more than 15 minor driving faults

Minor driving faults are classified into categories including car control, car positioning and use or mirrors. While you can amass up to 15 of these, if you keep making the same mistake, it could then be classified as a serious fault, causing you to fail your test. This happens when you receive 3 or more of the same minor driving fault.

Commit a major driving fault

This involves committing a fault that actively puts either yourself, the examiner, the public or property in a potentially dangerous situation.

The DVSA has published a full list of reasons for why people fail their driving test which contains information on the nature of the faults that lead to test failures. Our guide to the most common driving test fails also covers this in more detail.

How many minors to fail driving test?

There are plenty of minor driving faults that sit within individual categories, ranging from:

Not checking mirrors frequently enough

This is the most common cause of failing a test outright. You need to always check your mirrors whenever making any manoeuvre or changing speed or direction.

Touching the kerb

Touching a kerb is minor driving fault but if you mount the kerb with any of your wheels this will be a major and cause you to fail your driving test

Show me, Tell me

At the start of your exam you will be asked one of the following ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ questions from your examiner:

– A ‘Show me’ question is where you show the examiner how you would perform a safety task while you are driving, for example how to wash your windscreen.

– A ‘Tell me’ question is where you tell the examiner how you would perform a task before the test for example where you would find how much pressure to put in your tyres

If you can’t answer either one or all of these questions this will result in just one driving test minor.

What is classified as a major fault? Instant fails on your driving test:

There are several driving faults that you can commit which would cause you to immediately fail your driving test. Some examples of these are:

Failing to judge the speed of an approaching vehicle

If you are at a junction and fail to gauge the speed of an approaching vehicle and pull out when it is unsafe to do so either causing the approaching vehicle to change speed or the examiner having to use the dual controls

Not using mirrors when exiting a roundabout

When you are exiting a roundabout you will need to check your centre and side mirror to make sure it is safe to do so. If you do not do this, it will cause you to receive a major driving fault.

Trying to change lane on a roundabout when a vehicle is directly alongside

If you are on a multi-lane roundabout and you try to change lanes without making the correct observations and there is a vehicle beside you and they either need to move to avoid a collision or the examiner has to use the dual controls to stop the car.

Not steering enough when going around a bend

When you drive around a bend you do not turn the steering wheel enough causing the passenger side wheels to mount the kerb.

Steering late when moving out to pass parked vehicles

When you are approaching a parked car you do not leave yourself enough space and steer too late and get too close to the parked car.

Can you drive straight after passing your driving test?

The short answer is yes! When you pass your driving test your examiner will ask you if you would like to receive your full driving licence immediately. If you choose to do this, you’ll have to hand your provisional licence over there and then and they will thereafter process your application and have it sent to you in the post.

If you do not wish to get your licence automatically, you can instead apply for your full licence by post (although you must ensure to apply within the first 2 years of passing your test or you will have to take your practical exam again!)

You will then receive your new licence back within 3 weeks, but you can still legally drive independently before this arrives. The only thing you will need to remember is that you will need to take out new car insurance, as your learner insurance will no longer be valid.

Can my examiner stop the driving test early?

When we’re preparing for a particularly important moment in our lives, it’s natural to think about what could go wrong. In few circumstances is this more apt than in the driving test. Now, it’s unlikely that any of the worst case scenarios racing through your mind will actually come to pass. Nonetheless, you may still worry about what may happen if things go south. For example, can an examiner stop the driving test early?

The answer to this question is yes—but this doesn’t quite cover it. From issues with your vehicle to evidence of dangerous driving, there’s plenty that could lead to your test being terminated.

Reasons your examiner might terminate the test before it even begins

In case you weren’t aware, examiners can actually terminate a test before you start driving. So, before we move onto when the examiner can stop the test early, we’re first going to look at a few situations in which your test might not even go ahead…

Problems with the licence

There’s a good reason why we urge learner drivers to make sure that they’ve got their provisional licence before they leave to take their driving test. That’s because if you forget your licence on the day, the examiner will simply terminate the test. Yep, that’s right—no licence, no test. Want to know the worst part? Not only will you have to suffer long waiting times for your next test, you won’t actually get a refund for your practical if you forget your provisional.

The examiner might also choose to terminate the test if there’s an issue with your provisional licence, e.g., if it has since expired, or if they have reason to believe you’re not the provisional licence holder.

