Driving Test Tips - How To Do The Manoeuvres!

During your driving test, the examiner will ask you to perform two set manoeuvres in addition to general driving.

There are four possible manoeuvres and the examiner will pick two of these for you to carry out. All of the manoeuvres involve you demonstrating that you can reverse your car accurately, safely, under control and with consideration for other road users.

The four manoeuvres are;

Turn In The Road
Reverse Around A Corner
Reverse Parking Into A Marked Bay
Parallel Parking

In addition, one in three test candidiates will also be asked to carry out an Emergency Stop which although it is not a reversing manoeuvre, requires you to stop your vehicle quickly, safely and under control.

For detailed information about how to correctly carry out each of the manoeuvres and the Emergency Stop exercise, please see;

Driving Test Manoeuvres

How To Do An Emergency Stop On Your Driving Test

The emergency stop (sometimes referred to as a "controlled stop") is an exercise that is carried out at random in around one in three UK driving tests.

The aim of the emergency stop is for the learner driver to demonstrate to the examiner that they are able to stop the car quickly and under control in an emergency situation.

I've written a guide on how to do an emergency stop correctly and under control complete with step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial.

For more information please click the following link;

How To Do An Emergency Stop

Reversing Around A Corner - Tips For Your Driving Test!

Reversing round a corner is one of the manoeuvres the examiner may ask you to do on your driving test.

This usually involves turning the car around by reversing into a side road on your left.

The reverse round a corner seems to be the manoeuvre that many learners find most daunting, but once mastered, it's pretty straightforward - the secret is knowing how to reverse around a corner properly followed by plenty of practice!

I've written a guide on how to reverse around a corner complete with step-by-step instructions and video tutorials.

For more information, please see; How To Reverse Around A Corner

Example Case Study Questions For The Theory Test From 28 September 2009

From the 28th September 2009 you will need to answer a case study-style question as part of your Theory Test.

You will be presented with one case study where you will be required to answer 5 questions that are related to the scenario displayed on screen.

Each question will still be in the multiple choice format as with the other Theory Test questions.

You will still need to answer 50 multiple choice questions that are broken down as follows:

45 multiple choice questions
5 multiple choice questions that relate to the case study

The pass mark for the multiple choice section of the Theory Test remains at 43/50.

Click this link to see some examples of Case Study questions

The case study questions will test the knowledge of road signs, proceedures, laws etc you will have already gained while studying for your Theory Test, so provided you have prepared thoroughly, the case study shouldn't prove any more of a problem that the "standard" multiple choice questions!

For more information on what is involved in the Theory Test, how to prepare for it and suggested study materials, please see:

Theory & Hazard Perception Test

Parallel Parking Tips

Parallel parking (sometimes referred to as "reverse parking") is one of the reversing manoeuvres you may be asked to carry out on your Practical Driving Test. It involves parking the car behind another car or between two vehicles, close to and parallel to the kerb.

Knowing how to parallel park properly is a skill that will also come in very useful after you pass your test too as it will enable you to quickly and easily park outside shops and in tricky car park spaces!

I've written a guide on how to parallel park complete with step by step instructions and video tutorials.

For more details, please see: How To Parallel Park

Bay Parking - How To Reverse Into A Parking Bay On Your Driving Test

Reversing into a marked parking bay (often referred to as "bay park" or "bay parking") is one of the manoeuvres you may be asked to do on your driving test.

The aim of the bay park manoeuvre is for you to show the examiner that you can reverse the car smoothly and accurately into a restricted space - if you can get this right, this is not only useful in getting you through your driving test but will come in very handy after you pass your test! Lots of people struggle to reverse properly into parking spaces and you can feel very smug if you know how to do it right first time :)

I've written a guide on how to bay park properly, complete with step-by-step instructions and video tutorials - see How To Bay Park for full details!

Theory Test Case Studies From 28 September 2009

The DSA have elaborated on what will be involved in the new "case study" which is being introduced to the multiple choice section of the Theory Test from 28th September 2009.

The DirectGov website describes the change as;

The case study will show a scenario that five questions will be based on.
The subject of the scenario focuses on real life examples and experiences that
drivers could come across when driving.

See the Direct Gov website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/TheoryTest/DG_4022534

Changes To The Theory Test From 28 September 2009

From 28 September 2009 a "case study" will be incorporated into the Theory Test.


The DSA state that this change has been made in order for "candidates to be tested on understanding as well as knowledge" and to "put learning into context".

The theory test case study will take the form of a scenario, or short story, on which five questions will be based.

As part of the multiple choice section of the test, the case study will assess candidates’ understanding of driving theory, whilst the multiple choice questions will continue to assess knowledge of the subject.

Candidates will answer the questions in the same way as they do now, using either the touch screen or mouse.

For more information please see; http://dsa.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX12B7-A7832722