Around 15 minutes from the town centre by car, Ipswich test centre can be found on Wentworth Road in Ransomes Industrial Estate. It happens to be close to the busy A14 which, in addition to the numerous local businesses nearby, means that you’ll likely face heavy traffic during rush hour. To make sure there are no surprises on your big day, we’d recommend that you take some time to familiarise yourself with Ipswich test centre. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel on your driving test. Read on for more information!

Address

Wentworth Road
Ransomes Europark
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP3 9SW

Tests Offered at Ipswich

– Car
– Motorcycle module 1
– Motorcycle module 2
– Lorries, large vehicles and buses
– ADI part 2
– ADI part 3

How To Get There

If you live in or around the town centre, it’s a simple enough journey to Ipswich test centre. You’ll need to get onto Franciscan Way, continue onto Star Lane and then turn onto the A1156. Continue onto Nacton Road and, at the roundabout, turn onto the A1189. At the next roundabout, turn onto Central Avenue and then onto Wentworth Road on the last roundabout. (Trust us, it’s easier than it sounds!) If you’re coming in from further afield, all you need to do is use one of the local A roads like the A14 and A12. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.

A Bit More About Ipswich

The main reason that we urge learners to take lessons in the same area as their test centre is because their test route will make use of most of the local roads and traffic systems. If you’re familiar with the area, then, you’ll be more than prepared for your test route. Ipswich test centre is surrounded by pretty narrow, residential roads which means that you’ll likely face steady streams of oncoming traffic during peak hours. If there are a lot of parked vehicles around, you’ll need to keep an eye on your road positioning as you manoeuvre around them. You’ll probably be taken into or around the town centre, which can get quite congested. If this happens, you’ll end up facing a lot of stop-start traffic—meaning that your clutch control will need to be on point.

At some point during your route, you’ll be guided towards either a quiet residential area or a local car park in order to demonstrate one of the 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.