ReadingDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Reading conducted 9,237 car practical tests and 5,118 candidates passed: a 55.4% pass rate, +5.4 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 74 of 267 centres and 13 of 31 in South East.
Practise Reading routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 21 practice routes near Reading with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Reading pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Reading
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 53.3% to 55.4% (+2.1 points). Test volumes changed too, from 11,031 to 9,237 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Reading | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 11,031 | 5,877 | 53.3% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 8,258 | 4,487 | 54.3% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 6,766 | 3,238 | 47.9% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 6,877 | 3,427 | 49.8% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 9,237 | 5,118 | 55.4% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was September 2025 (62.3% from 472 tests) and the weakest was December 2025 (49.4%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Reading
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Farnborough (21 km, 59.7%).
What the test at Reading 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 Reading driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,118 passes from 9,237 car practical tests at Reading, a pass rate of 55.4%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Reading?
- 2,631 of 4,749 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (55.4%). 169 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Reading?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Farnborough, about 21 km away, at 59.7% 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 Reading?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 21 practice route patterns around Reading. 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.