Learners heading to Loughton test centre for their practical won’t have much difficulty finding it. Situated in close proximity to the city centre on the busy A121, Loughton test centre will be a challenging final hurdle for many looking to become fully qualified drivers. If you’d like to get ahead of the rest and acquaint yourself properly with your chosen test centre, you can do this by checking out our guide below.
Address
Crown Buildings
284 High Road
Loughton
Essex
IG10 1RB
Tests Offered at Loughton
– Car
– ADI part 2
– ADI part 3
How To Get There
Loughton test centre is based near the city centre and one of the busiest high streets in the area, on the aptly named High Road. With it being on the doorstep of the A121, and mere minutes from the M11, learners don’t have to worry about getting to Loughton test centre—it couldn’t be easier! Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.
A Bit More About Loughton
At first, you might not think that Loughton test centre is a good location for practical tests, especially with it being based on the High Road (A121) which almost guarantees hectic road conditions for most of the day. And yet, that’s exactly why Loughton was placed there. Practical tests are designed to be challenging for learners. However, this is what your driving lessons will have prepared you for—from A roads to town roads to residential streets, you should be more than ready to tackle the roads around Loughton.
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.
