Located in close proximity to the busy town centre, Reading test centre can be found on Elgar Road South—not far from the hectic A33. No matter how unsuspecting this centre might appear, it’s got plenty of tricks up its sleeve that could put a roadblock or two in the way of you breezing through your practical test. That’s why, instead of going into your test blind, it’s vital that you prepare by getting to know the Reading test centre a little better.
Address
220 Elgar Road South
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 0BW
Tests Offered at Reading
– Car
– ADI part 2
– ADI part 3
How To Get There
Reading test centre is based near the town centre and the River Kennet. With it being mere minutes away from the bustling A33 and the M1, learners in Reading and the wider Berkshire area certainly won’t need to worry about getting to Reading test centre. Not had the chance to look around the test centre yet? That’s fine: just use these directions with your trusty sat nav and you’ll get there just fine. Please note that the centre urges you not to enter the car park until 5 minutes before your test time—parking space is limited.
A Bit More About Reading
The locations of test centres are far from random. In fact, they’re carefully chosen to ensure examiners have a broad enough range of road types and features to truly test the newfound skills of candidates—ranging from speed awareness to hazard perception. Reading test centre certainly has enough tricks up its sleeve to test even the most confident of learner drivers—especially given its location close to the Royal Berkshire Hospital (hope you’ve brushed up on how to deal with emergency vehicles safely!).
What To Expect On The Day
Though it might seem like just yesterday you were crying over clutch control and stalling every two seconds, your test date is finally upon you. Talk about nerve-wracking. If your confidence isn’t quite where you want it to 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 will not be able to take the driving test without it, so double-check you’ve got it before you leave. Additionally, you’ll want to get to Reading 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.
