Driving Theory Test by Harwood Driving School
Theory & Driving Test Tips
Top Tips For Passing Your Theory Test
The theory test is a computer-based test and consists of two parts: multiple choice and hazard perception. You must pass both sections at the same time. If you fail one section, you will have to take the whole test again. You must pass the theory test before you are allowed to book your driving test
Do Your Homework
- Sign into our Theory test Pro for Free as a pupil of Harwood driving school. Alternatively,beg,borrow or purchase a DVSA CD. It also covers all you need to know for both the theory and hazard perception parts of the test. All the test questions in their exact format are on this disc, so revising with this aid means you'll be familiar with all the questions and answers. You can purchase the DVSA CD disk in shops or online.
- Take a minimum of 10 driving lessons with an instructor before attempting the theory test so you are familiar with being on the road and can apply what you are learning to practical situations and can recognise hazards.
The Multiple Choice Test
The pass mark is 43 out of 50 and the time allowed to complete the test is 57 minutes. Some questions may ask for two or more correct answers from a selection of four.
- Read every question very carefully. Read every answer very carefully. Don't skip words, don't jump to conclusions and don't assume the question says something it doesn't
- Don't skip words. Don't jump to conclusions. Don't assume the question says something it doesn't.
- Initially, answer those questions that you can do easily. Flag the ones you are not sure about, and then go back to the flagged questions. Often, other questions will help you remember the correct answer.
- Adopt the following criteria to help you choose the correct answer:
- Two answers will be a distracter or a red herring.
- One answer could be correct under some circumstances.
- One answer will be correct under all circumstances. (If two correct answers are required then two questions will be correct under all circumstances).
- Answer all the questions.
- You should have ten minutes or so to spare at the end of the exam. Use this time to re-read your questions and answers - you may spot errors you have made.
- Take a three minute break before attempting the next part of the examination. You are allowed this break and you need this time to focus your mind for the next task.
The Hazard Perception Test
The pass mark is 44 out of 75. There are 15 scorable hazards - 13 clips containing one scorable hazard and one clips contains two. You can score up to 5 marks for each hazard depending on how quickly you identify it.
Anything that could cause a driver to reduce speed, swerve or stop is a hazard. The HPT is only concerned with developing hazards, e.g. a pedestrian about to cross the road, a car emerging from a junction on the left, a parked car getting ready to pull out, a van turning right across traffic, a green traffic light that changes as you approach it, roadworks.
Click your mouse button as soon as you spot the hazard.
To achieve a high score you must press for all hazards you spot AND any time something moves, be it vehicular or pedestrian.
- You should be OK with several clicks per hazard as long as you don't click rhythmically. Making several clicks per hazard is important, because even if the first one is "too early"?, the others will be noted within the "scoring window"?.
- Don't overanalyse the clip, just click if you see any hazards and then click again but don't click rhythmically. Some drivers tend to see the hazard in advance and click before the official "scoring window"? opens, thus scoring nothing. That is why we recommend two clicks per hazard
- Practise, practise, practise with Harwood driving school and Theory test Pro online, until you are perfect!
- Do you need more help or advice? Simply click here to contact us and one of our highly trained driving instructors will answer your questions ASAP.
Top tips for passing your Driving Test - At the First Attempt
To pass your driving test you need to drive without making any serious or dangerous faults and no more than 15 minor faults during a drive of about 40 minutes. You must also complete several manoeuvres
Do Your Homework
- Pin up a map of your test centre area and mark out the test routes.
- Mark difficult areas on it such as one-way streets, difficult junctions, double mini roundabouts, so that you are ready for them on approach, rather than having to deal with them as if they have come out of nowhere.
- Make sure you get plenty of practice over the test routes with a professional driving school such as Harwood driving school. Driving Test Centres (address & pass rates) and Driving Test Routes in Bolton and Bury covered by Harwood driving school . As an alternative to a conventional map, you can use Google Maps to locate your test centre; many areas are covered by close-up "bird-eye view"? photographs, so you can see every roundabout, pelican crossings and box junctions on the surrounding roads.
- You can mark difficult areas on Live Maps using virtual pushpins.
- Practise manoeuvres until you can carry them out without any minor faults. That will leave you with a margin of 15 faults for the rest of the drive on the day of your test.
- Practise, practise, and practise until you can drive without verbal or physical intervention from your instructor for the duration of a full driving lesson or a mock driving test. Don't forget: it's not practice that makes perfect: it's practice - with a professional driving instructor - that makes perfect.
Test Day
- Warm up: Arrange to have an hour's driving lesson around the area of the test centre on the day of your test. This will help you to warm up and get into the swing of things. You will also be aware of any new roadworks, obstructions etc and will feel more able to deal with them more easily. Forewarned is foreamed.
- Nerves: If you start feeling shaky bag of nerves, breathe in, hold your breath, count up to 20 and out breathe out. Repeat this exercise until you gain control of your nerves. Once the test starts, you'll settle into your driving and your attention will be on the road rather than on your own feelings, and your nervousness should disappear.
- Think confident: Talk yourself - silently! - through the test. Talk about hazards coming up and how you are going to deal with them. This really focuses your mind on how you should be driving in order to pass the test.
- Don't be afraid to ask: If you don't understand what the examiner has asked you to do, don't be afraid to ask him or her to repeat the instruction.
- Think positive:Before you start a manoeuvre, repeat to yourself three times - silently - "this is a piece of cake"?. Think positively at all times. You can do it!
- Making a mistake: If you feel you're messing up a manoeuvre, just pull forwards and do it again correctly. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, such as touching the kerb or failing to make effective observations, you can still pass.
- Stalling: if, unfortunately, you stall, deal with it and move on. As long as you don't stall in a dangerous situation, such as on a roundabout and as long as you handle it properly, this needn't count as a major fault and you can still pass your test.
- Have I already failed? If you feel you've made a mistake, don't instantly assume you've failed - it may only have been a minor fault. Put it behind you and carry on driving as well as you can.
- Keep your eyes on the road: Resist the temptation to look at the examiner and what he or she is writing. You will not be able to deduce anything anyway. Keep your attention on your driving and the road ahead!
- Do you need more help or advice? Simply click here to contact us and one of our highly trained driving instructors will answer your questions ASAP.
The 10 Most Common Reasons For Driving Test Failure
Reported by the Driving Standards Agency for the 12 months to January 2004
- Observation at junctions - ineffective observation and judgement
- Reverse parking - ineffective observation and/or a lack of accuracy
- Use of mirrors - not checking or not acting on information
- Reversing round a corner - ineffective observation or lack of accuracy
- Incorrect use of signals - not cancelling or giving misleading signals.
- Moving away safely - ineffective observations
- Incorrect positioning on the road - particularly at roundabouts or on bends
- Lack of steering control - steering too early or too late
- Incorrect position to turn right - at junctions and/or in one-way streets
- Inappropriate speed - travelling too slowly or with too much hesitation
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