Firstly you must be able to read a number plate at the distance of 27.5m / 90 ft, where the numbers and letters are 79.4mm tall in good daylight with glasses or contact lenses if necessary. The driving ability test will last approximately 40 minutes and you must not commit more than sixteen Minor driving faults or commit one serious or one dangerous fault. Within the driving test you will be asked to perform a selection of the following manoeuvres

• Move away straight ahead or at an angle. • Move away whilst parked on a hill uphill or downhill. • Bay park in a selected car parking space. (normally preformed at the test centre) • Stop the vehicle in an emergency. • Drive the vehicle in reverse gear and whilst doing so enter limited openings to the right and to the left taking effective all round observations. • Reverse park the vehicle into the space behind a parked car, within the space of about two car lengths and close to and parallel with the kerb taking effective all round observation or reverse park into a parking bay, with due regard for other vehicles or pedestrians, whilst taking all-round observation. • Turn the vehicle around to face in the opposite direction by the use of forward and reverse gears taking effective all round observations. As you can imagine that a very high standard of driving is required for this test and can involve all road types available including rural roads, dual carriageway and busy city centres. You are expected to demonstrate a brisk business like drive showing a high degree of handling of controls, use of correct road procedure, anticipation of all other road users and taking the appropriate action, sound judgment of distance, speed and timing and showing consideration for the convenience and safety of other road users. This standard of driving can be studied with the use of the book 'Driving - The Essential Skills' which is recommended by the DSA.