‘Friendly’ DAS test centres

[AlphaRomeo]

I’ve just passed my CBT and was looking to book my DAS as soon as possible.

Whilst researching my options, I stumbled across the published stats on Mod 1 and Mod 2 pass rates. Some centres average 90% pass rates and some are around 50%.

That suggests it may be worthwhile travelling to a favourable test centre and booking an intensive course with an instructor based nearby.

Is this common?

[Lindun]

Or it suggests that the training is better in some areas than others.

[Junior Bianno]

Never seen these stats before but I think you're on to something. I would definitely consider going to one of the higher pass rate centres - the tests are tricky enough regardless.

Lindun said:

Or it suggests that the training is better in some areas than others.

Don't think so. I see the one I did mine at has a terrible pass rate - Glasgow Shieldhall. About 50%. That's a big test centre that literally dozens of schools of use across the west of Scotland. They can't all be bad. When I failed my Mod2 the first time, I thought the ride was fine but the examiner claimed I clipped the white line on tight right hand turn and that was an automatic fail. Seemed harsh and maybe that kind of thing contributes to the low pass rate.

[joema]

Probably a combination of things.

Could also depend on the test routes and type of roads. The one I did mine at (Lee-on-solent - near Southampton/Portsmouth) is mostly reasonably quiet B road and 30mph suburban roads. I also did mine on the xmas break at 9am so not much traffic even if there was a gale and sleet the previous night.

If they give Mod 1 stats out and the scores were down on average then its probably tuition as its less subjective than a mod 2 with routines on mod 1 being either pass or fail.

[Krikkit]

joema said:

Probably a combination of things.

Could also depend on the test routes and type of roads. The one I did mine at (Lee-on-solent - near Southampton/Portsmouth) is mostly reasonably quiet B road and 30mph suburban roads.

This is a big factor - quieter areas around the test centre generally lead to higher pass rates.

e.g. the highest rate was Workington at 94.6% in 2018-19 - a quiet town in Cumbria, next to the coast with not much going on. The worst was Glasgow Shieldhall at 51.6. Not always true, but as a general anecdotal trend.

[AlphaRomeo]

Junior Bianno said:

Don't think so. I see the one I did mine at has a terrible pass rate - Glasgow Shieldhall. About 50%. That's a big test centre that literally dozens of schools of use across the west of Scotland. They can't all be bad. When I failed my Mod2 the first time, I thought the ride was fine but the examiner claimed I clipped the white line on tight right hand turn and that was an automatic fail. Seemed harsh and maybe that kind of thing contributes to the low pass rate.

That’s my local test centre too... When I saw the stats I thought about booking my DAS instruction in Lee-on-the-solent or Stornoway....

[TooLateForAName]

I remember looking at the stats when I did das.

The thing that really stood out was that women had twice the failure rate of men at mod1, but pretty much the same at mod2.

I couldnt find any data about which aspects resulted in failure either for mod1 or 2.

[Richard-D]

TooLateForAName said:

I remember looking at the stats when I did das.

The thing that really stood out was that women had twice the failure rate of men at mod1, but pretty much the same at mod2.

I couldnt find any data about which aspects resulted in failure either for mod1 or 2.

What! That's obviously sexist. The the same number of women need to be given a pass as men. Or more, that would be better. #equality

Where do you live anyway? If anywhere near Boston (Lincs) try there. I did mine there, hill start was on a slope you'd need a spirit level to tell it wasn't flat.

Edited by Richard-D on Wednesday 18th September 12:57

[Harji]

Go to your local centre, you'll be tested on roads that you will most likely be familiar with and that helps. Besides, MOD 2 is the easy bit.

Previous history of mine on bikes prior to CBT? none. MOD 2 was taken at the Uxbridge centre, which is by an industrial estate during morning rush hour on a cold winters day. If you start thinking that going elsewhere as an 'easy option' then your eye is off the ball already.

Edited by Harji on Wednesday 18th September 22:42

[graeme4130]

Admittedly, this is 3 years old now, but looks like you want to test either in Swindon or Bangor
https://www.visordown.com/features/top-10s/top-10-...

[Scobblelotcher]

graeme4130 said:

Admittedly, this is 3 years old now, but looks like you want to test either in Swindon or Bangor
https://www.visordown.com/features/top-10s/top-10-...

I did mine at Lee-on-Solent which is in the above list. It’s ideal for the test, low traffic, simple road system and not many challenging areas. Passed first time although I felt I aced road test which was slightly fortunate as I was inconsistent before the test.

[Disco_Biscuit]

Richard-D said:

What! That's obviously sexist. The the same number of women need to be given a pass as men. Or more, that would be better. #equality

Where do you live anyway? If anywhere near Boston (Lincs) try there. I did mine there, hill start was on a slope you'd need a spirit level to tell it wasn't flat.

Edited by Richard-D on Wednesday 18th September 12:57

I did my mod 2 at Boston, don’t think I even did a hill start? Nice easy place for a test, no traffic at 9am when I did mine, nice mix of roads, passed 1st time 👍