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Original poster

Driving test - do they have a "quota" to pass / fail?

43 replies

janicegarvey · 22/02/2024 21:20

My 17 year old son has his practical driving test tomorrow. Eek

DH is adamant that the examiners have a certain amount they're allowed to pass (not sure if this is daily or weekly / monthly) . So even if you drive well, they'll find something to fail you on if they have already reached their limit of passes if that makes sense

Does anyone know if it's true or not ?

OP posts:
Minfilia · 22/02/2024 21:23

It’s not true, no.

LucyLaundry · 22/02/2024 21:25

That's the sort of conspiracy my dh would come up with.

No it's not true. Why would it be?

DorothyZ · 22/02/2024 21:25

The think about this realistically. Of course it's not true. You are paying a government agency for a test.

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Original poster
janicegarvey · 22/02/2024 21:32

Thanks for replies, glad it's not true ...it did sound a bit far fetched tbh 😂

Think I'm more nervous than he is

He's already been waiting six months to get this test and he fails he'll probably have another bloody six month wait 😫

OP posts:
Outthedoor24 · 22/02/2024 21:40

I wouldn't have thought it was a quota as such but I'm sure eyebrows would be raised if one examiner had wildly different pass / fail rates to others.

So in that sense they probably do keep an eye on the % they are passing.

Agedcrone · 22/02/2024 21:46

As others have said, most definitely untrue.

DVSA are under pressure to sort out the driving test backlog so if they did have a quota it would be to pass more people anyway!

huggyhuggy54 · 22/02/2024 21:46

I'm not sure if it's true or not but I remember hearing this when I learnt to drive

JobMatch3000 · 22/02/2024 21:49

My local test centre had an examiner nicknamed "Fail-ey Bailey". He was renowned for being very strict but rumour was his daughter had been killed in a car accident so it was somewhat understandable.

strintrina · 22/02/2024 22:16

There are lots of driving mock tests online on youtube that show correct lanes and positioning at junctions etc and nerves get to a lot of people. Conquer Driving on youtube visits the places with the lowest past rates and there is a roundabout with no road markings and it is really hard to see where you are meant to position yourself.

Near us and on a test route a roundabout has 2 lanes going toward a particular road which is the road you want but half way round one of the lanes disappears, if you start in the right hand lane you are fucked trying to get over as the roundabout is busy and near a major motorway junction. Local knowledge plays into it sometimes. The actions of other drivers also affects you. On a mock test a bus pushed through leaving Ds no choice but to mount the pavement which is a fail despite him having no choice and his instructor telling him he had to do it.

If your son watches tonight dashcam youtube videos such as Ruby Dash Cam you can see the mistakes people make, usually, pulling out of junctions without looking, lane discipline on roundabouts so position yourself to not be in a blind spot (same with HGVs left hand side when on a motorway) and shitty overtaking usually on country ish roads. Not understanding that over taking where there is a junction on the right is highly dangerous.

So no there are not quotas/targets, they just want to ensure people can drive safely despite all the shit drivers out there. Driving instructor mock tests are great to watch for instruction for free, Clearview, DGN and Conquer Driving to name a few.

OutOfTheHouse · 22/02/2024 22:18

I remember that being the story when I took my test back in the 90s. The theory then was that you should try to take your test at the end of the month as they have their quota to make up.

Phoenix76 · 22/02/2024 22:51

OutOfTheHouse · 22/02/2024 22:18

I remember that being the story when I took my test back in the 90s. The theory then was that you should try to take your test at the end of the month as they have their quota to make up.

I'd heard so much of this too, also from the 90s such was the power of the rumour I still had it in the back of my head when I fully qualified as a driving instructor (since left that career) but from experience of taking many pupils to their test I'd say no it's not true, some examiners found it rather insulting. Interesting that it still persists, I wonder if it started to make people feel better if they didn't pass.

Tatonka · 22/02/2024 22:55

Sorry, but that's really stupid!

bozzabollix · 22/02/2024 22:58

Driving instructor here. Nope it’s not true, it’s more paperwork for them to do a fail.