There’s a simple solution to this kind of problem. Make sure that your licence is still in date and don’t forget to bring it to your test. If you’re particularly scatterbrained, set a reminder on your phone just in case. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Failing the eyesight test

Before you even get in the car, the examiner will ask you to complete an eyesight test. This will involve you having to read a number plate from 20 or 20.5 metres away. If you fail the eyesight test, then your driving test will be terminated. After all, if you can’t read a number plate from that distance, how can you be trusted to spot road signs, hazards and other road users?

Additionally, if you need to wear glasses to read a number plate, yet you refuse to wear them for the driving test, the examiner will be forced to terminate the test altogether.

If you’re worried about the eyesight test, ask your instructor to test you, or give yourself an assessment. You might also find it useful to read up on eyesight rules to avoid getting caught out on your big day.

Issues with the vehicle

As you’d probably expect, it’s pretty important that the vehicle being used for a driving test is actually roadworthy. It’s the responsibility of an examiner to check that the vehicle is safe to drive, taxed and insured. If the examiner finds that a vehicle isn’t suitable, then they will terminate the test.

If you’re taking the driving test in your instructor’s car, this shouldn’t really be an issue. They’ll make sure that their vehicle is up to snuff. If you’re using your own car, however, you will need to make sure that it meets the DVSA’s strict requirements.

Situations in which an examiner will find a vehicle can include:

– If your vehicle has gears that won’t remain engaged

– A seat from which the examiner won’t get a proper view

– If one or more external lights aren’t working

– Any warning lights that indicate the vehicle isn’t roadworthy

Remember, if your test is cancelled because your car doesn’t meet the rules, you’ll have to pay for a new one.

Additionally, if you’re using your own car, you’ll need to make sure you’ve sorted out your insurance in the event of you passing. Once you’re a qualified driver, your learner driver insurance will no longer be valid. Some insurance providers will allow you to upgrade to a young driver insurance policy once you call them from the test centre, so be sure to look into it beforehand.

Issues with the candidate

Though it certainly doesn’t happen often, an examiner can decide to terminate a driving test if they don’t feel that the candidate is in the right shape to get behind the wheel. If, for example, they suspect a candidate is under the influence of drink or drugs, they will say that they feel unable to take or continue the test. When doing so, the examiner will use considerable tact and avoid actually referring to drink or drugs.

It should go without saying that drinking or taking drugs when driving is an absolute no-go. Obviously, this also includes when you’re taking the driving test.

Reasons your examiner might stop the driving test early

Now we’re moving onto the situations in which a driving examiner might decide to stop your driving test early. Prepare yourself—there are a lot!

Dangerous driving

Whilst this might seem a bit obvious, the examiner can decide to stop a test early if they think you’re driving dangerously. More specifically, your driving would need to be so dangerous that it poses a threat to the public or occupants of the car. After all, it’s the examiner’s responsibility to keep themselves and the public safe. So, they will not ignore any erratic or dangerous driving whatsoever.

If you are driving dangerously, then the examiner will ask you to pull over to a safe place and stop. They will then tell you that you have failed due to reasons of public safety. They will also emphasise that completion of the driving test would have made no difference to the ‘fail’ verdict.

If the examiner feels threatened

Though you might not be aware of this particular problem, driving examiner abuse has been on the rise in recent years. Examiners already have to put up with long hours and the overall repetitive nature of their job, and, unfortunately, they also sometimes have to deal with learners that do not take the outcome of their test all that well. Whether it’s damage to property, verbal insults or threats of physical violence, it all falls under the category of ‘examiner abuse’.

If an examiner feels threatened by you or your driving instructor during your driving test, they are well within their rights to stop the test early. Of course, that’s not all that you have to be aware of. As part of the DVSA’s campaign to stop examiner abuse, the following actions will be taken, depending on the severity of the situation…

Learner drivers who swear or verbally abuse staff will be forced to:

– Use a different test centre the next time they take a practical

– Take future tests with an extra supervisor present

Anyone who threatens or assaults examiners, drives off with an examiner still in the car, or damages DVSA property will:

– Be reported to the police

– Face the strongest possible penalties

If a driving instructor tries to influence the results of a driving test by harassing or threatening an examiner, they will be:

– Banned from specific driving test centres

– Removed from the ADI register

If the candidate decides they’re too ill

No-one wants to drive when they’re sick or feel under the weather. Not only is it draining on your already-low energy levels, it can also negatively affect your ability to drive safely. It’s for this reason that if a candidate decides they’re too ill to take or continue the test, the examiner will terminate it then and there.

