'L' Test Syllabus
From 4th October 2010 the UK driving test will involve a section of independent driving, for more information click here.
To be ready to take your driving test you will need to have mastered everything in the following syllabus, and be confident to carry these tasks out on your own without the need for help from your instructor. To be able to book the Practical Test you will need to have passed the Theory Test within the last 2 years. The items in bold need to be tested by law.
- Reading a number plate at the prescribed distance.
- Knowledge of the "Show Me / Tell Me" question bank.
- A drive lasting at least 30 minutes from the instruction to "Move off ...."
- Correct use of the main controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, foot-brake, hand-brake, steering)
- Correct use of ancillary controls if necessary (lights, wipers, de-mister etc)
- Correct use of mirrors at all times
- Moving off - at an Angle / on a Level road / Uphill / Downhill
- Emergency Stop (now named the 'Controlled Stop Exercise') promptly and under full control
- Selecting appropriate, safe places for normal stopping
- Pedestrian Crossings (Zebra / Pelican) Method of Approach
- Approaching Junctions to left and right (major into minor)
- Emerging from junctions Left/Right (minor into major)
- Dealing with Crossroads
- Dealing with roundabouts (traffic islands)
- Meet / Cross / Overtake / Clearance / Anticipation of other road-users
- Making Normal Progress with no undue Hesitancy / Good Road Positioning
- Taking appropriate action on all traffic signs / road markings / traffic lights
- Correct use of signals (including knowledge of correct arm-signals)
ONE manoeuvre from the following THREE is tested; all need to be mastered and be completed under full control and with proper observation.
- Turn in the road using forward and reverse gears
- Reverse to the Left or Right
- Reverse Park (see note below)
Independent Drive
- A drive lasting approximatley 10 minutes, without step-by-step direction from your examiner. You will either be asked to follow a series of directions, to follow traffic signs towards a certain destination, or a combination of both.
The Reverse Park manoeuvre may be a Parallel Park out on the road during the Test, or where there are properly marked-out bays at the Test Centre may be a Bay Park exercise, to take place either at the start or the very end of the Test. If the reverse is to be into a parking bay, the candidate may choose whether to reverse in from the right or the left, as long as the traffic-flow in the Car Park allows a choice.
Once your test is over a de-brief will be offered regardless of whether you’ve passed or failed. This will offer important information on your drive and help you to improve in future regardless of whether you've passed or failed.