Fewer driving tests but half pass first time

There were 368,307 car tests conducted in quarter 2 2012/13.  This is 6 per cent lower than the same quarter last year.

The reduction in the number of tests conducted in quarter 2 2012/13 is likely to have been due to the continuing economic situation, national events such as the Olympics, and pass rate improvement in the car practical test leading to fewer retests.

Of all the test passes achieved in 2011/12, 45 per cent occurred on the candidate's first attempt.

Candidates aged 17 dominate even within this group as they accounted for 20 per cent of all tests in 2011/12. 

As well as accounting for the highest proportion of test candidates, 17-year olds also had the highest pass rate at 56 per cent in 2011/12.

At almost every age, male candidates had a higher pass rate than female candidates.  The difference tends to be greater for older age groups.

Male candidates aged 17 had a 2.9 percentage point higher pass rate than female candidates of the same age.

Source: GOV.UK