Faults by grade
The examiner grades every fault by how serious it was. Here's what fails you, and the grade each fault usually gets.
You fail the test if you get…
- ✕1 or more Grade 3 faults
- ✕6 or more Grade 2 faults under the same heading
- ✕4 or more Grade 2 faults on the same part of a heading
- ✕9 or more Grade 2 faults in total
Grade 1 faults never fail you on their own. Grades shown below are typical — the examiner decides on the day depending on how serious it was.
How the examiner marks you
- ✓Every fault is recorded on the test report sheet, under a heading like Observation, Mirrors, Signals, Position or Progress — each with its grade.
- ✓Every time the same fault happens, it is marked again. Repeat a habit five times and you have five marks, not one.
- ✓One mistake, one mark: a single moment is not recorded under two headings at once. Hit the kerb turning left and it's marked as Position turning left, not also Steering.
- ✓Severity is judged on the day: the same move can be a Grade 2 on a quiet road and a Grade 3 with a car approaching.
Why repeats matter more than one-offs
A repeatable Grade 2 habit — like glancing once instead of observing properly — can reach the "6 under one heading" or "9 in total" thresholds all by itself, while a one-off Grade 1 never fails you no matter how many separate minor faults you collect. Fix the habit, not the instance.
Source: RSA Driver Tester Marking Guidelines. Checked 23 October 2026 — worth confirming the detail with your instructor.
dangerous or potentially dangerous
16 faultsA single Grade 3 fault is an automatic fail.
Moving off
Moving off without checking the blind spot
Observation & mirrors
No mirror check before turning left
Observation & mirrors
Emerging from a junction without looking
Observation & mirrors
Changing lanes without a blind-spot check
Observation & mirrors
Not yielding to pedestrians crossing a side road
Junctions
Not stopping fully at a STOP sign
Junctions
Pulling into too small a gap
Roundabouts
Not yielding to traffic from the right
Speed & progress
Exceeding the speed limit
Clearance & overtaking
Passing a cyclist too closely
Clearance & overtaking
Overtaking into oncoming traffic
Crossings, lights & markings
Not stopping at a zebra crossing
Crossings, lights & markings
Going through a red light
Crossings, lights & markings
Crossing a continuous white line
Reverse around a corner
Reversing without all-round observation
Turnabout
Turnabout without checking for traffic
more serious
24 faultsA more serious fault. Too many of them add up to a fail.
Moving off
Moving off without a signal
Position & lanes
Driving too close to the centre line
Position & lanes
Passing parked cars too closely
Position & lanes
Straddling lanes
Signals
Turning without signalling
Signals
Giving a misleading signal
Junctions
Cutting the corner turning right
Junctions
Swinging out before turning left
Junctions
Approaching a junction too fast
Roundabouts
No left signal when exiting
Roundabouts
Wrong position or signal for a right turn
Roundabouts
Undue hesitancy at a roundabout
Speed & progress
Driving too slowly (progress)
Speed & progress
Following too closely
Speed & progress
Late, harsh braking
Crossings, lights & markings
Stopping in a yellow box junction
Crossings, lights & markings
Stopping over the stop line
Reverse around a corner
Mounting the kerb when reversing
Reverse around a corner
Swinging wide when reversing
Turnabout
Hitting the kerb during the turnabout
Hill start & controls
Rolling back on a hill start
Anticipation & stopping
Not yielding to a bus pulling out
Anticipation & stopping
Stopping across a junction
Anticipation & stopping
Not anticipating hazards ahead
minor
5 faultsA minor fault. It's recorded but never fails you on its own.