Mock driving test in Intake

How the mock test works

The mock takes about two hours including the debrief. It follows the shape of the real practical test as closely as we can:

1. Eyesight comes first: you read a car's number plate at a distance of 20 metres.
2. While the car is still parked, your instructor asks the 'tell me' question.
3. The drive lasts around 40 minutes. Somewhere along the way you answer a 'show me' question, such as demisting the rear windscreen.
4. Roughly half of the drive is independent, with you following directions from the sat nav or from road signs.
5. You complete one reversing exercise. Parallel parking and bay parking are the common ones, and the other option is pulling up on the right before reversing about two car lengths.
6. An emergency stop may be thrown in.

Your instructor stays quiet during the drive and marks every fault on the DVSA marking sheet, just as an examiner would.

The drive from Intake

We pick you up from home or school and start the mock from there. A typical drive might take in Sandringham Road or Shaftesbury Avenue, then Armthorpe Road out to the Leger Way roundabout and up the A18 to the Sandall Park roundabout, where the road becomes Thorne Road.

From there we use the residential streets off Sandall Park Drive and the busier roads nearby, the kind of junctions you will meet around the test centre on Shaw Wood Way. DVSA does not publish test routes, so the aim is to cover a realistic mix of road types instead of memorising one route.

Timing is worth thinking about. If your real test is on a weekday morning, book the mock at a similar hour. School traffic around Outwood Academy Danum and hospital traffic on Armthorpe Road change the feel of the drive, and it is better to meet that in the mock than for the first time on the day.

Reading your written debrief

After the drive, your instructor goes through the marking sheet with you and gives you a written debrief to keep. It explains each fault and why it was marked the way it was.

• Driving faults are minor. You can have up to 15 on the real test and still pass.
• Serious faults are potentially dangerous. One means a fail.
• Dangerous faults involve real danger. One also means a fail.

Patterns matter more than single faults. Three minor faults for mirrors at roundabouts, for example, tell you exactly what to work on before the real thing.

When to book a mock test

• When your practical test is in the next few weeks and you want to see where you stand.
• If you have failed before and want to check the weak spots are fixed.
• If nerves are a problem and you want to know how the test feels.
• Towards the end of an intensive course in Intake.

Find out more on the main mock driving test page, or read our guide to the Doncaster driving test. Learners east of Leger Way can see mock driving tests in Armthorpe, and the Intake driving lessons page covers everything else.

Mock driving tests in Intake: your questions

Is the mock test exactly the same as the real one?

It follows the same format and marking sheet, but it is not a real test and the route will differ. Its value is in showing you how you drive under test conditions. You and your instructor can then fix any problems before the day.

Can I have a mock test with a different instructor?

Yes, and some learners find it useful. A fresh pair of eyes can spot habits your usual instructor has become used to. Ask when you book and we will see who is available to collect you in Intake.

What if I fail my mock test?

That is fine, and often useful. A mock is a practice, so a fail tells you what to work on while there is still time. Your debrief will show exactly where the faults happened, and your instructor will plan the next few lessons around them.

Can my instructor sit in on the real test too?

Yes. You can ask for your instructor to sit in the back during your practical test. They will not say anything, but they will hear the examiner's feedback afterwards, which helps if you need further lessons.

How much is a mock test from Intake?

Mock test costs are listed with our other lessons on the prices page. Because the mock lasts about two hours including the debrief, it is priced as a longer session. Call 07402 034084 if you want to fit one in shortly before your test date.