Reading

How To Get There

Reading test centre is based near the town centre and the River Kennet. With it being mere minutes away from the bustling A33 and the M1, learners in Reading and the wider Berkshire area certainly won’t need to worry about getting to Reading test centre. Not had the chance to look around the test centre yet? That’s fine: just use these directions and you’ll get there just fine. Please note that the centre urges you not to enter the car park until 5 minutes before your test time—parking space is limited.

A Bit More About Reading

The locations of test centres are far from random. In fact, they’re carefully chosen to ensure examiners have a broad enough range of road types and features to truly test the newfound skills of candidates—ranging from speed awareness to hazard perception. Reading test centre certainly has enough tricks up its sleeve to test even the most confident of learner drivers—especially given its location close to the Royal Berkshire Hospital (hope you’ve brushed up on how to deal with emergency vehicles safely!). Want to know more about Reading in general? Read up on the resources below.

• National Rail
• Bus
• Council
• BBC Weather
• More about Reading

Reading Test Route

No matter where you look, you won’t be able to get your hands on an up-to-date route for Reading. It’s not entirely hopeless, however, as you can still predict which roads might crop up on your practical by watching videos of Reading test routes on YouTube or by downloading our sample Reading driving test routes. Additionally, your instructor will help you build up your experience on the very same roads that will feature on your test. By the time you go in for your big day, it will be a walk in the park.

Reading Test Pass Rates

Nothing seems to get the attention of learner drivers as much as driving test pass rates. That’s why we’ve gone out of our way to share as many interesting driving related stats as we can. From manual vs automatic pass rates to test centres with the best and worst pass rates, we’ve got it all. The national average pass rate for those in the UK currently stands at 45.9%—but what about Reading test centre? Feast your eyes on pass rates from the last five years below…

Pass rates at Reading test centre aren’t too bad—they’ve skirted just above and below the national average within the last five years. Bear in mind, though, that pass rates aren’t the be all and end all. After all, your result comes down solely to how you drive on the day of your test! To get the best chance of succeeding, be sure to ask your instructor to give you a mock test so you know exactly what to expect.

What If I Can’t Go To Reading?

If Reading test centre is no longer a viable option for you, or you’re just picking a reserve test centre, your nearest alternatives in Berkshire are Newbury and Slough.

What To Expect On The Day

In what seems like no time at all, your practical test date will be upon you. Before you start freaking out, though, remember that your driving lessons will have more than prepared you for this. In fact, whilst it might not seem like it, your lessons will, more often than not, be more difficult than the actual test! If you’re still worrying, read up on our helpful guide on how to avoid test day nerves.

On the day of your practical, you need to get to Reading test centre around 5 minutes before your test is due to start. Remember: parking is limited, so you don’t want to get in the way of other candidates taking their test. It’s also crucial that you don’t forget your provisional licence; otherwise, you won’t be able to go ahead! Got all that sorted? Good stuff! Your test will then consist of:

• An eyesight test, where you’ll need to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
• Two “show me, tell me” questions covering vehicle safety and maintenance
• Twenty minutes of general driving, where you’ll be guided by the examiner, and will also need to perform one of the following manoeuvres:
  • Parallel parking
  • Bay parking
  • Pulling up on the right
• Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination

Once you get back to Reading test centre and park your car, the test will officially end. The examiner will then walk you through the feedback sheet and list any driving test faults you may have accumulated. If you fail, keep hold of this sheet—you can use it as a kind of blueprint to help you figure out which areas you need to work on the next time you take your test. If you pass, you’ll also be handed a test pass certificate.

But What If I Fail?

Despite how you might feel when it happens, failing isn’t the end of the world. It happens to plenty of learner drivers, trust us. Sometimes, it takes a few attempts to pass the driving test. All that matters is that you try again. If you picked up quite a few major faults, you might want to consider a refresher course. It will help you improve on your weaker areas and give you a much-needed confidence boost. 

Raring to go for the practical again? Get PassMeFast to fast-track it for you so you’re not waiting around. To get booked in today, give us a ring on 0333 123 4949 or contact us online.

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

Not interested in spending months or even years learning to drive? Join hundreds of other learner drivers in taking an intensive or semi-intensive course with PassMeFast. Instead of taking lessons on a week by week basis, you can fit them in around your schedule, according to your own availability. Working with one of our DVSA-approved instructors, you’ll build up the confidence and skills you need to pass your practical with flying colours. You’ll be ready to set off on a road trip in no time!

Ready to get started on your journey with PassMeFast? Take a look at our course prices page to see our tailored crash course packages. If you’re not sure which is best for you, our course recommender tool will tell you your ideal course. To get booked in, give us a call on 0333 123 4949 or book a course online.