Examiner English
Read-aloud uses AI-generated voices when recordings are available.
About this text. Details
RSA terms allow an interpreter for technical, secondary-control and in-car checks and hand signals. Ask RSA in advance about oral questions. Request assistance when booking. The interpreter must be at least 16 and not an approved driving instructor, and cannot accompany you on the road.
“At the next junction, turn left, please.”
What it means: Turn left where the next road meets this one. Check your mirrors, signal left and slow down in good time.
“Take the next road on the right.”
What it means: Turn right into the first road you come to on the right.
If you are not sure which road the tester means, you can ask.
“Take the second road on the left.”
What it means: Drive past the first road on the left. Turn left into the second one.
“At the end of the road, turn right.”
What it means: Drive to the end of this road. Stop or give way if you need to. Then turn right when it is safe.
If you go the wrong way, stay calm and keep driving safely. The tester will give you new directions.
“At the traffic lights, go straight on.”
What it means: Do not turn at the lights. Go straight ahead when the light is green and the way is clear.
“Follow the signs for the town centre.”
What it means: General driving English. Use the direction signs to find the road to the town centre and get into the appropriate lane early.
Look for the signs early, so you have time to get into the right lane.
“Bear left where the road divides.”
What it means: Where the road splits into two, keep to the left road. It is a gentle turn, not a sharp one.
“Move into the right-hand lane when it's safe to do so.”
What it means: Change to the lane on your right, but only when it is safe. Check your mirrors, signal right, check your blind spot, then move over smoothly.
“At the roundabout, take the first exit.”
What it means: Leave the roundabout at the first road. This means going left. Usually you use the left lane and signal left as you come up to the roundabout.
“At the roundabout, go straight ahead. That's the second exit.”
What it means: Leave at the second road. Usually you use the left lane, unless road markings show something else. Signal left after you pass the first exit.
“At the roundabout, take the third exit.”
What it means: Count the exits and leave at the third one. On many roundabouts this means going right. Usually you use the right lane and signal right, then signal left after you pass the exit before yours.
Start counting from the first exit on your left. Do not count the road you came in on.
“Go all the way around the roundabout and come back the way we came.”
What it means: Drive around the whole roundabout and leave at the road you came in on. Usually you use the right lane and signal right, then signal left after you pass the exit before yours.
“At the roundabout, follow the signs for Dublin.”
What it means: General driving English. The direction sign before the roundabout shows which exit leads to Dublin. Choose your lane and signal for that exit.
Read the sign early. The picture on the sign shows the exits in order, so you can count them.
“Please reverse into the road on the left. Stay fairly close to the kerb.”
What it means: This is the reverse around a corner. The tester first asks you to drive past the side road and stop on the left. Then reverse slowly around the corner into it, keeping near the kerb. Keep going back in a straight line until the tester tells you to stop.
Look all around the whole time, not only in the mirrors. If a person or car comes, stop and wait.
“Now turn the car around so it faces the other way. Use forward and reverse gears.”
What it means: This is a turnabout. Use forward and reverse gears to face the opposite way. Check all around before and during each move. Keep clear of the kerbs and give way to others.
The tester may say 'over and back'. This means moving forward and reversing. You may repeat those movements if needed.
“Pull in here on the hill, please. Then move off again when you're ready.”
What it means: This is a hill start. Stop and secure the car with the parking brake. In a manual car, find the biting point, where the clutch starts to transmit power to the wheels. Look all around, check your mirrors, signal and check the relevant blind spot. When safe and ready to move, release the parking brake and go.
Use the brakes to prevent rolling back. Avoid holding the car on the hill with a partly engaged clutch.
“Move off when you're ready.”
What it means: You can move when it is safe. To move out from the left kerb, look all around, check your mirrors and signal right. Just before moving, check the blind spot over your right shoulder. Give way to anyone already on the road.
“When it's safe, pull out from behind the parked car.”
What it means: Move out around the parked car in front of you. Check your mirrors, signal right, check your blind spot, and leave enough space as you pass it.
“That's nearly the end of the test. Please find a place to park.”
What it means: The drive is nearly over. Choose a safe, legal place to park. You do not need to reverse in. Put on the handbrake and switch off the engine.
“Pull in on the left when it's safe, and stop.”
What it means: Find a safe place on the left side of the road and stop there. Check your mirrors and signal left first.
Choose a place that is safe and legal. For example, not close to a junction and not across a driveway.
“Stop just after the next lamp post, please.”
What it means: Example of a stopping instruction. Pass the next street light and stop shortly after it on the left, where it is safe and legal.
“Pull in behind the parked car, but leave a good gap.”
What it means: Example of a stopping instruction. Pull in behind the parked car where stopping is safe and legal. Leave enough room to pull out again safely.
“Please secure the car.”
What it means: Once stopped, apply the parking brake. For the hill exercise in a manual car, select neutral. In an automatic, use the selector position appropriate to the vehicle and situation. Select P only while stationary when parking.
“Tell me how you would check the tyres.”
What it means: Explain how you check the tyres: enough tread, no cuts or bulges, and the right air pressure. The car's handbook shows the right pressure.
The tester asks you to explain how to do 3 of the 10 checks. They cover tyres, lights, reflectors, indicators, engine oil, coolant, wipers and windscreen washer fluid, steering, brakes and horn.
“Tell me how you would check the engine oil.”
What it means: Follow your car's handbook to explain how you check the oil. If there is a dipstick, the usual check is to pull it out, wipe it, put it back and pull it out again. The level should be between the low and high marks. Close the bonnet as the handbook says and check that it is latched.
“Switch on the front wipers and washers, please.”
What it means: Show how to use the front windscreen wipers and washers.
Learn where every switch is in the car you will use on test day.
“Show me how you'd clear the windscreen if it was misted up.”
What it means: Turn on the demister and blow the fan onto the front window. Air conditioning can help it clear faster.
“Switch on the dipped headlights, please.”
What it means: Turn on the normal low headlights, not the full beam.
“Keep following this road unless I tell you to turn.”
What it means: Stay on this road, even where it bends. Do not turn unless the tester asks. Still obey all signs and road markings.
At the start, the tester may say 'follow the course of the road'. It means the same: stay on the road you are on, unless the tester tells you to turn.
“I'll tell you in good time where to turn.”
What it means: The tester gives each direction early enough for you to check your mirrors, signal and get into position. Until then, keep following the road.
If you do not understand an instruction, you can ask the tester to say it again.
“Can you tell me your address, please?”
What it means: The tester checks who you are. Say your home address. Then the tester asks to see your learner permit.
“Please read this statement and tell me if it's all correct.”
What it means: You confirm that the car is roadworthy and that your insurance covers you for the test. If reading is hard for you, the tester can read it to you.
“I'm sorry, you haven't been successful this time.”
What it means: This means you did not pass. The tester shows you the faults that decided the result, but does not talk through the drive. You get a form with the main things to work on, and a full report comes later.