Cheetham Hill Test Centre

Question 1

Tell me how you'd check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Answer

The brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Test them as you set off, and the car should not pull to one side.

Question 2

Tell me where you'd find the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how they should be checked.

Answer

The pressures are in the manufacturer's guide. Use a reliable gauge, check and adjust the tyres when cold, include the spare and refit the valve caps.

Question 3

Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted to give the best protection in a crash.

Answer

The rigid part of the head restraint should be at least as high as your eyes or the top of your ears, and as close to the back of your head as is comfortable.

Question 4

Tell me how you'd check the tyres have enough tread depth and are in a safe condition.

Answer

Look for cuts and bulges, and check for at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre, all the way round.

Question 5

Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working.

Answer

Switch the lights on, turning on the ignition if needed, then walk round the car to check each one. You do not need to get out on the test.

Question 6

Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with the anti lock braking system.

Answer

A warning light on the dashboard comes on if the anti lock braking system has a fault.

Question 7

Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working.

Answer

Switch on the hazard warning lights, turning on the ignition if needed, then walk round the car to check every indicator flashes.

Question 8

Tell me how you'd check the brake lights are working on this car.

Answer

Press the brake pedal and check the reflection in a window or garage door, or ask someone to look.

Question 9

Tell me how you'd check the power assisted steering is working before a journey.

Answer

Keep gentle pressure on the steering wheel while starting the engine, and it should move slightly as the system starts. Heavy steering means the system may not be working.

Question 10

Tell me how you'd switch on the rear fog lights and when you'd use them.

Answer

Switch on the dipped headlights, then the rear fog light switch, and check the warning light. Use rear fog lights when visibility drops below 100 metres.

Question 11

Tell me how you switch your headlights from dipped to main beam and how you'd know main beam is on.

Answer

Operate the headlight switch with the dipped lights on, and a blue main beam warning light appears on the dashboard.

Question 12

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough oil.

Answer

Find the dipstick or the dashboard oil level indicator, and check the oil sits between the minimum and maximum marks.

Question 13

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough coolant.

Answer

Find the coolant header tank and check the level sits between the high and low marks.

Question 14

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check you have a safe level of brake fluid.

Answer

Find the brake fluid reservoir and check the level sits between the high and low marks.

Question 15

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?

Answer

Operate the control that washes and wipes the rear windscreen.

Question 16

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?

Answer

Operate the control that washes and wipes the front windscreen.

Question 17

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights?

Answer

Operate the headlight switch to the dipped setting.

Question 18

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd set the rear demister?

Answer

Press the rear demister switch.

Question 19

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd operate the horn?

Answer

Press the horn control, usually in the middle of the steering wheel.

Question 20

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd demist the front windscreen?

Answer

Set the fan, temperature and air direction to the windscreen, and switch on the heated screen if the car has one.

Question 21

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd open and close the side window?

Answer

Operate the window control to open the side window and close it again.

Question 22

Where is Cheetham Hill driving test centre?

Answer

Cheetham Hill driving test centre is on Alderglen Road, Cheetham, Manchester M8 0AL, near the A6010 and Cheetham Hill Road and about 1.5 miles north of Manchester city centre. Car tests and both ADI Part 2 and Part 3 instructor tests take place there.

Question 23

What is the Cheetham Hill test centre pass rate?

Answer

The Cheetham Hill test centre pass rate was 44.7% in 2025/26, from 10,207 car tests, according to DVSA data, against a 50.0% national average. First time candidates passed at 44.1%, manual tests at 47.5% and automatic tests at 41.5%.

Question 24

Is Cheetham Hill a hard test centre?

Answer

Yes, Cheetham Hill is one of the harder test centres in the UK, ranking 285th of 323 car test centres in 2024/25. Busy inner city roads, several sets of traffic lights on Great Cheetham Street and a mix of pedestrian crossings are part of the challenge, so local route practice matters.

Question 25

Is there parking at Cheetham Hill driving test centre?

Answer

Yes, Cheetham Hill driving test centre has 18 parking spaces, plus male, female and disabled toilets and wheelchair access into the building. Arrive about 10 minutes before your slot so you are settled when the examiner calls your name.

Question 26

What are the Cheetham Hill driving test routes?

Answer

Cheetham Hill driving test routes are not published, but sample routes use Waterloo Road, Bury New Road, Great Cheetham Street, Leicester Road and Bury Old Road, often crossing into Broughton in Salford. The residential streets around Grecian Street and Albert Park Road also appear on sample routes.

Question 27

How long is the wait for a driving test at Cheetham Hill?

