Hi folks. I am currently training (Class C, auto) and have passed Modules 1, 2 and 3a. I have my 3b test on Wednesday any my Module 4 on Thursday.
I had three full days training/practise to get through this one tiny exercise, (Module 3a Reversing and Manoeuvres), and quite a few of my co-trainees have managed to fail.
I was discussing the 3a test in another place, and someone mentioned “shunting”. I said that I had been taught that no shunts were allowed, that one is only allowed one “Get out and Look” and that touching the barrier was an insta-fail.
Some people have since replied that the candidate is allowed TWO shunts (forward movements, even as far as the start-line) Two G.O.A.L’s and that touching the barrier is fine as long as it is not moved!
Now, I have passed my test, and I suppose that this is no longer my concern, unless I decide to “upgrade” to Manual gearbox class C, or C+E. But my instructors are good people, and so are my co-trainees. The company is notorious for having “data” on every aspect of an employee’s life/performance, and if they see that a lot of people are failing the 3a, they might conclude that this is due to bad instruction, when the fact is that the instructors are attempting to train candidates to a FAR HIGHER standard than is needed to pass the test.
Does anyone here have any DEFINITIVE answers? Any actual test-centre examiners use this forum? @Peter S your thoughts, please?
wakou:
Some people have since replied that the candidate is allowed TWO shunts (forward movements, even as far as the start-line) Two G.O.A.L’s and that touching the barrier is fine as long as it is not moved!
That is correct 
Hi wakou,
Congrats on passing the tests you have to date, and good luck for your 3b when it comes.
Yes, you’re absolutely allowed to take a shunt, you’re also allowed to get out and look (but only once), and yes, as long as the barrier doesn’t fall/break due to your impact, you’re allowed to make contact and still pass the 3a.
There’s no separate test for driving a manual HGV, so as long as you passed your car test (Cat B) in a manual car, you will be qualified for both manual and automatic HGVs upon the completion of your 3b in an automatic truck.
The final point I’d make is that the DVSA sets the standards required for testing, NOT your training provider, so your training should be of the very same standard as everyone else, as you’re taking a standard driving test which defines whether you meet or exceed what is required to pass. A perfect example of this is that you’re allowed up to 12 minor faults during your practical driving test… passing the test with 0, 3, 10 or 12 minors makes absolutely no difference. You still pass, and only then will you start to truly learn how to drive properly.
Best of luck,
Davie
dandlweb:
Hi wakou,Congrats on passing the tests you have to date, and good luck for your 3b when it comes.
Thank you!
dandlweb:
Yes, you’re absolutely allowed to take a shunt, you’re also allowed to get out and look (but only once), and yes, as long as the barrier doesn’t fall/break due to your impact, you’re allowed to make contact and still pass the 3a.
I have been sent a document which states clearly TWO shunts and TWO GOAL’s… ROG confirmed this above■■? Which IS it? Are there any ACTUAL M.O.T examiners here, before I raise this issue with management?
dandlweb:
There’s no separate test for driving a manual HGV, so as long as you passed your car test (Cat B) in a manual car, you will be qualified for both manual and automatic HGVs upon the completion of your 3b in an automatic truck.
Thank you! This has made my day!
dandlweb:
The final point I’d make is that the DVSA sets the standards required for testing, NOT your training provider, so your training should be of the very same standard as everyone else, as you’re taking a standard driving test which defines whether you meet or exceed what is required to pass. A perfect example of this is that you’re allowed up to 12 minor faults during your practical driving test… passing the test with 0, 3, 10 or 12 minors makes absolutely no difference. You still pass, and only then will you start to truly learn how to drive properly.Best of luck,
Davie
refs
The exercise is designed to test the candidate’s accuracy in manoeuvring the vehicle when reversing. The degree of accuracy required is the ability to occupy a bay 1½ times the width of the vehicle and with the rear of the vehicle within the stopping area. The candidate should maintain all round observation during the exercise. The examiner should observe the candidate’s performance from outside the vehicle, moving from one vantage point to another while the exercise is being performed.
Before the exercise, the candidate should be asked to bring the vehicle to rest in the starting position. The examiner should then clearly explain the exercise to the candidate making full use of the manoeuvring board to describe the requirements, and giving precise directions as to the course to be followed. It should be explained to the candidate that they should not touch any of the marker cones or cross the yellow boundary lines during the exercise.
To pass, the candidate should not cross any of the yellow boundary lines with the full width of a tyre whilst manoeuvring, nor should they displace any of the marker cones. Cones A & A1 mark the maximum length of the area to be used by a particular test vehicle. If shunting’ should prove necessary, the candidate should not drive further forward than the boundary of the area marked by cones A & A1, nor take more than two shunts’ throughout the exercise.
The loading/unloading barrier is not part of the reverse exercise for B+E or PCV tests. Examiners should not refer to the barrier during a de-brief or in the driving test report. If Examiners identify an operational need to reposition the barrier away from the stopping area during a B+E or PCV test then they can do so.
On B+E and on PCV tests candidates should aim to position the extreme rear of the vehicle within any part of the yellow stopping area including the black cross-hatching. Stopping short of the area or reversing through the stopping area (displacing the barrier) should be viewed as unacceptable.
Drivers of LGVs should aim to stop with the extreme rear of their vehicle in the section of the yellow stopping area covered with black cross-hatching. Stopping with the vehicle touching the barrier should not be regarded as a fault, but displacing it should be viewed as unacceptable. Stopping in the yellow box, but short of the hatched area, should be viewed as unacceptable. Candidates should not normally get out of the cab to check their position.
