Southend-on-sea

Based in the training and conference venue, The Tickfield Centre, Southend-on-Sea test centre can be found next to the lively Victoria Avenue. Not far from the city centre and London Southend Airport, the centre gets its fair share of learners visiting each year. If you’re looking to do the same, why not to get a head start? Familiarise yourself with Southend-on-Sea with our guide, offering information directionspass ratestest routes and much more!


Address

The Tickfield Centre Tickfield Industrial Estate, Tickfield Ave Southend-on-sea Essex SS2 6LL

Tests Offered at Southend-on-Sea

  • Car

Parking

Limited car parking space available

Toilets

Male and female toilets are available

Disabled Access

N/A

Check the book your driving test service for availability.

How To Get There

Based in the training venue, The Tickfield Centre, Southend-on-Sea test centre is right in the middle of the city centre and a short walk from a few different train stations. It’s also just around the corner from the busy A127, meaning that local learners and those travelling from other areas in the county of Essex will be able to get there easily enough. Still not sure where the centre is? Just use these directions with your sat nav and you’ll have no trouble getting there. Please note that parking is limited, so don’t get there too early—you don’t want to get in the way of other learners.

A Bit More About Southend-on-Sea

Believe it or not, the locations of practical test centres are carefully chosen. Why? Test centres need to be surrounded by a diverse enough range of road types in order to test whether a candidate truly is ready to become a fully qualified driver. Southend-on-Sea certainly comes with enough challenges for even the most confident of learners—from the A127 to the pedestrian-heavy roads around the local train stations, you’ll have your entire set of driving skills put to the test. Looking for more general information about the area? Check out the resources below.

Southend-on-Sea Test Route

Whilst you won’t be able to get your hands on an up-to-date test route—due to the DVSA no longer publishing them—that doesn’t mean the practical has to stay a complete mystery. You can still predict most of the roads that you’ll be taken on in your route by looking at videos of Southend-on-Sea test routes on YouTube or by downloading our sample Southend-on-Sea test routes. Additionally, you’ll get hands-on experience with these roads if you’re taking lessons with a local ADI.

Southend-on-Sea Test Pass Rates

Test routes aren’t the only area of interest for learner drivers. Driving test pass rates also garner a lot of curiosity. We can understand why—who wouldn’t want to know how other learners fare? The current national average pass rate for learner drivers in the UK is 45.9%. If you’re based in the East of England, you have a 46.3% chance of passing.

As for learners taking the plunge at Southend-on-Sea test centre, check out pass rates from the last five years below…

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
42.4% 42.7% 43.9% 45.6% 47.6%

With pass rates lower than the national average, we can see why some learners might not have much confidence in taking their test at Southend-on-Sea test centre. However, we’d like to stress the importance of not taking pass rates to heart. They’re just an area of interest—they don’t actually determine the outcome of your test. As long as you finish your driving lessons properly and listen to your instructor, you should be more than ready to ace your practical.

What If I Can’t Go To Southend-on-Sea?

Some learners go out of their way to choose a reserve test centre just in case they get a better test date, or find themselves unable to take the practical at their original choice. If Southend-on-Sea is no longer an option, or you’re just looking for an alternative, the closest test centres are Basildon and Chelmsford.

What To Expect On The Day

So you’ve managed to get through your driving lessons in one piece. Not bad, not bad. All that’s left is the often-dreaded practical test. It won’t be much different from what you’ve covered in your driving lessons—it will just be an examiner sitting next to you instead of your instructor. If you’d like, you can opt to bring your instructor on your test and have them sit in the back. On the day of your test, you’ll need to get to Southend-on-Sea at least 10 minutes early with your provisional. Your practical will then consist of:

  • An eyesight test, where you’ll need to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
  • Two “show me, tell me” questions covering vehicle safety and maintenance
  • Twenty minutes of general driving, where you’ll be guided by the examiner, and will also need to perform one of the following manoeuvres:
  • Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination

The test will last around 40 minutes and will end as soon as you’ve parked back up at Southend-on-Sea test centre. You’ll get the results of your test within minutes. No matter what the outcome is, the examiner will give you both written and verbal feedback. Pay close attention—when it comes to driving, there’s always room for improvement. If you do pass, you’ll also be able to pose for your own pass photo with a test pass certificate.

But What If I Fail?

Plenty of learner drivers worry about failing the driving test—especially if their friends or family passed first time. If you do fail, it’s not something you should be ashamed of. Some learners need a few attempts to get it right, and others take years to pass. Take PassMeFast alumna Cheryl, for example, she passed 24 years after she originally began learning! Don’t let your disappointment put you off getting your driving licence—just try again.

Once you’re ready to get back behind the wheel, get PassMeFast to fast-track your test. We can have you back on the road in mere days. Just give us a call on 0333 123 4949 or contact us online.

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

If you hate the idea of dragging out your driving lessons across months, you might find yourself better suited to an intensive or semi-intensive crash course. PassMeFast’s courses are flexible and enable learners to build up their skills quickly and efficiently—without cutting corners. By working with your PassMeFast instructor, you can slot your lessons around your work schedule and social calendar. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to take your test.

To see what’s on offer, simply check out our course prices page. If you’re not sure what to go for, find your ideal course by answering a few questions with our course recommender tool. Once you’ve got a course in mind, give us a ring on 0333 123 4949 or book a course online.