Mock driving test in Thorne

How a mock test works

Your instructor picks you up in Thorne and the mock begins the same way the real test does. You read a number plate from 20 metres for the eyesight check, then answer a tell me question before you drive. A show me question comes up while you are on the move.

During the drive, your instructor stays quiet apart from directions, just like an examiner. You complete one reversing exercise and around 20 minutes of independent driving following a sat nav or road signs. Some mocks include an emergency stop, as some real tests do. The general mock driving test page explains the format in more detail.

The drive from Thorne towards the test centre

The Doncaster test centre is at Shaw Wood Business Park on the Armthorpe side of the city, about seven miles from Thorne as the crow flies. Part of a mock is getting you onto roads like the ones you will meet around there: multi-lane roundabouts and dual carriageways mixed in with residential streets.

From Thorne we often head out through Stainforth and Dunscroft, joining the A18 at Dunsville and continuing along Thorne Road through Edenthorpe. Other mocks use Selby Road and the M18 to save time. Either way, the aim is for test-day roads to feel familiar rather than new.

How the marking works

Your instructor records faults on the DVSA marking sheet as you drive. A driving fault is a minor mistake. A serious fault is one that could have been dangerous. A dangerous fault involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property. On the real test you pass with 15 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.

Mock results are a snapshot of one drive on one day. A fail on a mock is useful information, because it shows you what to work on while there is still time before your real test at Shaw Wood.

Your debrief

Once you are parked up, your instructor goes through the sheet with you. You find out what went well and where faults appeared, along with why they happened. For a learner from Thorne, the debrief might cover lane choice on the junction 6 roundabout, observation when emerging from side roads near Horse Fair Green and adjusting speed as Kirton Lane moves in and out of the built-up area.

You keep the written debrief. Use it with your instructor to plan your final lessons. You might book a second mock a week or so later to check the faults have gone.

When to book a mock test

• When your practical test is in the next few weeks.
• If you have failed a test before and want to find out where things went wrong.
• If nerves are a worry and you want to experience test conditions first.
• When you have been learning with another school and want an independent view.

You can also ask your instructor to sit in the back during the real test. Learners just north of town can read about mock driving tests in Moorends, and if your test is close you might combine a mock with an intensive driving course in Thorne. Our main Thorne driving lessons page lists all the options.

Mock driving tests in Thorne: your questions

How long does a mock driving test take?

About two hours including the debrief. The drive itself follows the length and format of the real test, which is about 40 minutes, and the rest of the time is spent getting to suitable roads and going through the marking sheet with you.

Is a mock test the same as the real test?

It follows the same format and is marked on the same DVSA sheet. The difference is that your instructor plays the examiner, so nothing goes on your record. That makes it a safe way to see how you would do.

How do I know if I am ready for my test?

A mock test is the best way to find out. If you pass the mock with only a few driving faults and no serious ones, you are likely close. If not, the debrief tells you exactly what to work on.

Can I take a mock test if I learned elsewhere?

Yes. We are happy to give learners from other schools a mock test. It is a good way to get an independent view before your test at Doncaster. See our guide to the Doncaster driving test.