Mock driving test in Cantley

What a mock test from Cantley involves

Allow about two hours. Most of that is the drive itself, run in the same order as a DVSA test, and the rest is a careful debrief once you are parked. For the duration your instructor acts as an examiner. You get instructions and nothing more.

Before you drive

You start with the eyesight check, which on a real test means reading a car number plate from 20 metres. Then comes the tell me question about the car's safety checks.

On the road

The show me question is asked while you are moving, for example asking you to demonstrate the rear demister on Goodison Boulevard. About 20 minutes are given over to independent driving, either following a sat nav or following traffic signs. There will be one reversing exercise, which could be a parallel park or a bay park, or pulling up on the right before reversing for around two car lengths, and you may be asked for an emergency stop.

The drive north towards Shaw Wood Way

Doncaster's test centre is at Shaw Wood Business Park, opposite Sandall Park. Since DVSA does not publish test routes, we cannot drive the actual route, and we will never claim to. We can give you the same kinds of challenge you will meet on test.

A typical mock from Cantley heads out along Cantley Lane or Ascot Avenue to Bawtry Road, then north past the Dome to the Racecourse Roundabout. Leger Way then takes you alongside the racecourse to the busy junction with Armthorpe Road, where the old concrete water tower stands, and on through Intake to Sandall Park and Thorne Road. Residential streets with parked cars, roundabouts of every size and junctions where your observation is tested all appear along the way.

What the debrief tells you

Your instructor marks the drive on a DVSA marking sheet. To pass a real test you need 15 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults, and the mock is assessed in exactly the same way.

At the end you receive a written debrief that you keep. It lists every fault with where it happened and how to fix it. Patterns often show up, such as late mirror checks before signalling on Leger Way or hesitation at the Racecourse Roundabout, and those become the focus of your next lessons.

Who should book one, and when

• Learners with a test booked in the next few weeks who want to check they are ready.
• Anyone who has failed before and wants to see whether the problem is fixed.
• People who get very nervous about tests and want to experience the format beforehand.
• Intensive course pupils near the end of their course.
• Learners who have been taught by a family member and want an independent view.

More information is on our main mock driving test page, and our guide to the Doncaster driving test explains the real day. Return to driving lessons in Cantley, or if you live on the other side of Bawtry Road, see mock driving tests in Bessacarr. Mock tests pair well with our intensive driving courses in Cantley.

Mock driving tests in Cantley: your questions

How close to my real test should I book a mock?

Two to four weeks before is ideal. That leaves time to work on anything the mock shows up without being so far ahead that your driving changes a lot in between. Some learners book a second mock in the final week as a last check.

Does the mock follow the actual Doncaster test route?

No one outside DVSA knows the exact routes, as they are not published. The mock uses the same types of road and junction found near the test centre, such as Leger Way and Thorne Road, so the experience is realistic.

Can my instructor come with me on the real test?

Yes, you can ask for your instructor to sit in the back during your practical test. They cannot help you, but they will see exactly what happened, which is useful if you need further lessons afterwards.

What happens if I get a serious fault in the mock?

Better now than on the day. Your instructor will explain why it was marked as serious and help you understand how to avoid it. A few targeted lessons usually fix the problem, and you can book another mock to check.