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How to pass your driving test

We reveal where and when to take your driving test for the best chances of success

How to pass your driving test

By Julie Sinclair

02nd January 2012

Learning to drive is a costly business, with the average spend coming in at around £1,300. So you need to make sure you’ve given yourself the best chance possible to pass first time. Auto Express has crunched the numbers and scrutinised the stats to find out exactly who, where and when has the best success rates.

First up is location. And it seems the more rural your test centre, the better the pass rates. In fact, the top 10 sites are all in rural locations – namely remote parts of Scotland. Islay Island tops the league with an 82 per cent pass rate, Department for Transport statistics show. But few wannabe motorists get to benefit from its success rate, as only 49 took tests there during the past financial year; 40 went home with a licence.

The UK test centre where you are least likely to pass is Bradford (Thornbury) in West Yorkshire. More than 70 per cent of its candidates failed their practical test during the same 12-month period, forcing over 1,600 to go home empty-handed.

You could be disadvantaged by your genetic make-up, too, as gender stereotypes do seem to prevail when learning to drive. While males are more likely to pass the practical overall – with a 50 per cent pass rate compared to 43 per cent for females – the trend reverses when it comes to the theory test. There, women have the edge at 66 per cent, versus 60 per cent for men.

There are some factors you can influence, however, including how early you start learning. The statistics reveal that your best bet is to begin as soon as you have a provisional licence, as the younger you are, the greater your chance of passing first time. So 17-year-olds enjoy the highest rates, at 80 per cent. This drops to 68 per cent for those waiting until they are 25.

Sadly, the more attempts you make, the lower your chances of passing, too. First-time rates are 46 per cent. But fail first time and the figure gradually decreases with every go – dropping to a mere 16 per cent on your 12th attempt.

To ensure that doesn’t happen, we’ve also studied the common pitfalls noted by examiners on the day – the worst of which is poor observation at junctions, followed by use of mirrors when changing direction. Women are let down by their reverse parking, while male learners are more likely to struggle with traffic lights.

The easiest place to pass in UK...

City streets or rural roads – which give you best chance of L-test success?

Best loactions:
1. Islay Island (81.6)
2. Mallaig (75.0)
3. Isle of Skye/Broadford (72.1)
4. Lochgilphead (69.9)
5. Lerwick/Shetland (68.9)
6. Campbeltown (68.8)
7. Island of Mull (68.6)
8. Inveraray/Argyll (68.1)
9. Gairloch (66.7)
10. Isle of Tiree (66.7)

Worst locations:
1. Bradford/Thornbury (28.9)
2. Wanstead Hermon Hill (29.8)
3. Bradford/Heaton (30.4)
4. Heckmondwike (30.5)
5. Leeds/Harehills (34.3)
6. Brentwood (34.4)
7. Barnet (35.1)
8. Wednesbury (35.4)
9. Coventry/Bayton Road (35.8)
10. Goodmayes (36.3)

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1 Comment

This article appalls me. There is no need to "reveal" how to pass your driving test. The easiest way is to drive safely and to the standard required by the DSA; then you will pass! Pupils need to told to listen to their instructors and work hard, not be shown how the cheet the system. It is nonsense to look at statistics. If that were the case you'd never leave your house as there is a 1 in 84000 chance you'll die by being hit by lightening anyway.

By ste5576 on 4 January, 2012, 11:29am

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