If I’ve sat in the back and the person has failed it’s been for a ‘oh no, what are they doing that for?’ reason. Not a quota thing. It’s crap because the current wait is making people just chance tests when they aren’t ready. I think there’s a point when you’ll pass, and you can chance a test before it but you odds on will fail.

Damnloginpopup · 23/02/2024 07:33

What are his thoughts on vaccines, chem trails and the Illuminati?

sparrow4 · 23/02/2024 08:01

It's annoying that there's a side market in buying up tests but it's useful if you're willing to pay the extra money. My son failed his test a few weeks ago and got a retake via one of the apps for a fortnight later.

While I'm sure there isn't a daily quota, presumably someone has oversight of an examiner's pass/fail ratio to check they're not being too harsh/lenient.

Original poster
janicegarvey · 23/02/2024 08:04

Damnloginpopup · 23/02/2024 07:33

What are his thoughts on vaccines, chem trails and the Illuminati?

😂😂😂

OP posts:
Damnloginpopup · 23/02/2024 08:07

janicegarvey · 23/02/2024 08:04

😂😂😂

Show quote history

They are everywhere...

Haribosweets · 23/02/2024 08:11

I too heard that - again in the late 90s! I had my test on a Thursday and passed and was told by friends it was end of week so examiner had to get his quota of passes for that week! Good Luck to your son

Original poster
janicegarvey · 23/02/2024 08:14

sparrow4 · 23/02/2024 08:01

It's annoying that there's a side market in buying up tests but it's useful if you're willing to pay the extra money. My son failed his test a few weeks ago and got a retake via one of the apps for a fortnight later.

While I'm sure there isn't a daily quota, presumably someone has oversight of an examiner's pass/fail ratio to check they're not being too harsh/lenient.

Yeah it's been a real pain

He passed his theory months ago. As soon as he passed that we booked his practical test, but the first one was not until June which at the time was 9 months away., and it wasn't even in our home city, was 30 miles away !!!

his instructor suggested we still book it, and download the cancellation app. then 3 weeks ago he got a cancellation and it's been all systems go since then

So if he fails today it will be another long wait. Their theory test only lasts 2 years !

It wasn't too bad when I was learning, I failed 3 times 😳 but each time I could book a new test a couple weeks later . It's not like that now . It's an absolute joke and a shambles and needs sorting.

DS really needs to drive as public transport is absolutely awful around here.

OP posts:
Original poster
janicegarvey · 23/02/2024 08:17

Haribosweets · 23/02/2024 08:11

I too heard that - again in the late 90s! I had my test on a Thursday and passed and was told by friends it was end of week so examiner had to get his quota of passes for that week! Good Luck to your son

Yeah I was late 90s too!

Never heard this though. Passed on my 4th go, but it only took me about 4 months from starting lessons to passing as it was so easy to get a test

I randomly remember I passed on a Wednesday . I'd almost given up tbh so couldn't believe it when the guy said i had passed !

OP posts:
Outthedoor24 · 23/02/2024 08:17

@sparrow4 that's my thoughts their has to be some sort of performance check, aveage ratio.
If one examiner passes 80% of candidates and another 60% questions would be asked.

While their might be the odd day everyone passes, or everyone fails on an averages the examiners should be about the same.

Taylormiffed · 23/02/2024 08:17

Of course not.

DS has just passed his theory and had a test in July. When I failed my first test I was able to get another one just a month later (passed). I think it's so much more pressure knowing they may wait for weeks before the next slot comes up.

ExcellentCat · 23/02/2024 08:22

That rumour has been about since Henry Ford was a boy! Along with ‘if they ask you a motorway question you’ve passed’ (from before the theory test days.

TerrifiedOfWeather · 23/02/2024 08:29

Definitely not. I think it was probably made up by people who were pissed at failing their test.

When my son was trying to get a test there was literally nothing to book in our area but his driving school guaranteed a test within 6 weeks if you paid a fee. They got him a test for 4 weeks after paying the fee.

Good luck to your son today. 🤞

TheAverageJoanne · 23/02/2024 08:56

I have a driving instructor mate. I'm going to show him this.

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