Learner drivers can find Poole test centre on Harwell Road, right in the middle of the bustling Nuffield Industrial Estate. A 10-minute drive from the town centre, Poole test centre is small enough that you’ve likely gone past it without even realising! If you want to give yourself the best chance, you’ll want to get to know as much about Poole test centre as possible. Read on for more information!
Address
4 – 20 Harwell Road
Nuffield Industrial Estate
Poole
Dorset
BH17 0SA
Tests Offered at Hither Green (London)
– Car
– Motorcycle module 1
– Motorcycle module 2
– Lorries, large vehicles and buses
– ADI part 3
How To Get There
If you live close to the town centre, you’ll need to get onto the A350 and follow it until the turn onto the A349. Next, turn onto Willis Way and then Fleets Lane. You’ll need to follow the roundabout onto Nuffield Road and continue onwards until you reach Harwell Road. And there you go! If you live further afield, don’t worry too much. There are plenty of A roads that make it easy to head to Poole test centre—from the A35 to the A38. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.
A Bit More About Hither Green (London)
If you’re taking your practical at Poole test centre, it’s vital that you get to know the area. Why? It will be the staging ground for your test. The examiner will make use of a variety of quiet, busy and challenging road types in order to test how ready you are to take to the roads unsupervised. Right outside the industrial estate, there’s the A3049. It will likely feature on your test, and, due to the high number of roundabouts scattered along it, you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable approaching and emerging from roundabouts. Eventually, the examiner will probably take you around the town centre. You won’t have any time to enjoy the view though! There’s bound to be a lot of foot and road traffic, so you’ll need to be on your toes.
It’s not all high speeds and thrills on your test. Your test route will, at some point, take you to a quiet residential area so that you can demonstrate one of the manoeuvres. (The roads around Upper Parkstone are ideal for this.)
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.
