Tell me’ questions Driving Test

Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

• I would turn on the ignition, press the foot brake and ask someone to check the brake lights behind.

• I would drive forward slowly and apply the handbrake. It should stop the car.

• I would drive forward slowly, press the foot brake, it shouldn't feel spongy or slack and the car shouldn't pull to one side.

Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.

• Tyre pressure information can be found in the car manual. You can check the tyre pressure by using a tyre pressure gauge.

• I would kick the tyre and make sure its hard.

• The tyre should have a tread of no less than 1.6mm and I would check it with a tyre tread depth gauge.

Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road

• I would check all the tyres using a 10p coin to measure the tread depth on the tyre.

• Tyre pressure information can be found in the car manual. You can check the tyre pressure by using a tyre pressure gauge.

• I would check all the tyres with a tread depth gauge. The legal minimum amount of tread should be no less than 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the tyre and there shouldn't be any cuts or bulges on the edge of the tyres.

Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.

• I would start the engine. A warning light on the dashboard whould illuminate and stay on if there was a problem with the anti-lock braking system.

• Turn on the ignition. Press the foot brake. Ask the examiner to check behind the car to see if the brake lights are working.

• I would start the car and drive forward slowly. When I apply the foot brake it should stop the car and the pedal should feel firm and not spongy.

Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car.

• I would turn the ignition on and turn the headlights on. I would then get out and check the headlights and tail lights are working properly.

• I would turn the ignition on, press the foot brake and either see reflections in windows or a garage door for example or ask someone to help and check the brake lights are working

• If there was a problem then a warning light would be illuminated on the dashboard

Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

• I would start the car and steer full lock left and full lock right. It should feel a little heavy.

• I would give the steering a little pressure as I start the engine. There should be slight movement as the power steering begins to operate. Also, as soon as you move off, I’ll feel the steering is light to turn and not heavy.

• I would start the car. A warning light would be illuminated on the dashboard if there was a problem.

Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.

• Tell the examiner that the head restraint should be adjusted so that the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as your eyes (or top of your ears) and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable

• Tell the examiner that it should be as low as possible

• Tell the examiner that it should be as high as the top of your head so that you can rest your head when driving.

Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

• Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), then walk round vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights

• Use this Demister and get out to look:

• I would use this dipped headlights and get out to look:

Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

Explain: With the ignition on, I would use this when I can’t see further than 100 metres:

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Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.

Explain: With the ignition on, I would twist this dial switch, push the stalk on the left towards the dashboard for the main beam and a blue light will be illuminated on the dashboard:

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