Show Me, Tell Me Questions for the UK Practical Driving Test
Every UK driving test includes one "tell me" question before you set off and one "show me" question while you are driving. They are easy marks if you have prepared and a frequent source of unnecessary minor faults if you have not.
#Why two questions, not one
Until 2017 the test had two "tell me" questions before driving. DVSA split them: one is asked stationary, one while moving. The aim is to test whether you can multitask safely.
#The "tell me" question
Asked once you are sitting in the driver’s seat before starting the engine. The examiner asks you to explain how you would carry out a safety check. You answer verbally without doing anything to the car.
- How would you check the brakes are working before starting a journey?
- How would you check the tyres have sufficient tread?
- How would you check the headlights and tail lights are working?
- How would you check the direction indicators are working?
- How would you know if there was a problem with the anti-lock braking system?
- How would you check the power-assisted steering is working?
#The "show me" question
Asked while you are driving, usually mid-test. You must perform the action safely while continuing to drive. If your action is dangerous, even briefly, it is a serious fault.
- Show me how you would wash and clean the rear windscreen
- Show me how you would wash and clean the front windscreen
- Show me how you would switch on dipped headlights
- Show me how you would set the rear demister
- Show me how you would operate the horn
- Show me how you would demist the front windscreen
- Show me how you would open and close the side window
#How they are marked
Each wrong or missed question is one minor fault. Get both wrong and you have two minors before the drive even properly starts, eating into your 15-fault budget. The "show me" question is more dangerous: doing it badly while driving (taking your eyes off the road for too long) can become a serious fault.
#Practising properly
Sit in your instructor’s car (or your own) and run through every show-me action without driving. Memorise the answer to each tell-me. The full DVSA list contains around 14 questions, and the examiner picks one of each.
#Common errors
- Stopping in the road to do a "show me" task instead of doing it on the move
- Saying "I would check" without saying how (for example, "I would check the brakes" rather than describing pressing the pedal)
- Looking down for several seconds to find a switch instead of glancing briefly
- Pressing the wrong control and abandoning the answer
Frequently asked questions
How many show me, tell me questions are asked on the test?
One of each. One "tell me" before the drive starts, one "show me" during the drive.
What happens if I get one wrong?
Each wrong answer is one minor fault. Two wrong answers is two minor faults. They are not test-ending unless the show-me task causes a dangerous moment.
Is there a published list of the questions?
Yes. The full list of around 14 questions is published on gov.uk and never changes between tests, so memorising the lot is realistic.
Independent UK driving test analytics, reviewed against the latest DVSA quarterly statistical release.
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