Tell me questions

Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey?

• Brakes should not feel spongy or slack

• Brakes should be tested as you set off

• The vehicle should not pull to one side

Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures and how tyre pressures should be checked

• Information will be found using the car manufacture’s guide

• Use a reliable pressure gauge

• Check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold

• Don’t forget spare tyre and remember to refit valve caps

Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash

The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as the eye or top of the ears and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable

Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road

• A safe tyre will have no cuts or bulges on the sides

• 1.6mm of tread depth across the central 3/4 of the breadth of the tyre, and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre

Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle

• Turn on the engine, switch on the lights, then walk around the vehicle to check they are on

• (Since it's a ‘tell me’ question, I’d just be explaining this and not actually going outside to check)

Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system

A warning light should illuminate on the dashboard, to indicate that there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system

Tell me how you’d check that the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle

Activate the hazard warning lights then walk around the car to see if all the indicators are working correctly.

Using the hazard warning lights is preffered as the ignition doesn’t need to be turned on

Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working on this car

I’d operate the brake pedal

I’d then use reflections from windows or I’d ask someone for help

Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey

If the steering becomes heavy, then there is a fault with the power-assisted steering

Before starting a journey and while the engine is off, the steering will feel heavy and when the engine is switched on the steering will feel light, showing that there is no fault with PAS

Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use them

• Operate the switch and check that the warning light is on

• The fog lights must only be used in foggy, low-visibility conditions (such as visibility under 100m) and must be turned off when the fog disperses

Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on

Operate the light switch and activate the main beam lights by pulling the indicator stalk towards me or pushing it away

I’d then check for the blue main beam warning light to illuminate on the dashboard

Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil

• Identify the dipstick

• I would then remove the dipstick and wipe clean the end where the minimum and maximum level indicator is and then fully reinsert the dipstick

• Remove once again and check the oil level against the minimum and maximum markings.

• If oil levels are low, top up with oil, but be sure not to overfill

Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant

• Identify the engine coolant tank

• Check the minimum and maximum level indicator displayed on the side of the tank

• If the coolant is below the minimum mark, more coolant will need to be added

• To add more coolant, you’d unscrew the tank cap when the engine is cold and pour coolant in until the maximum mark is reached

Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid

• Identify the brake fluid reservoir and check against the high and low markings