Vehicle controls is the shortest section of the learner’s test, with 8 questions, and you need 6 correct to pass. Every question refers to the same numbered diagram of a car’s controls, so once you know the 11 numbers you can answer almost anything in this section.
The 11 controls
| No. | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interior rear-view mirror | Lets you see traffic behind you. |
| 2 | Windscreen wipers | Clear the windscreen in rain. |
| 3 | Exterior (side) mirrors | Let you check traffic behind and to the sides, for example the right-hand rear side. |
| 4 | Steering wheel | Changes the direction of the vehicle. |
| 5 | Indicator lever | Signals that you intend to turn or change lanes. |
| 6 | Gear lever | Selects the gear. |
| 7 | Parking brake (handbrake) | Keeps the vehicle stationary after parking or when stopped on a slope. |
| 8 | Clutch pedal | Disengages the engine from the gearbox so you can change gear without stalling. Not found in an automatic. |
| 9 | Brake (footbrake) | Slows down and stops the vehicle. |
| 10 | Accelerator | Increases the vehicle’s speed. |
| 11 | Hooter | Warns other road users, to help avoid a collision. |
How the questions are asked
- Single controls: which control is used to stop the vehicle (9), to accelerate (10) or to keep a parked vehicle from moving (7)?
- Combinations: which controls do you use to change gear (8 and 6)? For a sharp turn, expect a list that includes the mirrors, steering, indicator, brake, clutch and gear lever.
- Automatic vehicles: which control is not found in an automatic (8, the clutch)?
- Statement questions: some questions list statements marked (i), (ii) and (iii), and you choose which are correct. Read every statement before you answer.
Learn the job, not just the number
The numbers never change, but questions are worded in different ways: the brake might be described as the control to decrease speed, or the clutch as the control that stops the engine stalling before you come to a standstill. If you know what each control does, the wording will not catch you out.
If you are writing the test for a motorcycle licence, the diagram is a motorcycle and the numbers are different. Practise with the questions for your vehicle.
Test yourself
These questions come from the K53TestsOnline question bank. Choose an answer to see if you are right.
Which control is used to accelerate your vehicle?
Practise more vehicle controls questionsWhich control is used to ensure that your parked vehicle does not move?
Practise more vehicle controls questionsThe … is not found in an automatic vehicle
Practise more vehicle controls questions