Candidate external vehicle checks
During the reverse exercise the candidate may wish to exit their vehicle to check its position. They are allowed to do this:
before reaching cone B (to assess their position in relation to it)
when in the bay to assess the rear position in relation to the stopping area/ barrier
These are the only two occasions when the candidate is allowed to leave the vehicle during the exercise. No further attempt to exit the vehicle to make a check is permitted.Note: This exercise should normally be carried out before leaving the test centre. (However, where this would cause undue delay, it may be carried out on return to the centre after the drive).
This is from here:
gov.uk/guidance/guidance-fo … q2TPfQ7hLQ
dandlweb:
Hi wakou,Congrats on passing the tests you have to date, and good luck for your 3b when it comes.
Yes, you’re absolutely allowed to take a shunt, you’re also allowed to get out and look (but only once), and yes, as long as the barrier doesn’t fall/break due to your impact, you’re allowed to make contact and still pass the 3a.
There’s no separate test for driving a manual HGV, so as long as you passed your car test (Cat B) in a manual car, you will be qualified for both manual and automatic HGVs upon the completion of your 3b in an automatic truck.
The final point I’d make is that the DVSA sets the standards required for testing, NOT your training provider, so your training should be of the very same standard as everyone else, as you’re taking a standard driving test which defines whether you meet or exceed what is required to pass. A perfect example of this is that you’re allowed up to 12 minor faults during your practical driving test… passing the test with 0, 3, 10 or 12 minors makes absolutely no difference. You still pass, and only then will you start to truly learn how to drive properly.
Best of luck,
Davie
15 minors and even then 15 might not be a fail I believe. It depends on the severity of the minors to some degree as to whether 15 is a fail from memory of a previous discussion on that. The old 3 minors in one box is a fail AFAIK
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simcor:
15 minors and even then 15 might not be a fail I believe. It depends on the severity of the minors to some degree as to whether 15 is a fail from memory of a previous discussion on that. The old 3 minors in one box is a fail AFAIK
It’s actually a maximum of 12 driving faults (minors) for the 3B on-road test now.
This was changed when the 3A test was introduced as there are no driving faults recorded on 3A; it is merely a pass or fail exercise.
The reverse ex allows for a look to check b cone and another for the final stop. It’s OK to touch the barrier but not to shove it to the point it would topple.
Examiners, whether DVSA or private, are required to operate to the same standard.
It is perfectly possible that training could be to a higher standard and, personally, I would support this. But test standard is test standard and that’s all there I’d to it.
Examiners failing folk incorrectly come to grief on audit by DVSA.
Examiners and centres are losing their authority just as quickly as they got it.
Pete S[emoji3][emoji2]
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12 faults !!! No one will get near that on a 3B drive……… if you get up to 8 or 9 driver faults then the examiner will be serving up a serious fault !,
No one fails with 12 driver faults…ever….purely because the examiner has to write up each one……whereas a serious fault is just one write up.
BishBashBosh:
simcor:
15 minors and even then 15 might not be a fail I believe. It depends on the severity of the minors to some degree as to whether 15 is a fail from memory of a previous discussion on that. The old 3 minors in one box is a fail AFAIKIt’s actually a maximum of 12 driving faults (minors) for the 3B on-road test now.
This was changed when the 3A test was introduced as there are no driving faults recorded on 3A; it is merely a pass or fail exercise.
I didn’t realise it had been changed again back to 12 to be honest.
Oh well every day is a school day.
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Pete S:
The reverse ex allows for a look to check b cone and another for the final stop. It’s OK to touch the barrier but not to shove it to the point it would topple.
Examiners, whether DVSA or private, are required to operate to the same standard.
It is perfectly possible that training could be to a higher standard and, personally, I would support this. But test standard is test standard and that’s all there I’d to it.
Examiners failing folk incorrectly come to grief on audit by DVSA.
Examiners and centres are losing their authority just as quickly as they got it.
Pete S[emoji3][emoji2]
Thank you Peter!
FrankTheFixer:
12 faults !!! No one will get near that on a 3B drive……… if you get up to 8 or 9 driver faults then the examiner will be serving up a serious fault !,
No one fails with 12 driver faults…ever….purely because the examiner has to write up each one……whereas a serious fault is just one write up.
Not correct
11 faults can be had with them spread out and still pass
ROG:
FrankTheFixer:
Not correct
11 faults can be had with them spread out and still pass
You misunderstood my post…. Of course it is POSSIBLE to pass with up to 12 faults on the 3B drive but in reality the examiner will always find a serious fault, usually habitual, such as clearance or undue hesitation. The the examiner only has to write up one fault and not 11 or 12 driver faults.
BishBashBosh:
simcor:
15 minors and even then 15 might not be a fail I believe. It depends on the severity of the minors to some degree as to whether 15 is a fail from memory of a previous discussion on that. The old 3 minors in one box is a fail AFAIKIt’s actually a maximum of 12 driving faults (minors) for the 3B on-road test now.
This was changed when the 3A test was introduced as there are no driving faults recorded on 3A; it is merely a pass or fail exercise.
The reason it’s only 12 minors instead of 15 is because you are allowed 3 on the 3a test.
A second shunt would be a minor.
stu675:
BishBashBosh:
simcor:
15 minors and even then 15 might not be a fail I believe. It depends on the severity of the minors to some degree as to whether 15 is a fail from memory of a previous discussion on that. The old 3 minors in one box is a fail AFAIKIt’s actually a maximum of 12 driving faults (minors) for the 3B on-road test now.
This was changed when the 3A test was introduced as there are no driving faults recorded on 3A; it is merely a pass or fail exercise.
The reason it’s only 12 minors instead of 15 is because you are allowed 3 on the 3a test.
A second shunt would be a minor.
That isn’t correct - since its introduction in Nov 2021 there are no minor faults recorded on the 3A exercise, it is simply a pass or fail outcome. You won’t be ‘marked down’ for taking your 2 shunts.