Even the examiner has some say in the matter. Before you start panicking, the examiner can’t stop the driving test early just because you’ve got a bit of a sniffle. If, however, they feel that your illness is affecting your driving ability, they can opt to stop the test early. They can also do so if they’re informed the candidate has an infectious disease.

If the candidate decides not to continue

As you’d probably imagine, a driving examiner would have no choice but to stop the test early if a candidate decided they could not continue.

Let’s take a look at a few circumstances in which a learner might decide to take this course of action…

– If the candidate makes a big mistake and feels as though there’s no point in carrying on with the test

– Upon being asked to complete a driving test manoeuvre, the candidate refuses to continue

– If a pregnant learner is uncomfortable with demonstrating the emergency stop procedure and chooses to end the test then and there

In most cases, it’s much easier to carry on with the test than it is to decide to stop it early. For starters, it means you don’t have to walk back with the examiner if your instructor isn’t present. More importantly, however, you never really know what the outcome of the test might be. Even if you’re sure you’ve failed, you should continue anyway just in case.

In the event of a bribe

Learner drivers can get pretty desperate to get their hands on a full driving licence, especially if it’s their second or third attempt. Unfortunately, this desperation has led some learners towards some less-than-savoury methods to try and influence the examiner’s decision. In contrast to those choosing to verbally or physically threaten examiners, some learners attempt to bribe their examiner instead.

Whilst we’re sure we shouldn’t have to tell you, bribing an examiner is frowned upon by the DVSA. Well, it’s more than frowned upon. The examiner is required to report you if you attempt to offer them a gift or money. If you attempt to do so during your practical, your examiner will respond by stopping the test early.

If the examiner notices something is amiss

Before you even start the test, the examiner will complete an inspection of your vehicle to ensure it’s roadworthy. Whilst examiners are usually very thorough in these inspections, even the most experienced of examiners sometimes don’t spot issues until the test has started.

If your examiner notices something is wrong with your vehicle which would make it illegal or unsafe to drive—e.g., direction indicators that aren’t working—and which may potentially endanger the health or safety of the examiner, passenger(s) or public, they should stop the test early. Of course, if it’s an issue that can be fixed within 5 minutes, the examiner is urged to give the candidate the opportunity to rectify the fault.

In the event of an accident

As anyone familiar with driving knows, the roads are unpredictable even at the best of times. If a candidate is unfortunate enough to end up in an accident, it can have a big impact on their test depending on the circumstances and severity of the accident.

If you are involved in an accident, yet you show no signs of stopping to comply with legal obligations, then the examiner will tell you that you’re required to stop by law—in order to exchange names and insurance information. Now, if the vehicle is rendered unroadworthy due to this accident, or exchanging information leaves insufficient time to complete the test, then the examiner will stop the driving test early. Examiners are also urged to stop the test if the learner appears to be suffering from shock.

If the test is indeed terminated, and the accident was your fault, then you’ll be given a fail. If it was someone else’s fault, however, you don’t have to worry—the examiner will note it down as a ‘no result’.

Driving on the motorway

We know what you’re thinking; motorway driving isn’t on the test, is it? Though that is indeed the case, and every effort is taken by examiners to ensure learners don’t end up on the motorway, things don’t always go according to plan.

If you end up on the motorway during your test, the examiner will have to guide you onto the hard shoulder of a slip road before deciding the next safe course of action. In the event that that isn’t possible, they’ll urge you to continue on to the next available exit. If this does happen to you, and it’s your fault, the examiner will stop the driving test early and issue you a fail.

The only rare exception would be if you were forced to avoid another vehicle and the only safe option was to join the motorway. In this instance, the examiner would still stop the test early. In this instance, however, they would give you a ‘no result’ instead of a fail.

Can you refuse an examiner?

Given how much time, effort and money goes into learning to drive, it can be incredibly disheartening to end up failing the driving test. It’s usually down to a bad case of test day nerves, or the return of a bad habit. Some learners, however, place the blame directly on their driving test examiner. With examiners being assigned to tests at random, however, there’s a good chance you might end up with the same one for your retest. You may, therefore, find yourself asking: can you refuse a driving test examiner?

Let’s run through the main reasons why a learner might want to refuse a driving test examiner, and whether or not it’s possible!

Why would someone want to refuse a driving test examiner?

