The former driving test process was that when a candidate arrives to take their test, the examiner will ask them to sign the residency and vehicle insurance declarations on a paper form named DL25.
With the new app, candidates will do this on the examiner’s tablet instead. The declarations will still be the same.
A quote from the GOV.UK blog
Before the test starts, the candidate will also be asked to confirm how they would like to receive their summary of the test. The summary will:
confirm the outcome of the test
list any driving faults during the test (in order of severity)
include information about getting further training
give information about booking another test if they were unsuccessful
The candidate will have the option of receiving their summary by email or a paper copy by post.
They will also be able to choose if the summary is sent to the email address used when booking the test, or to an alternative that they provide to the examiner on the day. If the candidate chooses for the summary to be sent by post it will be sent to the address held by DVSA. To reduce potential for fraud, the examiner will not be able to enter an alternative postal address on the day. Read the full report from gov.uk
Perth driving examiners now use a Tablet on tests. Just a few days ago a student of mine took their driving test and the examiner used a Tablet to carry out the marking. The sun was low in the sky and there was difficult in viewing the screen. This particular student was on their first driving test and passed with no driving errors.
Perth examiner on driving test
The problem was that at the end of the test the examiner said to the pupil. “Well done and no driving errors, look I have written a 0 on the screen”. The pupil leaned forward to take a look and “Whoosh”, the marking page disappeared. Leaving the pupil bewildered as they had never seen a marking sheet before. The examiner said, “Oh, that seems to have disappeared, I think it will be sent to you by email”.
Twenty-four hours later an email message came through reading – ‘Well done you have passed your test. Please read below about car insurance, tax and MOTs’. No mention of passing a driving test with no errors. On the face of it, it’s not a problem but who in the circle of family and friends would believe you could pass a driving test with no faults? If I was the pupils’ age, just 17, and passed with no faults, I would have had all of my mates saying “Yes pull the other one, an unlikely story”.
Advice to friends, family and driving instructors
Friends family and driving instructors who accompany learner drivers are not allowed by law to use a Tablet during driving lessons or conducting a mock driving test. Examiners are able to use a Tablet because they are not accompanying drivers they are observers. Whereas anyone else who accompanies a learner driver is classed as a supervisor.
Read more about driving test preparation