Advice
Avonmouth Test Centre — Quick facts & tips
Address: Merebank Rd, Avonmouth, Bristol BS11
Typical recent pass rate (approx.): 53–56% (varies by source and year).
Common local faults / tricky areas to practice
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Crow Lane roundabout — busy and quick decision-making required; watch lane selection and observation.
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Portway lanes / overtaking lane — learners sometimes stay in the overtaking lane too long; practise lane discipline and mirror checks.
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Car park manoeuvres & junction entries — be calm and decisive when emerging/turning in shopping-area layouts.
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St Andrews Gate Roundabout – the road markings have faded making lane discipline challenging; watch lane selection and observation.
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St Brendan’s Roundabout – careful lane selections and observation. Can be very easy to end up crossing lanes or ending up on the motorway!
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Sylvan Way Crossroads & Hung Road Crossroad – the road marking are very faded, especially the cycle box and stop line. Pupil can misinterpret the traffic light and priority.
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Varying speed limits – 20mph zones, 30mph areas and 40mph areas. Make sure your speed is legal and appropriate to avoid speeding or hesitation.
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One Way system – near Blaise castle. Lane position and speed is important here.
Advice for pupils
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Practise observation at junctions, lane discipline and speed changes near the port/industrial areas.
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Practise road position in meeting situations especially on smaller roads with parked cars and near school areas.
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This area has dual carriageways, industrial areas, Avonmouth Village, Blaise Castle and Hallen rural roads, Crow Lane high street, Portway, Shirehampton high street.
Kingswood Test Centre — Quick facts & tips
Typical recent pass rate (approx.): 50–54% (varies by source and year).
Address: The Siston Centre, Station Rd, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 4GQ
Common local faults / tricky areas to practice
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Busy urban routes and roundabouts around Kingswood/Siston — learners often get stressed on complex junctions and multi-lane approaches.
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Wraxall Road “through-a-bout” – learners can get stressed about lane choices and forget that there is a 30mph speed limit in place. Many other drivers speed through this section, making learners question their decisions.
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Siston Hill Roundabout – each approach has different lane discipline. It is very easy for pupils to misinterpret which lane is for which exit. It is important to read the road markings, count the exits and take careful observation.
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Bridgeyate Double mini roundabout – pupils can be confused with position and priority on this system. It is important to treat each roundabout separately and feel confident from all approaches.
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Deanary Road Roundabout - each approach has different lane discipline. It is very easy for pupils to misinterpret which lane is for which exit. It is important to read the road markings, count the exits and take careful observation. PArtly traffic light controlled.
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Poor observation and hesitation at junctions — practising clear, early observations and confident responses helps.
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Faded Stop lines at Warmley and Page Park - pupils do not always stop at the line as it is faded. It is important to look for the Stop Sign at the end of the junction before moving out, even if it is clear.
Advice for pupils
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Spend time practicing roundabouts, multi-lane junctions and lane positioning around Siston and the A-road approaches.
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Aim for consistent control and clear observations rather than over-correction under pressure.
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Drive to the speed limit when safe to do so. Driving 15mph in a 20mph zone can frustrate other road users, unless there is a need. This is the same on the Ring Road – the speed can be 70mph, 50mph or 30mph depending on which section you are on. Driving too slowly is as dangerous as driving too fast.
Why people fail their driving test — DVSA guidance
The DVSA publishes the top reasons learners fail. The most common issues nationally include:
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Poor observation at junctions, failing to look properly.
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Poor judgement of speed / inappropriate speed, especially at roundabouts and junctions.
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Poor steering and control during manoeuvres.
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Failure to respond safely to other road users and incorrect positioning. GOV.UK
You can read the DVSA’s official “Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test” and check the full dataset of pass rates by centre here: DVSA driving test and theory test data: cars. GOV.UK+1
How to use these insights (practical steps)
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Practice the specific local routes where possible — familiarity with route types (roundabouts, industrial estates, fast dual carriageways) reduces surprises.
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Work on observation and decision-making: always use the “mirror-signal-position-speed-look” routine until it’s automatic. GOV.UK
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Do a full mock test (with an ADI or trusted colleague) to replicate test pressure and get tailored feedback.
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Vehicle prep: check lights, tyres, wipers, and fuel—vehicle faults still cause some test failures.
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Local route difficulty and pass rates don’t determine individual success — practise, preparation and a calm mindset are far more important.
