Mauritius AV Driving Theory exam-day guide
Mauritius AV Driving Theory · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original valid learner licence and photo ID
Bring the learner licence you were issued plus a photo ID such as your National Identity Card or passport. Some test centres ask for both, so carry both. If you hold a foreign licence or are on a different permit type, confirm with the provider which documents are accepted before test day.
Booking confirmation and fee receipt
Print or save the appointment confirmation and any proof of payment for the practical test fee. Staff may ask to see it at reception. If your booking was made by a driving school, confirm with the provider whether the school holds the confirmation or whether you must carry a copy.
Appointment time, date, and test-centre location
Write down the exact reporting time and the test centre address, and check the route and travel time the day before. Arrive early rather than exactly on time. If you are unsure which centre your test is assigned to, confirm with the provider.
The vehicle you will be tested in
Confirm in advance whether you use your own car, a driving-school car, or a vehicle supplied by the test centre, and whether that vehicle must meet any condition (valid roadworthiness certificate, insurance, dual controls for school cars). Confirm with the provider what the vehicle must have.
Vehicle documents
For a private vehicle, carry the registration document, valid insurance, and current roadworthiness certificate. Driving schools normally handle this for their own cars, but confirm with the provider what you must present.
Glasses or contact lenses if your licence requires them
If your learner licence or medical record notes a vision correction requirement, wear them. Being tested without a required correction can affect your eligibility to take the test. Confirm with the provider if you are unsure whether a condition is recorded.
Comfortable clothing and closed flat shoes
Wear shoes that let you feel and operate the pedals properly; avoid flip-flops, high heels, or thick soles. Dress for the weather, since you may wait outdoors before your turn.
Plan for the pre-drive checks
Be ready to adjust the seat, mirrors, and head restraint, fasten your seatbelt, and check that doors are closed before moving off. Practise this sequence so it is automatic on the day.
Know the vehicle controls
Be able to locate and operate indicators, headlights, wipers, hazard lights, and the handbrake without hunting for them. Examiners may ask you to demonstrate controls before or during the drive.
Mobile phone switched off and stowed
Turn the phone off and put it away before you enter the vehicle. Using a phone during the test is a serious fault and may end the test. Confirm with the provider whether phones must be left outside the vehicle entirely.
Arrive with a calm, rested mind
Sleep well the night before, eat something light, and allow buffer time so traffic does not make you rush. Anxiety is normal; a short breathing exercise before you start helps more than last-minute cramming.
Emergency contact and transport home
Have a way to get home regardless of the outcome, and keep a contact number for your driving school or a family member. If you are unsure what happens after the test, confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Reread the highway code sections on priority, roundabouts, junctions, pedestrian crossings, and speed limits, and confirm your appointment details. Do two or three practice drives on roads similar to the test route, focusing on mirror checks, signalling, and observation at junctions. Confirm with your school or the provider what the test route typically covers, since routes vary.
Do a full practice run of the pre-drive sequence and the manoeuvres you find hardest, such as reversing, turning in a road, or hill starts. Check the vehicle you will use: tyres, lights, indicators, brakes, wipers, and fluid levels. If you use a school car, ask them to confirm it is ready.
Assemble your documents, licence, photo ID, and confirmation in one folder. Check the weather forecast and plan your travel with a buffer. Do one calm practice drive rather than several, then stop driving and rest. Avoid learning new manoeuvres at this stage.
Lay out your clothes and shoes, charge your phone but plan to switch it off, set an alarm with extra time, and go to bed at a normal hour. Rehearse the pre-drive checklist mentally once, then stop.
Eat a light meal, leave early enough to arrive with time to spare, and bring all documents. At the centre, follow staff instructions, keep your phone off, and use the waiting time to relax rather than to cram. If you feel unwell, tell staff rather than starting the test.
Adjust the seat, mirrors, and head restraint, fasten your seatbelt, check doors, and start the engine only when instructed. Show the examiner you are settled and observant before you release the handbrake.
Drive smoothly and predictably, use mirrors and signals consistently, and make your observations visible with head checks where appropriate. Follow the examiner's directions; if you miss a turn or are unsure, stay calm and continue safely rather than making a sudden correction. Ask for a direction to be repeated if needed.
Stop where instructed, secure the vehicle, and switch off the engine. The examiner will usually explain the result and any faults. Ask what the next step is if you pass or fail, and confirm with the provider how and when any re-test can be booked.
Rules to check
Carry your learner licence and the photo ID required by the test centre at all times, and present them when asked. If you are unsure which ID is accepted, confirm with the provider before test day.
Arrive at the reporting time given in your booking. Late arrival may mean you are not tested and lose your fee; if you are delayed, contact the centre immediately and confirm with the provider whether your slot can be kept.
The examiner's instructions take priority, but you remain responsible for the safe control of the vehicle. Never make a manoeuvre you believe is unsafe just because you were asked; say so calmly and the examiner will respond.
Keep your phone switched off and out of use for the whole test. Do not accept calls or check messages, and do not record the test unless you have explicit permission.
Follow all traffic law as you would in normal driving, including speed limits, seatbelts, signals, and priority rules. A serious fault or dangerous action can end the test early.
Treat the examiner and other road users courteously. Aggressive driving, arguing, or attempting to influence the examiner can affect the outcome; if you disagree with a fault, raise it through the proper channel afterwards.
If you have a medical condition, take medication that affects driving, or feel unwell on the day, tell staff before the test. Confirm with the provider how illness or a medical issue affects your booking and fee.
Scoring and the number of faults allowed are set by the testing authority. Ask the examiner or confirm with the provider how faults are recorded and what the pass standard is, rather than relying on hearsay.