ADI Part 2 - How The Test Is Marked

Marking time . . . just how does the SE mark your drive?

The SE will have their very famous clipboard with them during the test, with the test report form readily available for them to use

The SE will complete your details and the date at the top of the form, either just before the test starts, or shortly after

The DSA driving test report form is the same one as used for learner driving tests. Your driving is assessed along very similar lines to a learner test, but you are allowed to make less errors, and the SE clearly wants to see a much higher standard of driving

The DSA actually say that 'The test is of an advanced nature'. Although true in a sense, we think that this may cause unnecessary fears in some trainees. The test is marked in the same way as a learner test. The DSA test is based on achieving a standard of driving that the Government would clearly like us all to follow at all times. For these reasons, this test is well within the grasp of any trainee who receives good, effective training. Yet the pass rate is now hovering at around only 44%

The driving test form is used to record all of the driver errors that the SE feels warrant an 'error' mark against you. You are allowed only 6 driver errors throughout the test, and any single serious or dangerous error will mean that you will be unsuccessful

You will start the test with a 'clean sheet', and your task is to keep it as clean as possible. You are assumed to be a perfect driver before the test commences. When you first set off for your part 2 test of driving ability, you have actually achieved a pass standard. As the drive unfolds, the error marks you accumulate will dictate if you pass or fail. In other words, you don't have to do anything outstanding to pass, you simply have to ensure that you concentrate on keeping your driving to a high standard throughout. All the sheet records are the errors you make - there are no boxes to record a mark for you doing anything very well

Each time the SE decides to record an error against your driving, he or she will mark the driving test report with a small line in the appropriate area

It's easy for trainees to become very paranoid about this. You need to e aware that every time the SE reaches for the pen and the test report, this does not necessarily mean that a driver error will be recorded against you. The SE may simply be writing your name or the date. It's also quite common, when the SE see's a fault they would like to record, for them to wait some time before marking the sheet. On many occasions, if it's a serious or dangerous error, they'll actually wait until the test is over before recording the fault in the correct box

In the example sheet here, driver errors have been recorded in two of the boxes for Progress and Junctions

Remember, any more than 6 errors and you will not be successful

Any single error in the yellow 'serious' or 'dangerous' boxes will also result in failure

ADIT Team