Nottingham (Chilwell)

Unit 24, Eldon Business Park, Eldon Road, Beeston, NOTTINGHAM

NOTTINGHAM, NG9 6DZ

Pass Rate
40.6%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Nottingham (Chilwell) is a demanding test centre: 40.6% of candidates pass, well short of the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is response to traffic signs, which costs 9.4% of candidates their test. Tests booked on weekdays between 13:00 and 14:00 do best, passing 46%.

Nottingham (Chilwell) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
40.6%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,031
~23.4 per day
First Attempt Rate
46.0%
Avg 2.2 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.08
7.1% of tests have any
Serious Faults
1.04
57.3% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.26
97.9% of tests have any

Common faults at Nottingham (Chilwell)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Response to traffic signs9.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.
  • Attempting to drive through a no-entry sign.
  • Attempting to drive through any other sign that restricts access (e.g. buses only).
  • Ignoring a give way sign and assuming priority.
  • Ignoring a keep left sign.
Why More Common Here:
  • Stop signs are rare in the UK, but may show up in this test centre area.
  • Confusing one-way systems.
  • Complex road signs restricting access (e.g. bus-only at certain times).
Positioning - lane discipline8.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • Straddling lanes, preventing other road users from overtaking.
  • Drifting over lane markings due to lack of control or concentration.
Why More Common Here:
  • Roads with complex lane configurations.
  • Dual carriageways with bends, requiring extra skill to maintain a central position.
Mirrors - change direction7.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout.
  • Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.
Why More Common Here:
  • Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.
Junctions - observation7.6%
Common Scenarios:
  • Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down.
  • Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear).
  • Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking.
  • Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks.
  • Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.
Why More Common Here:
  • Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind.
  • Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways.
  • Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Response to traffic lights6.5%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving through a red light.
  • Driving through an amber light when you could have stopped safely.
  • Hesitating unnecessarily at a green light, impeding the flow of traffic.
  • Incorrectly stopping at a red light that is meant for other drivers.
  • Ignoring or misinterpreting a green arrow filter light.
  • Not waiting in the middle of a box junction when turning right.
Why More Common Here:
  • High traffic volume in the area can pressure learners to avoid stopping for amber lights.
  • Confusingly located traffic lights.
  • Traffic lights placed on fast sections of road where learners feel pressured to make good progress.
  • Traffic lights placed within roundabouts, where learners are too focused on lane position and observations.
Move off - safely6.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Positioning - normal driving5.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Response to road markings5.8%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked.
  • Ignoring lane arrows at junctions (e.g. left turn only).
  • Ignoring a give way line and assuming priority.
  • Stopping within a cycle box, not respecting advanced stop lines.
Why More Common Here:
  • Road markings worn away due to infrequent maintenance and/or heavy traffic.
  • Complex or confusing lane restrictions.
  • Road markings can be easily missed in slow moving traffic, especially when other road users may not follow them.
  • Give way lines draw in unusual places.
Clearance / obstructions5.1%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space.
  • Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other.
  • Awkwardly placed width restrictors.
  • High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Progress - speed (too slow)4.0%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake).
  • Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely.
  • Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends.
  • Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30.
  • Rural national speed limit roads.
  • Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress.
  • Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.55
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Control - steering0.35
Common Scenarios:
  • Steering too much, too little, too early or too late.
  • Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction.
  • Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.
Why More Common Here:
  • Tight junctions and narrow roads.
  • Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.31
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake).
  • Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely.
  • Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends.
  • Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30.
  • Rural national speed limit roads.
  • Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress.
  • Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Move off - control0.29
Common Scenarios:
  • Stalling from a parked position or in traffic.
  • Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off.
  • Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.
Why More Common Here:
  • Hilly areas, especially around junctions.
  • Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Position - normal stops0.26
Common Scenarios:
  • Stopping in a location that obstructs a driveway, a junction, or a bus stop.
  • Parking with one or more wheels on the pavement.
  • Parking too far from the kerb.
Why More Common Here:
  • Inner city test areas with limited roadside parking.
  • Areas where residents habitually park on the pavement can trick learners into thinking it is acceptable.
Clearance / obstructions0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space.
  • Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other.
  • Awkwardly placed width restrictors.
  • High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.
Progress - undue hesitation0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so.
  • Waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you.
  • Failing to maintain momentum when joining a clear roundabout.
  • Ignoring shields and exit signals on mini-roundabouts and therefore missing many opportunities to proceed.
Why More Common Here:
  • Areas and times with fast, flowing traffic and non-obvious gaps.
  • Busy mini-roundabouts.
  • Test routes with stops along busy main roads.
Signals - correctly0.20
Common Scenarios:
  • Signalling left or right, but not turning.
  • Signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead.
  • Signalling left at a roundabout when you are not intending to take the first exit.
  • Failing to cancel a signal after turning.
  • Flashing other road users to give way, contrary to the Highway Code.
Why More Common Here:
  • Main roads with many junctions and driveways with little space between them.
  • Roundabouts with more than four exits and/or confusing signs.
  • Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Positioning - normal driving0.19
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Junctions - observation0.18
Common Scenarios:
  • Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down.
  • Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear).
  • Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking.
  • Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks.
  • Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.
Why More Common Here:
  • Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind.
  • Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways.
  • Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.

Manoeuvres tested at Nottingham (Chilwell)

Emergency stopTested 30.6% of the time
Pass Rate
49.8%
Fail Rate
0.6%
Reverse rightTested 26.4% of the time
Pass Rate
35.8%
Fail Rate
9.0%
Reverse bay parkTested 24.4% of the time
Pass Rate
39.7%
Fail Rate
9.5%
Forward bay parkTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
44.9%
Fail Rate
4.9%
Parallel parkTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
44.0%
Fail Rate
18.1%

Best times to book at Nottingham (Chilwell)

Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
57.1%
~0.2 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
46.0%
~3.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
45.3%
~4.2 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
44.9%
~1.6 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~0.5 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~0.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
41.0%
~30.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
40.7%
~8.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.6%
~8.3 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
39.5%
~3.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
38.4%
~3.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
38.1%
~1.5 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
35.8%
~3.5 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
35.1%
~1.2 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
35.1%
~12.2 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~2.1 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
28.6%
~0.2 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
28.6%
~0.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
26.8%
~1.0 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
23.7%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
16.7%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
17:00-18:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.0 tests/day

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