If you’ve not taken the driving test before, you might be wondering what reason(s) a learner might have to want to refuse a driving test examiner.

If a learner has had the misfortune of failing their driving test, they might put the blame onto their examiner. These feelings then cause the learner to assume that the only way they’re going to pass is by taking the test with another examiner.

Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the reasons a learner might not like their examiner (and why they might want to rethink their stance…).

Quotas

Probably the most popular driving test myth that circulates the learner driver community is that driving examiners have pass and fail quotas.

These learners believe that examiners will fail someone on purpose, simply because they need to meet a certain number by the end of the week or month. If you feel like you performed well on your test, but still failed, you might cite these quotas as the reason for your failure.

This is 100% not the case. Driving test examiners do not have quotas. They will pass or fail a learner for their performance, not because they need to meet a target. Even if you disagree with the outcome of your test, you can rest assured that quotas weren’t a factor in your examiner’s decision.

Bad attitude

The driving test can be a scary experience for some learners. It’s a lot of pressure to deal with. Add in the fact that the examiner is watching your every move and it’s no surprise that learners feel like they’re sitting on needles the entire time.

The situation can be made worse if the learner feels like the examiner is being rude, brusque or even frowning too much. If you feel like the examiner doesn’t like you, it’s easy to assume that they’ve failed you on purpose.

It shouldn’t really matter if you like them or not. They’ve got a job to do and they’re going to do it in an impartial and professional manner. If they’re not smiling much, or they’re keeping conversation to a minimum, it’s probably because they’re trying to maintain a professional demeanour—or they simply don’t want to distract you.

Unless they’ve been openly rude to you (in which case you should complain), you should assume that their personal feelings won’t affect their decision.

Test stopped early

As discussed earlier, there are a few situations in which an examiner is allowed to stop a driving test early. When this happens to learners, it can feel unfair—you’ve put in a lot of time and effort to become test-ready, after all.

It’s not surprising, then, that some learners might hold a grudge against an examiner for cutting their test short. It’s important to remember, however, that an examiner would never cut a test short unless they had to.

If your test was cut short by your driving test examiner, it was done so for a valid reason. An examiner wouldn’t do so out of malicious intent—so don’t go holding a grudge against them for it!

Not agreeing with the result

Plenty of learners have gotten to the end of their test convinced they’ve passed, only to end up failing. Often, this is because they haven’t noticed themselves making a series of tiny mistakes. They may also have assumed that the mistake(s) they made were minor rather than major.

This confusion can often lead to a heated disagreement or hurt feelings. This can often be made worse if a learner discusses the outcome of their test with their instructor who didn’t accompany them. If you tell your instructor that you were given a major fault for X, Y or Z, they might turn around and tell you that it sounds more like a minor fault. Though it might not be the instructor’s intent, it can cause you to feel like the examiner has treated you unfairly.

We’re going to be frank with you here. If you failed the test, it’s because you did something to indicate that you weren’t ready to take to the roads unsupervised. Or, you simply had a serious case of test day nerves, which caused you to slip up.

In any case, the examiner is just doing their job. They can’t, in good conscience, pass you if they feel like you’re not ready. So, don’t take it personally!

So, can you refuse a driving test examiner?

Technically speaking, yes, you can refuse a driving test examiner. Here’s the catch, though—your test would be cancelled and you would have to forfeit the test fee and slot.

You can’t simply show up to your test centre, refuse your examiner and ask for another one then and there. Test slots are in high demand and it’s not like test centres have examiners waiting on standby.

If you do decide to cancel your test, you’ll then have to wait around for the next available test date. Unless you decide to fast-track it, you could be waiting months for a new test.

Plus, there’s no way of knowing whether or not you’ll get the same driving examiner again. (This would leave you in the same position as before!)

Are there any exceptions?

The only real exception we can think of is if you know the driving test examiner personally, e.g., if they’re a close friend or relative. In this case, you might be worried that they won’t be impartial whilst conducting your test.

Of course, given that examiners are carefully trained in order to ensure they conduct a fair test, you shouldn’t really have to worry about their impartiality.

If you do genuinely feel like a driving examiner is acting in an unprofessional manner, or is biased in some way, you should get in touch with the DVSA, or your chosen test centre, the next time you book your test. They might take precautions to ensure you’re not assigned the same driving test examiner.

