Oxford (Cowley)

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Oxford (Cowley), James Wolfe Road, Cowley

Cowley, OX4 2PY

Pass Rate
43.6%
Members
3

Test Statistics

Oxford (Cowley) passes 43.6% of candidates, below the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 13.8% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 50.9%.

Oxford (Cowley) driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
43.6%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
4,644
~21.6 per day
First Attempt Rate
54.7%
Avg 1.9 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.08
7.7% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.94
54.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.48
98.0% of tests have any

Common faults at Oxford (Cowley)

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction13.8%
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 - observation8.7%
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 lights7.2%
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.
Response to road markings5.6%
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.
Response to traffic signs5.5%
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).
Junctions - turning right5.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions.
  • Not positioning to the right of the road when turning right.
  • Turning right at a roundabout using the incorrect lane.
  • Not using the waiting area in the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, therefore blocking traffic behind.
Why More Common Here:
  • Confusing road layouts, worn road markings and circuitous test routes involving waiting area for right turns.
  • Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious.
  • Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Move off - safely4.9%
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.
Use of speed (too fast)4.2%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving above the posted speed limit.
  • Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road.
  • Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit).
  • Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous).
  • Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.
Why More Common Here:
  • Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav.
  • Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads.
  • Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures.
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads.
  • 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace.
  • Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.
Control - steering3.6%
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 - undue hesitation3.3%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Progress - speed (too slow)0.64
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.
Progress - undue hesitation0.41
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.
Move off - safely0.41
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 - steering0.33
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.
Move off - control0.27
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.
Mirrors - change direction0.26
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.
Position - normal stops0.19
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.
Vehicle checks0.18
Common Scenarios:
  • Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault).
  • Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.
Signals - correctly0.17
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.
Mirrors - change speed0.17
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when slowing down.
  • Failing to check mirrors when speeding up, creating danger for anyone overtaking.
  • Accidentally slowing due to improper gear selection.
Why More Common Here:
  • Roads with harsh speed limit changes.
  • Fast hilly roads where learners may forget to downshift as needed, causing accidental slow-downs.

Manoeuvres tested at Oxford (Cowley)

Emergency stopTested 32.8% of the time
Pass Rate
51.3%
Fail Rate
2.2%
Parallel parkTested 25.6% of the time
Pass Rate
41.4%
Fail Rate
14.5%
Reverse bay parkTested 25.5% of the time
Pass Rate
42.2%
Fail Rate
10.0%
Forward bay parkTested 24.6% of the time
Pass Rate
47.2%
Fail Rate
6.3%
Reverse rightTested 23.9% of the time
Pass Rate
44.5%
Fail Rate
8.7%

Best times to book at Oxford (Cowley)

Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
52.9%
~0.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
52.8%
~0.9 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
52.6%
~0.6 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.9%
~1.8 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
48.2%
~5.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
46.3%
~3.1 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
44.8%
~0.9 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
44.0%
~1.6 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
44.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
43.8%
~2.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
43.6%
~4.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
43.5%
~3.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
43.4%
~28.6 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
42.5%
~8.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
42.3%
~8.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~0.1 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
38.9%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
38.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
30.8%
~0.4 tests/day

Community Posts

Loading posts...

Centres you can move a Oxford (Cowley) test to

DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for Oxford (Cowley).

Get browser tips, swap updates & news