The UK driving test marking sheet, known as the DL25, is how your examiner records your performance. You can pass with up to 15 minor driving faults, but just one serious or dangerous fault will result in an automatic fail. Understanding this system is key to preparing effectively for test day.
What Is the UK Driving Test Marking Sheet?
The UK driving test tips is the official form used by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiners to assess your driving ability. It’s not just a piece of paper—it’s a detailed grid covering every skill you need to demonstrate during your test.
Examiners use this form to record any faults you make throughout the 40-minute driving test. Each box corresponds to a specific skill, such as moving off, using mirrors, or responding to traffic signals. At the end of the test, the marking sheet provides a clear, visual summary of your overall performance.
The sheet is divided into sections covering different aspects of driving. This structure allows the examiner to systematically and fairly record your actions, ensuring that every learner is assessed against the same DVSA criteria.
How Examiners Record Faults During the Test
During your test, the examiner will remain quiet and observe your driving. When they spot a fault, they will discreetly mark it on the DL25 form, which is usually on a tablet device.
They use a system of slashes to record faults in the corresponding boxes. A single slash indicates a minor fault. A more significant mistake will be marked as a serious or dangerous fault, which the examiner will record in the designated columns on the right-hand side of the sheet.
It’s important to remember that the examiner is a professional. They are trained to be objective and will not try to trick you. Their goal is simply to assess whether you meet the national standard for safe driving.
How Many Minor Faults Are Allowed in the UK Driving Test?
Understanding the pass requirements is crucial. You can make mistakes during your test and still pass, as long as they are not significant.
The DVSA driving test pass requirements UK state that you are allowed to accumulate up to 15 minor driving faults. If you make 16 or more minors, you will fail the test.
However, a single serious or dangerous fault will result in an immediate fail, regardless of how many minor faults you have. The focus is on demonstrating safe and controlled driving throughout the test.
Can Too Many Minors Turn Into a Serious Fault?
Yes, a pattern of repeated minor faults in the same category can be escalated to a serious fault. For example, if you consistently forget to check your mirrors before changing speed or direction, the examiner may see this as a significant weakness in your observational skills.
This is known as a habitual fault. The examiner will determine that you have not developed a key driving skill to a safe standard. Therefore, what might seem like a small, isolated mistake becomes a serious issue when repeated multiple times.
This rule highlights the importance of consistent, safe driving habits. It’s not just about avoiding big mistakes; it’s about showing the examiner you have a solid and reliable command of the vehicle and awareness of your surroundings.
What Is the Difference Between Minor, Serious, and Dangerous Faults?
The DVSA classifies faults into three categories. Knowing the distinction between serious vs dangerous faults and minor ones will help you understand what examiners are looking for.
| Fault Type | Meaning | Result |
| Minor | A small mistake that is not potentially dangerous. | Allowed (up to 15) |
| Serious | An action that is potentially dangerous to you, the examiner, other road users, or property. | Automatic fail |
| Dangerous | An action that involves actual danger to you, the examiner, other road users, or property. | Automatic fail |
Let’s break these down further.
Minor Faults (Driving Faults)
A minor fault is a small error that doesn’t compromise safety. It’s a mistake that a more experienced driver might occasionally make but is not considered hazardous.
Examples of minor faults include:
- Slightly hesitant at a junction without causing a major delay.
- Forgetting to cancel your signal after a turn.
- Brushing the kerb gently during a manoeuvre.
These are imperfections, not dangerous actions. Accumulating a few of these is normal, but too many suggest you lack the overall standard required to drive independently.
Serious Faults (‘Majors’)
A serious fault is a mistake that could have become dangerous. This type of error shows a lack of skill or awareness that could lead to a hazardous situation. One serious fault is enough to fail your test.
Examples of serious faults:
- Failing to check your blind spot when changing lanes on a dual carriageway.
- Emerging from a junction and causing an approaching vehicle to slow down.
- Not making effective observations during a reverse park.
These actions demonstrate a weakness in a core driving competency, making your driving potentially unsafe.
Dangerous Faults (‘Majors’)
A dangerous fault is the most critical error. It means your actions caused an actual, immediate risk of danger. This will result in an immediate fail, and the examiner may have to intervene verbally or physically.
Examples of dangerous faults:
- Pulling out in front of a vehicle, forcing it to swerve or brake sharply.
- Driving through a red light.
- Mounting the pavement during a manoeuvre where pedestrians are present.
A dangerous fault shows that you are not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of driving alone.
What Causes an Automatic Fail?
An automatic fail on the UK driving test occurs if you commit just one serious or dangerous fault. There is no other way to fail automatically; it is always linked to one of these significant errors.
Common reasons for an automatic fail include:
- Observation: Lack of effective observation at junctions, roundabouts, or during manoeuvres.
- Junctions: Poor judgement when turning or emerging, affecting other traffic.
- Mirrors: Failing to use mirrors correctly before signalling, changing speed, or changing direction.
- Control: Losing control of the vehicle, such as stalling in a dangerous position or mounting the kerb.
Your goal is to show the examiner that you are consistently safe, not just that you can perform specific manoeuvres perfectly under pressure.
At Flex Driving Academy, our instructors conduct mock tests using the official DVSA marking criteria to help learners pass confidently.
Tips to Avoid Common Driving Test Faults
Preparation is the best way to avoid accumulating faults on your test day. Focus on mastering the basics and building consistent habits.
- Mirrors, Signal, Manoeuvre (MSM): Apply this routine every time you plan to change position or speed. Make it an automatic habit.
- Observations at Junctions: Look left, right, and left again before emerging. If your view is obscured, creep forward slowly until you can see clearly. Never rush.
- Blind Spot Checks: Always check your shoulder before moving off, changing lanes, or turning. This is a common reason for a serious fault.
- Speed Management: Pay close attention to speed limit signs, especially when they change. Adjust your speed appropriately for road conditions, hazards, and legal limits.
- Manoeuvres: Practice your manoeuvres until they feel slow, controlled, and second nature. Prioritise observation over speed and accuracy. It’s better to be slow and safe than quick and careless.
- Mock Tests: Take a mock test with your instructor. This simulates the real test environment and uses the official driving test marking sheet UK to highlight areas you need to improve.
Feeling nervous is normal, but solid preparation is the best way to build confidence. Trust in the skills you have developed with your instructor and focus on driving safely and calmly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the pass mark for the UK driving test?
To pass your driving test, you must have no more than 15 minor driving faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. One serious or dangerous fault will result in a fail.
How long does a driving fault stay on the marking sheet?
A fault recorded on the DL25 marking sheet is only for that specific test attempt. If you fail and retake the test, you start with a clean sheet. The results are used for statistical purposes by the DVSA but do not count against you in future tests.
Can you ask your examiner why you failed during the test?
You should not speak to the examiner during the test unless they speak to you or it is a safety matter. After the test is over, the examiner will provide a debrief, explaining the faults you made and the reason for the result. Your instructor can also listen in to help you understand what to work on.
What is the most common reason for failing the driving test?
According to DVSA statistics, the most common reasons for failing the practical driving test are ineffective observation at junctions and failing to use mirrors correctly when changing direction. These often result in serious faults.
Do you fail if you touch the kerb?
Lightly touching the kerb during a manoeuvre will likely result in a minor fault. However, if you hit it with force or mount the pavement, it will be marked as a serious or even a dangerous fault, causing you to fail.