Swansea

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Swansea MPTC, Langdon Rd, Swansea

Swansea, SA1 8QY

Pass Rate
54.4%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Swansea passes 54.4% of candidates, a little above the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 28 tests a day — 6,069 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 12.2% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 08:00 and 09:00 do best, passing 67.3%.

Swansea driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
54.4%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
6,069
~28.2 per day
First Attempt Rate
50.5%
Avg 2.0 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.07
6.1% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.86
44.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
6.05
97.9% of tests have any

Common faults at Swansea

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction12.2%
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 - observation9.3%
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.
Junctions - turning right6.5%
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.
Response to traffic lights6.1%
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.
Positioning - normal driving4.6%
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.
Move off - safely4.6%
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.
Response to road markings3.9%
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 / obstructions3.7%
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.
Response to traffic signs3.2%
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).
Move off - control3.1%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.50
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.50
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.
Control - steering0.41
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 hesitation0.38
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 - control0.35
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.
Following distance0.23
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to the vehicle in front, failing to maintain a safe stopping distance.
  • Not increasing the following distance in rain, fog or ice.
  • Failing to adjust the following distance when driving behind larger vehicles.
  • Not anticipating the braking actions of the vehicle in front, leading to a sudden need to brake harshly.
Why More Common Here:
  • Stop-start heavy traffic on busy roads, especially those with traffic lights, can cause learners to feel pressured to misjudge safe following distances.
  • Fast moving traffic on dual carriageways where other vehicles are likely to slow down rapidly due to lane layouts and sliproads.
Mirrors - change speed0.23
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.
Positioning - normal driving0.21
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.
Signals - correctly0.19
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.
Clearance / obstructions0.18
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Swansea

Emergency stopTested 33.8% of the time
Pass Rate
67.3%
Fail Rate
1.2%
Reverse bay parkTested 27.5% of the time
Pass Rate
50.2%
Fail Rate
9.1%
Reverse rightTested 24.8% of the time
Pass Rate
58.0%
Fail Rate
6.6%
Parallel parkTested 23.9% of the time
Pass Rate
58.8%
Fail Rate
11.1%
Forward bay parkTested 23.2% of the time
Pass Rate
52.2%
Fail Rate
4.3%

Best times to book at Swansea

Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
67.3%
~1.6 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.8 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
61.9%
~1.1 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
61.2%
~1.6 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
59.3%
~0.9 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
59.3%
~0.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
56.0%
~5.3 tests/day
Sunday
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
56.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
55.8%
~4.9 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
55.2%
~6.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
54.6%
~0.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
54.4%
~36.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
54.3%
~4.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
54.0%
~5.3 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
53.5%
~8.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
53.2%
~5.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
53.1%
~5.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
52.5%
~4.6 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
48.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
48.0%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
46.0%
~1.6 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
45.8%
~0.8 tests/day
Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
42.3%
~0.8 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
40.4%
~1.7 tests/day

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