Singapore TDVL exam-day guide
Singapore TDVL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original NRIC (or valid passport for non-citizen applicants)
Bring the original physical document, not a photocopy or a phone image. It is used to verify identity at registration before you are admitted to the test room.
Original Singapore driving licence (Class 3 or 3A)
Bring the actual card. Eligibility for the vocational licence depends on holding the relevant driving licence, so the tester may ask to sight it.
Test booking confirmation / admission notice
Bring whatever the booking system issued you. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether a digital copy on your phone is accepted, since phones are usually not allowed in the test room.
Passport-sized photographs
Some licence applications require photographs on the day. Confirm the number, size and background requirements with the provider before you travel.
Completed medical examination report, if not already submitted
A fitness-to-drive medical report is normally part of the vocational licence process. Confirm with the provider whether yours has been received and whether you must carry the original on test day.
Payment for any outstanding test or licence fees
Check your balance and the accepted payment methods in advance. Confirm with the provider which payment modes are accepted at the counter on the day.
Two dark blue or black ballpoint pens
Carry spares in case a written paper is used. Confirm with the provider whether any section must be answered in pencil instead.
Any prescription spectacles or hearing aid you normally use
If your driving licence carries a corrective-lens condition, wear them. Do not turn up with tired eyes and no glasses.
Closed shoes with proper soles
Avoid slippers and sandals. Closed shoes are the safe choice for any practical driving element and for sitting comfortably through a long session.
Water bottle and a light snack
Sessions can involve waiting. Keep it light so you are not uncomfortable during the test.
The exact venue, reporting room and reporting time
Write these down before the day. Confirm the venue and reporting point with the provider, as test centres and rooms can change.
Plan the day
Re-read your course notes on taxi rules and regulations, fares and meter use, passenger and luggage rules, and prohibited conduct. Focus on the topics flagged as weak in your practice attempts rather than re-reading everything.
Study the road and place-name knowledge you are expected to have. Practise recalling routes between well-known landmarks and major transport nodes.
Confirm your booking status, reporting time, venue and any outstanding documents or fees with the provider. Resolve anything missing now, not on the morning.
Do a timed practice paper under exam conditions, then review every wrong answer. Stop adding new material after this point.
Pack your documents in one envelope: NRIC, driving licence, booking confirmation and any medical or photo items. Put it by the door.
Check your travel route and journey time to the venue, including a buffer for traffic and for finding the right room. Set two alarms.
Sleep a full night. Do not cram late; recall of rules and place names is much worse when you are tired.
Eat a normal meal, dress neatly and in closed shoes, and leave with time to arrive well before your reporting time.
Register with your original documents, switch your phone off and stow it as instructed, and locate the briefing room and washroom before the session starts.
Listen to the full briefing before touching any paper or terminal. Read each question completely, answer the easy ones first, and return to the hard ones.
Pace yourself against the number of questions and the time allowed, and keep a few minutes at the end to check for skipped or mis-marked answers.
Narrate nothing unnecessary, follow instructions exactly, check mirrors and blind spots deliberately, and keep to the speed limit. Safety and observation are what are being assessed.
Collect your documents, ask the counter staff what the next step is, and note the result and any retake procedure before you leave the venue.
Rules to check
Bring original identity and licence documents. Photocopies and phone images are normally not accepted for verification. If you are unsure what counts as acceptable identification, confirm with the provider before test day.
Phones, smart watches, notes and study materials must be switched off and kept out of the test room. Follow the invigilator's instructions on where to leave them.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has started. Raise your hand and speak to the invigilator if you have a problem with your paper, terminal or seating.
Arrive before your reporting time. Candidates who arrive late may be refused entry or rescheduled, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance rather than assuming you will be let in.
The pass mark, number of questions, time allowed and whether a failed component can be retaken separately are set by the provider. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.
Declare any medical condition, medication or eyesight issue that could affect your driving. Driving with an undeclared condition that affects fitness to drive is a serious matter.
Breaks are generally not permitted once a paper has started. Use the washroom before you go in, and confirm with the provider whether any rest break is offered during a long practical session.
If you fail, do not attempt to drive for hire. Ask the provider for the official retake or appeal procedure and follow it.