BarnstapleDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Barnstaple conducted 5,562 car practical tests and 2,859 candidates passed: a 51.4% pass rate, +1.4 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 131 of 267 centres and 11 of 20 in South West.
Practise Barnstaple routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Barnstaple with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Barnstaple pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Barnstaple
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 55.3% to 51.4% (-3.9 points). Test volumes changed too, from 3,044 to 5,562 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Barnstaple | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 3,044 | 1,682 | 55.3% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 3,221 | 1,749 | 54.3% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 3,842 | 2,108 | 54.9% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 3,583 | 1,961 | 54.7% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 5,562 | 2,859 | 51.4% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was April 2025 (55.4% from 413 tests) and the weakest was October 2025 (45.7%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Barnstaple
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26.
What the test at Barnstaple involves
- About 40 minutes of driving, starting with an eyesight check and a “tell me” question.
- Around 20 minutes of independent driving, usually following a sat nav set by the examiner.
- One reversing manoeuvre: parallel park, bay park, or pull up on the right and reverse two car lengths.
- A “show me” question while you drive, and possibly an emergency stop.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the pass rate at Barnstaple driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 2,859 passes from 5,562 car practical tests at Barnstaple, a pass rate of 51.4%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Barnstaple?
- 1,367 of 2,540 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (53.8%). 97 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- How many practice routes are there for Barnstaple?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Barnstaple. They are compiled practice routes, not official DVSA routes; examiners change routes for traffic and roadworks.
Pass rates: DVSA, car driving test data by test centre (DRT122A/C/E, April 2025 to March 2026, published June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice routes are compiled by Driving Routes UK and are not official DVSA routes. Examiners vary routes for traffic and roadworks.