A former driving examiner has shared why practical driving tests appear to be held at “random times.”
The big moment all learner drivers work towards is their practical test, often after months of lessons and a theory exam. One thing many candidates have noticed is the odd timing of their assessment.
Leon Woodman, an ex-examiner, now shares advice about the exams on social media – including on TikTok, where he boasts 2.6million likes in total. In a recent video on the platform, he discussed the timing of practical driving tests.
He asked: “Ever wondered why the driving tests are at such random times? Like, why would you start something at 11:11 or 2:17?”
The driving expert explained that the DVSA states an entire test takes 57 minutes. This includes the time it takes a driving examiner to complete a write-up after the test.
Woodman added: “So, let’s break it down. Essentially, at the start you’ve got the prebrief, which will include things like the tell me question, eyesight check, all that sort of stuff.
“Then you drive which is gonna take anywhere between 35, 40 minutes, [it] may only take 34 minutes. Then you come back and you get a debrief.”
The former examiner explained that the length of the debrief depends on how that particular driving test went. If it went poorly, the examiner assessing the test is likely to have more feedback and comments to give the candidate, making the debrief longer.
Once a candidate leaves the test centre, the examiner goes back in and has to do a write-up. Woodman elaborated: “Now, if it’s been a pass, little bit easier, [they] don’t have to write up any serious or dangerous faults therefore it’s a couple of tick boxes and that test is complete.
“However, if you haven’t been successful and you’ve got a couple of serious faults there, the examiner has to write that up and that’s what’s coming through in your email about your driving test.
The motoring expert revealed if he agrees with the DVSA that a full test takes 57 minutes and he said it can all depend on any one specific test. He noted that if a candidate passes then it “normally is around that time” but shared that the extra bit of time at the end “can be a bit of a rush” to fit in a write-up, use the test centre facilities and get ready for the next test.
Woodman continued: “You’ve also got to factor in this case that the examiners get a ten minute tea break in the morning so after the second test I think it still is and then you get a lunch break which is why there are such random times for the driving test.” His TikTok clip has garnered thousands of views and likes and more than 100 comments.
One user said: “Can’t remember what time mine was but it was at a random time I did wonder at the time. passed years ago now.” Another added: “My original one was 10:58 then one that I got for a cancellation was 11:01.” Several other commenters shared their “random” test times, including 2:22, 11:11 and 8:57.