Why you shouldn’t need to refuse a driving examiner

Driving examiners have to go through rigorous training and a series of tests before they can conduct driving tests by themselves. The DVSA have made it their top priority to ensure that all of their examiners can mark a test fairly and impartially.

To make sure that examiners maintain this high standard, the DVSA frequently conduct examiner assessments. So, if an examiner has failed you, it’s because they believe you need more work before you can drive on the roads unsupervised—their personal feelings don’t come into it at all.

Of course, that being said, examiners do have to use their own discretion when determining whether or not an action on the road deserves a minor or major fault. It could very well be the case that some of the faults noted down by your examiner might very well have been ignored by another. Unfortunately, that’s just something you’ll have to accept.

How to avoid problems with your driving examiner

If you’re still convinced that an examiner is out to get you, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you avoid any problems and get your full driving licence.

Work on your weaknesses

When you fail your driving test, you’ll be given a physical feedback sheet (or a digital one via the driving test app) that will list all of the areas you picked up faults in. You should pay close attention to this. If you’ve failed, the only way you’re going to pass the next time around is by working on these weaknesses.

You can’t blame an examiner for failing you more than once if you’ve failed to make improvements. So, take a refresher course with a DVSA-approved instructor in order to work on these weaknesses.

Know what works for you

One thing that many learners worry about with the driving test is whether or not they have to make small talk with the examiner, and how they’re supposed to concentrate on their driving whilst holding a conversation with them.

If you’ve found that conversing with the examiner is distracting (and you’re convinced that their blabbermouthing caused you to fail the first time around) you need to do something.

There are a couple of ways you can go about sorting out this problem. First, if you don’t mind getting right to the point, you could politely let the examiner know that you find small talk distracting, e.g., “I’m sorry, but would we be able to keep conversation to a minimum please? I just want to concentrate on the directions.” Examiners are professionals and they’re all too aware of how different learners can be. So, don’t be worried about speaking your mind!

If that’s too forward for you, you could opt to give a commentary of your driving instead, e.g., “I’m coming to a stop now, switching to first gear. Lights are changing. Accelerator down, clutch up and I’m ready to go…” This would prevent the examiner from trying to hold a full conversation with you.

Go to another test centre

So, you’ve tried the test more than once with the same examiner and have had no luck. By this point, you’re either convinced they have it out for you, or your nerves are so fried that you associate the examiner with failure and end up sabotaging your own performance.

A potential solution to your problem might be to simply switch test centres. Most areas in the UK have more than one practical test centre, so you’ll likely have at least one other option close to where you live. The change in scenery might do your nerves some good.

Make sure it’s not too far away from your usual test centre, or you might need to take additional lessons in the area in order to familiarise yourself with any local challenging road features.

Lodge a complaint

If you genuinely feel like an examiner has behaved inappropriately or in an unprofessional manner during your test, you should lodge a complaint with the DVSA.

If the examiner has acted like that with you, it’s likely that they’ve done so with others. As such, it’s important that the DVSA are informed about their unacceptable behaviour.

You can find relevant information for this in the DVSA’s complaints procedure outline. You can also appeal your driving test result if you feel like the examiner was unfair in their verdict. Bear in mind, however, that you won’t be able to contest the result. Instead, if successful, you’ll receive a free retest.

Is stalling an automatic fail?

If this is a question you’ve been wondering, then check out the below video as Keith discusses this commonly heard myth.

“This is another driving test myth. This one is for Sarah. Thank you very much Sarah. Sarah says “You’ll automatically fail if you stall.” That’s not going to be the case. In most cases, it will be simply a driver error. Though, if you’ve stalled in a dangerous or potentially dangerous istuation, on a busy roundabout or junction or entering a main road, at a T-junction with a truck coming, then that could be a fail with a serious or dangerous fault.

How you sort yourself out ans move off safely is where you could also get something wrong and potentially fail, but that’s a moving off issue rather than the initial fault of stalling.

So, if you stall, try and work out why you did stall and have a word with your instructor for their advice.”

Failed your theory test?

Now, we get to the theory test. Underestimated by many, loved by few. The written exam (although it’s all done on a computer now) that represents the first hurdle in earning a driving licence stumps more than a few unsuspecting learners. In fact, a recent study revealed that the current pass rate for the theory test is lower than it has been for over a decade, with over 50% of learners coming out of the test with a fail.

If you find yourself in this already busy boat, do not despair! While it’s true that the theory test is no walk in the park, it’s also fair to say that, with a lot of preparation and a bit of hard work, you can come out with that pass certificate.

