Focus Multimedia Driving Test Success review

Driving Test Success: All Test Deluxe Edition comprehensively covers the three elements of the driving test - Theory, Hazard Perception and Practical - in three well integrated sections.

The program's user interface is really easy to navigate, and intelligent colour coding means you never lose your bearings.

The theory section section introduces the Theory Test, provides a comprehensive set of practice questions and includes a searchable Highway Code. Practice questions are reinforced with hints, and answers explained. Having completed these, you graduate to full mock exams, which don't allow access to study aids (unless you cheat). This is a good quick way to drag your knowledge of the Highway Code and driving up to scratch.

Hazard Perception, one area where computer practice is absolutely essential, is well catered for. There are hundreds of clips, including the ten official DSA practice ones. At the end of each clip, your performance is reviewed and all the hazards highlighted, which should reassuringly confirm that it's the test that's stupid, not you.

You can't actually learn to drive on a PC, of course, but DTS provides some practical information on the basics. Short videos walk and talk you through common manoeuvres, so you can impress your instructor with your lack of complete ignorance when you get in the car and refresh you memory before the practical test. Fascinatingly, there's also a database of all the routes used by UK driving test centres, so you can plan trial runs of your likely practical test.

Although it costs a little more than Avanquest's package, Driving Test Success Deluxe does a better job of conveying the essentials of both the test itself and driving in general. Given that each real world driving lesson will cost you around £20, a tenner for the software is very reasonable, especially with a set of magnetic 'L' plates thrown in.