Ipswich Driving Test Centre Pass Rate 2024-25

#The 2024-25 result in context

At 63.1%, roughly two in three candidates leave Ipswich with a pass certificate. That is 14.4 percentage points above the national average of 48.7% and places Ipswich among the highest-performing centres in England with a test volume above 10,000. For context, the nationally ranked easiest centres in 2024-25 are Dorchester at 66.7% and Kendal (Oxenholme Road) at 64.8%, both on much smaller test volumes. Ipswich, at 10,724 tests, produces a result just below those two but on a sample three to five times larger, giving the figure considerably more statistical weight.

The first-time pass rate at Ipswich in 2024-25 is 64.0%, based on 6,007 first-attempt tests with 3,847 passing. This is 0.9 percentage points above the overall pass rate of 63.1%. At most centres the overall figure is pulled down slightly by a higher proportion of retakers sitting tests they are not yet fully prepared for; at Ipswich the first-time figure actually exceeds the overall, which suggests the candidate mix at this centre skews toward well-prepared first-timers rather than an unusually high proportion of retakers.

#Ipswich against nearby Suffolk and Essex centres

Ipswich at 63.1% in 2024-25 is the highest-performing centre in its immediate region by a significant margin. Colchester, the nearest comparable centre at 15.8 miles to the south-west, returned 48.0% on 9,977 tests in 2024-25, which is almost exactly the national average. Clacton-on-Sea at 18.6 miles came in at 47.4% on 2,867 tests, and Bury St Edmunds at 22.7 miles to the north-west returned 45.7% on 8,452 tests. The gap between Ipswich and all three of its nearest neighbours is at least 15 percentage points. Candidates in east Suffolk who have a genuine choice over which centre to attend face the clearest regional case in the country for staying close to home.

#Ten-year pass rate history at Ipswich: 2015-16 to 2024-25

The DVSA data for Ipswich covers ten years from 2015-16 to 2024-25, excluding the pandemic year 2020-21 when practical testing was largely suspended. Over those nine full years the pass rate has stayed consistently above the national average, ranging from a low of 55.7% in 2015-16 to a high of 63.1% in 2024-25. The centre has not dipped below 55% in any recorded year, and the upward trajectory since 2021-22 is the most pronounced sustained improvement in the dataset.

The dip from 61.2% in 2016-17 to 55.7% in 2015-16 and the subsequent recovery reflect the broader national pattern of pass rate fluctuation in those years, rather than anything specific to Ipswich. From 2021-22 onwards the centre has grown in test volume from 7,181 to 10,724 tests while simultaneously improving its pass rate, which is unusual: larger volumes typically bring more retakers into the mix and pull the headline rate down slightly. The sustained improvement at Ipswich despite rising volume suggests the candidate pool is consistently well prepared.

#Male and female pass rates at Ipswich

Male candidates at Ipswich passed at 62.0% in 2024-25, based on 6,381 tests with 3,959 passing. Female candidates passed at 64.5% on 4,343 tests with 2,803 passing. This produces a gender reversal of 2.5 percentage points in favour of women, which runs counter to the national average where male candidates lead (49.5% male vs 47.6% female nationally in 2024-25). The Ipswich reversal is not unique in the DVSA dataset, but it is atypical. A similar reversal appeared in 2022-23 at Ipswich, where female candidates again slightly outperformed male candidates. The sustained nature of the pattern across multiple years suggests it is a real feature of this centre rather than a single-year statistical fluctuation.

The reversal is most notable when compared with the national picture: female candidates at Ipswich outperform the national male average by 15.0 percentage points. The DVSA does not publish explanations for gender differentials at individual centres, and the dataset does not include instructor gender, lesson count, or other candidate characteristics that might account for the difference. What the data shows is consistent above-average performance from both genders at Ipswich, with female candidates marginally ahead in recent years.

#What the Ipswich test route covers

The DVSA does not publish official route maps for individual test centres, and specific roads used change as examiners vary routes. Ipswich test centre is located in the town, and practical tests departing from there are likely to include the following route features based on the surrounding road network:

• Suburban residential streets in the Ipswich town centre fringe areas: on-street parking, give-way junctions and pedestrian crossings feature throughout. Observation at junctions and awareness of parked vehicles are consistent assessment points.
• The A1071, A1156 and A14 approach roads: these arterial routes carry commuter and commercial traffic and involve lane discipline, following distance, and safe junction entry. Speed management on roads transitioning from 30 mph to national speed limit zones is a key skill.
• Roundabouts on the Ipswich ring road and approach roads: multi-lane roundabouts with lane choice decisions under moderate traffic pressure. Correct lane selection and confident entry at the right gap are the main assessment points at these junctions.
• Residential areas with schools and pedestrian crossings: lower-speed environments where observation of crossing pedestrians, cyclists and emerging vehicles from driveways requires sustained attention throughout.
• Independent driving via sat-nav: the 20-minute independent section covers a portion of the test without examiner navigation instruction. Candidates who have practised the local road network before test day will navigate the Ipswich area with less cognitive load during this section.

#Preparing for your test at Ipswich

A 63.1% pass rate means that roughly one in three candidates still leaves without a pass certificate, and the DVSA marking standard is identical at every centre in England, Scotland and Wales. The road environment at Ipswich is more straightforward than many of the dense inner-city centres in the country, but the pass rate advantage reflects the roads, not a more lenient marking style. Focused preparation on the roads around the test centre is the most reliable way to improve your chances.

#Booking and what to expect on test day

Bookings for the DVSA practical test at Ipswich are made through the DVSA online booking service on gov.uk using your provisional driving licence number and theory test pass certificate number. Theory test certificates are valid for two years and your practical test must be completed within that window. The DVSA introduced new booking rules in May 2026 restricting changes to a test within 10 days; book early enough that you have flexibility to reschedule if your preparation is not complete.

On test day the standard DVSA practical test format applies. The test starts with an eyesight check reading a number plate at the required distance and one vehicle safety question. After that you drive for approximately 40 minutes, including the independent driving section and one standard manoeuvre: bay parking (forward or reverse), parallel parking, or pulling up on the right and reversing a short distance. The emergency stop is carried out on approximately one in every seven tests. A debrief follows in the car or inside the test centre.

#Sources and further reading

The figures, fees, and procedures referenced in this article are verifiable on the official gov.uk pages below. PassRates.uk is built on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s open data, published under the Open Government Licence.

• Driving test (gov.uk)
• Change or cancel your driving test (gov.uk)
• Find a driving test centre (gov.uk)
• Theory test (gov.uk)
• Apply for your first provisional driving licence (gov.uk)
• Open Government Licence v3.0 (nationalarchives.gov.uk)