Driving tests - why are some centres harder than others?

Been having a look at the pass rates at the various test centres. Couldn’t help noticing that the pass rates at some of them are really low (mostly in the big cities in England) and some are rather high (mostly in the North of Scotland, especially the islands).

Is there any one reason for this? Could it be down to how the examiners mark the tests? Or is it anything to do with the quality of some of the trainers? Maybe something to do with there being more traffic round about the biggest centres?
Or would the fact that more tests are carried out at the likes of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and London have anything to do with this?

The DSA say that all tests are carried out to the same standard and that results should be the same no matter which examiner takes the test. In that case - why isn’t the pass rate percentage round about the same at every test centre?

The DSA say that all tests are carried out to the same standard and that results should be the same no matter which examiner takes the test. In that case - why isn’t the pass rate percentage round about the same at every test centre?

Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

ROG:
Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

:open_mouth: :astonished: :confused:

Would love to know what “the bits of the drive” means!

SuperLez:

ROG:
Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

:open_mouth: :astonished: :confused:

Would love to know what “the bits of the drive” means!

inconveniencing some-one at a roundabout is regarded at Glos as an instant fail even if the rest of the drive was fantastic but at Weedon they would wait till the end and then judge that within the context of the whole drive and if the general drive was good then they would give the candidate a rollocking and pass them.

ROG:

SuperLez:

ROG:
Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

:open_mouth: :astonished: :confused:

Would love to know what “the bits of the drive” means!

inconveniencing some-one at a roundabout is regarded at Glos as an instant fail even if the rest of the drive was fantastic but at Weedon they would wait till the end and then judge that within the context of the whole drive and if the general drive was good then they would give the candidate a rollocking and pass them.

That sounds much clearer!

What they do at Nottingham does seem to make more sense to me - everyone is going to make a mistake when they’re out on the road, no matter how good a driver they are.

I trust even if there is no need for them to give a rollocking they offer constructive advice about how they could become a better LGV driver?

I suppose at Gloucester they could just argue that they are “just doing their job”.

I think will in theory they might try to be consistent, it’s an impossible task. Take for instance Inverary (which had one of the highest pass rates for cars). Years back my mate managed to fail twice up there and there wasn’t even a roundabout or dual carriageway to deal with (unlike Dumbarton test centre). An examiner from Dumbarton used to go up there to conduct the tests. I think he had to be unduly harsh to compensate for the lack of challenging routes! He was known to be difficult to please. On the other hand someone else I know took a motorcycle test with the same fella (and he sat his car test 10 years previous with the SAME guy) and he was given a second opportunity to do his U-turn - “er, I didn’t see it that time…” They are human after all!

Back on topic, I was looking at the stats and perhaps think it’s due to traffic volumes and road layouts. In quieter areas / times of the day or simpler routes, you’re probably more likely to get it right because your are not experiencing mental overload. On the other hand if it’s the opposite there are more situations that can go wrong and force you into a silly mistake, spoiling an otherwise good drive.

I suppose it would tip the balance on an average test performance, but if you’re ready and well above the bar I’d ignore the stats and concentrate on your own driving standard/performance.

ROG:

The DSA say that all tests are carried out to the same standard and that results should be the same no matter which examiner takes the test. In that case - why isn’t the pass rate percentage round about the same at every test centre?

Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

I’d be interested to see some evidence & proof of that! :unamused:

marcustandy:
Definitely NOT TRUE
For example, the examiners at Weedon judge on the “whole drive” whereas the examiners at Gloucester judge on “the bits of the drive”

I’d be interested to see some evidence & proof of that! :unamused:
[/quote]

The only way you could get proof is to do a test at each DTC - I had a couple of trrainees who did just that! - they did not believe that they wee given a FAIR test at Glos so did their next tests at Weedon and they said that the difference was Glaringly obvious.

Nothing to do with them being better (mentally) prepared because they knew what to expect next time around. :unamused:

As such, it is an ‘unmeasurable’, however, having had a lot of (very) close interaction with examiners, their training and their continuation training, I can say that the only variance will between individuals, not test centres.

The variances that arise are because we are all human beings. Any human-performed task in life with have an element of variation to the next person, whether you look at driving examiners, football referee’s, High Court judges or a driver reversing onto a loading bay!!

All of the above work to guidelines that they receive through training; individual interpretation of these guidelines should be as near alike as possible but, like I already said, we are human beings, not robots.

BTW Rog,

ROG:
. . . . and they said . . . . .

. . . is more like a ‘MMTM’ theory than evidence or proof.

. . . is more like a ‘MMTM’ theory than evidence or proof.

Agreed - the only true way to find out would be for one person to take the test at the same DTC with every examiner on the same route - ok, the situations on the road would always be different but it would be the closest one could get.

I know one driver who went to Grimsby for his class1 he failed twice, then did a test at Peterbourgh and passed 1st go there. His problem was rounderbouts so he told me, he couldnt get round two in grimsby without hitting the kerb.

I did all my 1 and 2 in Grimsby and well yeah theres a couple of iffy areas on the test route but nothing that even a trainee cant get round.

Been having a look at the pass rates at the various test centres. Couldn’t help noticing that the pass rates at some of them are really low (mostly in the big cities in England) and some are rather high (mostly in the North of Scotland, especially the islands).

Well surely this gives you a clue…

Big Cities = lots of traffic and potential hazards

Scottish countryside -= nice easy run.

Does not take a genious to work that one out but I do agree with Rog that certain test centres seem to set their own standards and also I do get frustrated at the difference between particular examiners.
I got worn out with telling my trainees:-
If you get examiner A then get your foot down and get on with it - he likes a brisk drive
but if you get examiner B then give him a Sunday drive and dont go too near the speed limits.
Examiner C is red hot on the left mirror but examiner D is not too worried about mirrors as long as you keep away from kerbs … and so the list goes on.
I have had good drivers fail for what other examiners would deem a minor and other drivers who I would not give a licence to even if it were printed in Noddyland pass because the examiners only looked for the obvious and not given any thought to the overall drive.
It is not a perfect system but unless someone comes up with a better one we are stuck with it.

This could be a classic point for an argument. You’re on test driving on a dual carriageway. You’re driving at the regulation 50mph (your instructor would surely have told you that the examiner wants to see how you handle an LGV at top legal speed on this type of road). A trucker driving “up to the limiter” passes you on the outside lane. Once he is safely past you, you “flash him in”.

Would different examiners interpret this differently? Would some fail you because it is not your responsibility to know the length of the passing vehicle? Would others give you a minor for it? And are there some who would praise you as it is what you would do in the real world?

SuperLez:
This could be a classic point for an argument. You’re on test driving on a dual carriageway. You’re driving at the regulation 50mph (your instructor would surely have told you that the examiner wants to see how you handle an LGV at top legal speed on this type of road). A trucker driving “up to the limiter” passes you on the outside lane. Once he is safely past you, you “flash him in”.

Would different examiners interpret this differently? Would some fail you because it is not your responsibility to know the length of the passing vehicle? Would others give you a minor for it? And are there some who would praise you as it is what you would do in the real world?

NEVER flash in on test (or gesture to anyone in any shape or form) let them make their own decisions.
I think there was a discussion on this site about this and the I think the outcome was that a flash in (if going to do one) should be given when the overtaking truck has reaced the 2 second safety margin in front of you but as they usually cut in before that then you aint gonna flash no-one :exclamation: