{"id":2921,"date":"2015-08-18T00:47:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T23:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diaryofanadi.co.uk\/?p=2921"},"modified":"2023-04-09T12:56:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T11:56:33","slug":"interpreter-on-driving-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diaryofanadi.co.uk\/?p=2921","title":{"rendered":"Interpreter On Driving Test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Completely rewritten in August 2015 due to further hits. Original article from 2010, and updated in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In late 2011 it was announced that there were plans to scrap tests where candidates cannot speak English. From 7 April 2014 this came into effect, and it is now no longer possible to have an interpreter<\/a> on the Theory Test, nor will there be the provision of voiceovers. Tests will have to be conducted in plain English (or Welsh, or British Sign Language). Interpreters are also no longer allowed on the Practical Test.\"Translation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I get quite a few hits on the search term “dsa [or dvsa] changes to interpreter” or something similar. I also get quite a few hits from people searching for information about having an interpreter with them on their driving test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that at the time of writing, in Northern Ireland, it IS still possible to use an interpreter<\/a>, and voiceovers in multiple languages are still provided on the Theory Test. In the UK mainland, you cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My main concern over translated tests has always been the elevated risk of cheating. I know this is a taboo subject, but like it or not those people most likely to want to use an interpreter are frequently the ones most desperate to get a driving licence \u2013 whatever it takes. Interpreters tended to come from within their own communities and many of them created lucrative businesses out of it. Unfortunately, for cultural reasons which are even more taboo, fraud and deception easily crept in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t shoot me (especially that crazy woman from Manchester). I\u2019m just the messenger. Those linguistic options have been removed is for precisely the reasons I have given. The government spokesman said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It will also help us to reduce the risk of fraud by stopping interpreters from indicating the correct answers to theory test questions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You wouldn\u2019t believe how often I get people coming to the blog on the search term \u201chow to bribe driving examiner\u201d. Cheating and fraud is only held in check by how much money those assisting in it are prepared to charge for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I\u2019ve mentioned in another article, I once had a Chinese girl who spoke very little English. One time she didn\u2019t see a 30mph limit sign because – as she explained to me herself (and it took a lot of effort to get it out of her with the language problems) – when she panicked she \u201conly saw things only in Chinese!\u201d That\u2019s obviously a major problem, and it would apply to anyone who didn\u2019t speak English – and more so to those whose first language doesn\u2019t use the Western alphabet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I become an official DSA [DVSA] interpreter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone found the blog on that exact term. You can’t be an official DVSA interpreter, because there’s no such thing. There never was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n