Orkney Driving Test Centre
· Orkney Islands
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Key Statistics
Getting to Orkney
The Orkney DVSA test centre is located in Kirkwall, the main town on Mainland Orkney. If you're travelling from elsewhere in Scotland, you'll need to take either the ferry from Scrabster (near Thurso) to Stromness, which takes about 90 minutes, or the shorter 20-minute crossing from John o' Groats to Burwick on South Ronaldsay. From Stromness, it's a 16-mile drive to Kirkwall via the A965, while the route from South Ronaldsay involves crossing the Churchill Barriers and takes around 45 minutes.
Once you're on Mainland Orkney, Kirkwall is well signposted and easily accessible by car. The test centre is situated near the town centre, making it straightforward to find. Local bus services connect various parts of the islands to Kirkwall, though having your own transport gives you more flexibility for your test day. If you're staying elsewhere on the islands, allow plenty of time for your journey, particularly if you need to catch an inter-island ferry or drive across the causeways during busy periods.
About Orkney Test Centre
Orkney is a DVSA driving test centre located in Orkney Islands. With a current pass rate of 66.0%, it is above the national average of approximately 47%. The centre conducted 350 practical driving tests in the 2024-25 financial year, making it one of the quieter centres in the UK.
DrivingData UK holds 17 years of historical data for Orkney, stretching back to 2007-08. This depth of data allows candidates to understand long-term patterns and make informed choices about when and where to take their test.
Location & What to Expect
Orkney test centre serves candidates from Orkney Islands and the surrounding areas. If you're booking your practical test here, it's worth arriving at least 10 minutes early to familiarise yourself with the car park and check in with the examiner.
Test routes from Orkney will take you through a mix of local roads typical of the Orkney Islands area. As with all DVSA centres, your test will last approximately 40 minutes and include an independent driving section, at least one reversing manoeuvre, and potentially an emergency stop.
The centre conducts around 29 tests per month on average. Being a quieter centre, you may find it easier to get a booking here than at larger urban centres.
Pass Rate Analysis
The current overall pass rate at Orkney stands at 66.0%, which is above the national average. Over the period we have data for, the pass rate has improved significantly over the last three years, rising 5.1 percentage points.
Male candidates have a 3.4 percentage point advantage at Orkney, passing at 67.6% compared to 64.2% for female candidates.
The highest pass rate recorded at Orkney was 74.8% in 2015-16, while the lowest was 52.0% in 2007-08.
Looking at the monthly breakdown for 2024-25, the highest pass rate was recorded in Feb at 75.0%, while the lowest was in Nov at 59.3%. This significant monthly variation suggests that timing your test could make a meaningful difference.
Orkney Historical Performance
Our records for Orkney begin in the 2007-08 financial year, when the pass rate stood at 52.0% from 367 tests. By 2016-17, the rate had risen to 71.3%, and it now sits at 66.0%.
Test volumes at Orkney have remained broadly stable over this period. The data also captures the impact of COVID-19, with the 2020-21 year showing significantly reduced test volumes across all UK centres.
This long-term perspective is valuable for understanding whether the current pass rate is typical for this centre or part of a broader trend. A centre with a temporarily low pass rate may be recovering, while one with a consistently high rate offers more predictable conditions.
Tips for Passing at Orkney
Based on the data we hold for Orkney, here are specific tips to help you prepare:
- Consider timing carefully. At Orkney, pass rates in Feb (75.0%) are notably higher than in Nov (59.3%). While many factors contribute, booking during higher-rate months may work in your favour.
- Take advantage of availability. Orkney is a quieter centre, meaning you may find more flexible booking slots and a less hectic test-day experience.
- Practice the local routes. Familiarise yourself with the roads around Orkney. Test routes typically cover a mix of residential streets, main roads, and potentially roundabouts or dual carriageways in the Orkney Islands area.
- Check the DVSA waiting times. Before committing to Orkney, compare availability with nearby centres. A slightly longer drive to a centre with a higher pass rate or shorter wait could be worthwhile.
- Arrive early and stay calm. Get to Orkney at least 10 minutes before your appointment. Use the time to settle your nerves and review any tricky manoeuvres mentally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pass rate at Orkney?
The current pass rate at Orkney is 66.0%, based on 350 tests conducted in 2024-25. This is above the national average of around 47%.
How many tests does Orkney conduct per year?
Orkney conducted 350 practical driving tests in 2024-25, averaging approximately 29 per month. This makes it one of the quieter centres in the UK.
Is Orkney a good centre to take my test at?
With a pass rate of 66.0%, Orkney is a solid choice. Consider factors like your familiarity with local roads, commute time, and booking availability alongside pass rate data.
What's the best month to take my test at Orkney?
Based on 2024-25 data, Feb had the highest pass rate at 75.0%. However, monthly variation can change year to year, so treat this as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Do men or women pass more at Orkney?
Male candidates have a 3.4 percentage point advantage at Orkney, passing at 67.6% compared to 64.2% for female candidates. These differences often reflect the mix of candidates rather than any inherent advantage.
Historical Pass Rate Trend
Orkney pass rate over 17 years
Monthly Breakdown (2024-25)
| Month | Tests | Passes | Pass Rate | Male Rate | Female Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr | 29 | 19 | 65.5% | 75.0% | 53.8% |
| May | 35 | 22 | 62.9% | 82.4% | 44.4% |
| Jun | 43 | 27 | 62.8% | 61.9% | 63.6% |
| Jul | 42 | 27 | 64.3% | 62.5% | 66.7% |
| Aug | 31 | 21 | 67.7% | 65.2% | 75.0% |
| Sep | 36 | 23 | 63.9% | 61.1% | 66.7% |
| Nov | 27 | 16 | 59.3% | 50.0% | 72.7% |
| Dec | 23 | 16 | 69.6% | 72.7% | 66.7% |
| Feb | 28 | 21 | 75.0% | 86.7% | 61.5% |
| Mar | 29 | 21 | 72.4% | 66.7% | 76.5% |
Gender Comparison
Male candidates pass at a 3.4pp higher rate than female candidates at Orkney.
Pass Rate by Age
How do different age groups perform at Orkney? The chart below shows pass rates for candidates aged 17 to 25, who account for 192 of the tests conducted here.
17-year-olds have the highest pass rate at Orkney with 70.7% from 116 tests, while 18-year-olds have the lowest at 63.6%. This is unusual. Nationally, 17-year-olds often have lower pass rates due to less driving experience.
| Age | Tests | Pass Rate | Male Rate | Female Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 116 | 70.7% | 68.3% | 73.6% |
| 18 | 55 | 63.6% | 67.7% | 58.3% |
| 19 | 21 | 66.7% | 60.0% | 72.7% |
| 20 | 0 | 46.7% | 50.0% | 33.3% |
| 21 | 0 | 86.7% | 90.9% | 75.0% |
| 22 | 0 | 77.8% | 66.7% | 0.0% |
| 23 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 24 | 0 | 75.0% | 0.0% | 50.0% |
| 25 | 0 | 81.8% | 0.0% | 71.4% |
Automatic vs Manual
At Orkney, the automatic test pass rate is 81.8%, which is 15.8 percentage points higher than the overall pass rate of 66.0%. 11 automatic tests were conducted here in the latest year.
The notably higher automatic pass rate may suggest that candidates choosing automatic transmission are better prepared or that the local test routes are more suited to automatic driving. If you're deciding between automatic and manual, this data suggests automatic candidates do well at Orkney.
Female automatic candidates pass at 80.0% compared to 0.0% for males.