All new drivers are required to take a spoken English Test.
This test is conducted online, in your own home, with remote monitoring. This test is supplied by a third party company. The cost of the test is £50.00 which will be taken at the end of this form.
The Licensing Team will have access to your score and the images and videos taken through the remote monitoring software. These images and videos will be reviewed by an enforcement officer should the test report flag a concern with the legitimacy of the test.
To complete the test you will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and a headset with a built in microphone. Your laptop or desktop should meet the following criteria:
- Laptop or desktop - DO NOT use a Mobile or Tablet
- Windows 8 or 10 or Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks or higher
- Webcam is mandatory
- USB Headset with microphone is mandatory
- 8GB of RAM or more
- i3 5th Generation 2.2Ghz equivalent or higher processor
- Google Chrome version 74 and above; no beta versions
- Cookies need to be enabled
- Popups need to be enabled
- Stable internet connection with 2Mbps or more
If you do not have direct access to this equipment, please see if a friend, relative or other person has the equipment that you can borrow to take the test. If you are still struggling with access the the appropriate equipment please indicate this on this form and we will assist you.
Please continue with this form to request and pay for your English test. Once you have completed this form, an officer will set you up on the English test system and you will receive an email with a link to the test from Versant.
You are required to achieve a score of 43 or more in order for an application for a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver's licence to be accepted.
If you do not achieve this score you can request and pay to take another test. If after two attempts you have not achieved 43 or more you will be required to wait 6 months before you can try again. A score between 43 and 58 is the equivalent of the nationally recognised level B1. A score of 58-75 is the equivalent of the nationally recognised level B2.
