KetteringDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Kettering conducted 11,876 car practical tests and 5,829 candidates passed: a 49.1% pass rate, -0.9 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 170 of 267 centres and 16 of 20 in East Midlands.
Practise Kettering routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 17 practice routes near Kettering with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Kettering pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Kettering
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 40.5% to 49.1% (+8.6 points). Test volumes changed too, from 8,447 to 11,876 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Kettering | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 8,447 | 3,425 | 40.5% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 9,776 | 4,376 | 44.8% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 11,221 | 5,430 | 48.4% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 8,489 | 3,903 | 46% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 11,876 | 5,829 | 49.1% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was July 2025 (54.5% from 1,067 tests) and the weakest was November 2025 (44.6%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Kettering
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Wellingborough (8 km, 60%).
What the test at Kettering 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 Kettering driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,829 passes from 11,876 car practical tests at Kettering, a pass rate of 49.1%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Kettering?
- 2,831 of 5,647 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (50.1%). 120 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Kettering?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Wellingborough, about 8 km away, at 60% in 2025/26. Pass rates reflect who tests there as much as the roads, so practise the routes where you will actually take your test.
- How many practice routes are there for Kettering?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 17 practice route patterns around Kettering. 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.