Answer

DVSA figures put the typical wait at Cheetham Hill at about 10 weeks between booking and test day in September 2026. Impulse intensive courses include test booking support, with a practical test date in 1 to 8 weeks, or your money back in full.

Question 28

Can I take an automatic driving test at Cheetham Hill?

Answer

Yes, and automatic candidates at Cheetham Hill passed at 41.5% in 2025/26, only 6 points behind manual candidates, the smallest gap of the 9 centres Impulse covers. An automatic licence covers automatic cars only, so think about whether you may need to drive a manual later.

Question 29

Is Salford test centre still open?

Answer

No, Salford test centre on Liverpool Street in Ordsall has closed, and Cheetham Hill is now the closest alternative for many Salford learners. Impulse instructors pick up across Broughton and Kersal for Cheetham Hill tests, and sample routes already cross into Salford.

Question 30

Can Impulse book my driving test at Cheetham Hill for me?

Answer

No. Only the learner can book or change a driving test under the DVSA's 2026 rules, and a booking can be changed no more than twice. Impulse intensive courses include test booking support to help you secure a Cheetham Hill date and plan your lessons around it.

Question 31

What happens if I fail my driving test at Cheetham Hill?

Answer

After a fail at Cheetham Hill, the examiner talks through each fault on your report, and you can sit another test once 10 working days have passed. Your instructor then plans lessons around those faults, so the next attempt targets the exact problems from the first.

Year	Cheetham Hill	National Average	Difference
2019–2020	44.4%	45.9%	1.5 points lower
2020–2021	47.0%	49.8%	2.8 points lower
2021–2022	44.8%	48.9%	4.1 points lower
2022–2023	43.4%	48.4%	5.0 points lower
2023–2024	43.6%	47.9%	4.3 points lower
2024–2025	43.7%	48.7%	5.0 points lower
2017 to 2018	33.7%	46.3%	12.6 points lower
2019 to 2020	37.2%	45.9%	8.7 points lower
2021 to 2022	46.3%	48.9%	2.6 points lower
2024 to 2025	43.7%	48.7%	5.0 points lower
2025 to 2026	44.7%	50.0%	5.3 points lower

Measure	Cheetham Hill 2025/26
First attempt	44.1%
Manual tests	47.5%
Automatic tests	41.5%
Male learners	48.7%
Female learners	40.5%
17 year olds	60.7%
Faultless first passes	21

Fact	Details
Address	Alderglen Road, Cheetham, Manchester M8 0AL
Location	Near the A6010 and Cheetham Hill Road
Tests offered	Car tests, plus the ADI Part 2 and Part 3 instructor tests
Parking	18 spaces at the centre
Toilets	Male, female and disabled toilets
Wheelchair access	Yes, confirmed by the DVSA
How to book	gov.uk/book-driving-test, by the learner
DVSA phone	0300 200 1122, Monday to Friday
Nearest other Impulse centre	Chadderton, about 4 miles away

No.	Road	What It Tests	How to Practise
1	Alderglen Road	Pulling out from the centre	Check both ways before emerging
2	Waterloo Road	Turns at traffic lights	Approach the lights ready to stop
3	Heywood Street and Bellott Street	End of road junctions	Stop, look and creep forward
4	Bury New Road (A56)	Busy main road with turns	Hold your lane and check mirrors
5	Great Cheetham Street East and West	Several sets of traffic lights	Read each set of lights early
6	Leicester Road and Bury Old Road	Junctions in Broughton	Watch for pedestrians crossing
7	Grecian Street and Albert Park Road	Residential streets and parked cars	Plan for narrow gaps
8	Cheetham Hill Road and the A6010	Main road traffic near the centre	Keep a safe following gap
9	Pedestrian crossings	A mix of crossing types	Slow down and scan the pavements

Ready If	Not Yet If
15 or fewer minors	Still need prompts
No serious faults	Serious faults in mocks
Calm at traffic lights	Lights catch you out
Manoeuvres right first time	Manoeuvres hit and miss
Spotting every crossing	Missing pedestrian crossings

Test Centre	Distance	Pass Rate 2025/26	Tests 2025/26
Cheetham Hill	This centre	44.7%	10,207
Chadderton	About 4 miles	46.8%	15,988
West Didsbury	About 5 miles	47.7%	17,806
Bury	About 7 miles	46.3%	7,024

Cheetham Hill Test Centre

Pass Rates, Local Roads and Practical Test Preparation

Pass Rate

National Average

Tests a Year

Automatic Pass Rate