Right now we understand that you may be feeling a little disheartened, and it might not feel as simple as just trying again. But it is! We’re going to explain exactly what steps you need to take to refresh your perspective and prepare to ace the test the second time around. Reflect, revise and rally those brain cells for a pass!

What counts as a pass?

As you already know by now, the theory test is made up of two sections: multiple choice questions and a hazard perception test. (We’re not going to go into detail about what each part entails because we’re assuming you’ve already taken it and, should you need a refresher, you can check out our theory test rundown.) In order to achieve a pass, you need to score at least 43/50 on the multiple choice segment and 44/75 on the hazard perception.

Those pass scores might seem like a fairly low bar to clear, but the theory test is notoriously trickier than many people assume. Plus, it only takes dropping a mark or two on just one of the sections to secure a fail. In fact, since the format of the test has gone through so many changes in recent years (with the addition of the hazard perception section and more questions) only 43% of current drivers think they could pass if they were forced to take the theory test today.

Don’t run for the hills just yet, though! We know exactly what you need to do to get back in the saddle. Let’s start with your state of mind right after failing…

How to move forward

It’s very easy for us to tell you to believe in yourself and give it another shot, but that might not feel achievable right now. Failing anything can leave you feeling fairly rubbish about yourself and unwilling to make another effort. It might sound a bit strange, but give yourself some time to experience these emotions. By time we mean hours rather than days—this isn’t a Shakespearean tragedy! If circumstances permit, when you get back from your test, enjoy some downtime and partake in an activity that has nothing to do with driving.

The more you get on with other things, the more you will realise that one failed theory test really isn’t a big deal. When you accept this, you’ll be able to brush yourself off and start thinking about round two.

Speaking of round two, you need to do more than think—act! Yep, it’s important to book another test as soon as possible, because we all know that those DVSA wait times are no joke! Incidentally, if you are lucky enough to secure a test date that’s just around the corner, make sure you leave a gap of at least 3 working days from your last one. Them’s the rules.

Now it’s time to get cracking on your new strategy!

Learn from your mistakes

This might not be super fun, but cast your mind back to the moment you got your results. The staff at the centre will have handed you a letter that explained the exact sections where you didn’t score enough points. That wasn’t to rub salt in the wound—it was to help future you ace the test! Looking into the areas that tripped you up previously is the best place to start with your revision.

It’s also useful to have a think about whether timing could have been an issue for you. Did you find yourself rushing? Or did you actually end up with a lot of minutes to spare? Depending on the answer, you might need to practice a new approach to the test. Too slow—work on your time management and efficiency. Too quick—use the extra minutes to read the questions carefully and check over your answers.

If you feel like you put in a lot of work the first time and studied your butt off, it might be necessary to change your approach to theory test revision altogether.

Tackling your next theory test

Once your winning attitude is back and you’ve secured another test date, it’s time to really get your geek on. We’re talking research, revision and mock tests, baby! All of the knowledge you need to pass is available to you, it’s just a case of locating it and working out how you best absorb information.

There are theory test resources out there to suit a range of different learning styles. Sample a few and focus on your favourite, or use a variety to achieve a well-rounded studying session. You need to cover the highway code, traffic signs and essential driving skills. As we’ve said, start with the areas you are weakest on and branch out from there until you’ve gone over everything.

The hazard perception section is a little harder to prepare for, but there are some things you can do to hone your road observation skills. Anytime you’re in the car with others, pay attention to what’s happening beyond the windscreen. Look out for potential or developing hazards and make a mental note. Once you get into this habit, it should make it a lot easier to notice similar issues on the video clips in the actual test.

Every cloud…

The biggest weapon that you now have in your arsenal is that you know exactly what to expect on test day. Sure, there are multiple articles out there detailing what happens during a theory test, but nothing can fully prepare you for the real thing apart from experiencing it yourself.

A major reason many people fail the theory test first time is because nerves cause them to lose concentration. As you aren’t walking into the unknown this time, your sense of anxiety shouldn’t be half as bad, which will enable you to relax and just get on with it.

When you do eventually get handed that pass certificate (and we know you will!) the victory will be all the more sweet because you worked hard to earn it. Nothing makes you acknowledge the importance of something like losing out on it the first time around. You can clutch that paper knowing that you had the mental strength and determination to get back up and work for that win. Happy days!

 
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