Borehamwood (London) vs St Albans

Side-by-Side Comparison

Metric Borehamwood (London) St Albans
Overall Pass Rate 46.8% 48.4%
Male Pass Rate 49.1% 49.2%
Female Pass Rate 43.3% 47.5%
Tests Conducted 7,798 6,881
Years of Data 11 17

Pass Rate Trends

35% 39% 43% 47% 51% 55% 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 2007: 44.2% 2008: 44.6% 2009: 43.3% 2010: 41.6% 2011: 39.7% 2012: 43.7% 2013: 48.9% 2014: 50.1% 2015: 48.5% 2016: 45.5% 2017: 43.7% 2018: 43.8% 2019: 41.8% 2021: 45.9% 2022: 44.0% 2023: 44.1% 2024: 48.4% 2013: 51.6% 2014: 49.3% 2015: 47.7% 2016: 45.9% 2017: 47.9% 2018: 50.8% 2019: 50.7% 2021: 52.1% 2022: 51.6% 2023: 47.7% 2024: 46.8%
Borehamwood (London) St Albans

Borehamwood (London) vs St Albans

Choosing between Borehamwood (London) and St Albans for your practical driving test? This comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide. These two centres have very similar pass rates, so other factors may be more important in your decision.

Borehamwood (London) has a pass rate of 46.8% from 7,798 tests, while St Albans sits at 48.4% from 6,881 tests in the latest financial year.

Detailed Analysis

Pass rates: St Albans leads with the higher pass rate. The gap is relatively small and could fluctuate year to year.

Test volume: Borehamwood (London) is the busier centre with 7,798 tests per year, compared to 6,881 at St Albans. Both centres have comparable volumes.

Trends: Borehamwood (London) has declined slightly over the last three years, dropping 4.8 percentage points, while St Albans has shown a gradual improvement over the last three years, gaining 4.4 percentage points. These opposing trends are worth monitoring, as the current gap may narrow or widen in coming years.

Gender comparison: At Borehamwood (London), the male pass rate is 49.1% and female is 43.3%. At St Albans, it's 49.2% male and 47.5% female.

Our Verdict

With pass rates this close (46.8% vs 48.4%), your decision should come down to practical factors: which centre is easier to get to? Which area have you practised in? Where can you get a booking sooner? Both are equally viable options.

Whichever centre you choose, thorough preparation is the single biggest factor in your result. Practice until you're consistently confident, book when you feel ready, and arrive early on the day.

Booking Tips

When choosing between these centres, consider the following practical factors:

  • Availability: Borehamwood (London) is the busier centre (7,798 vs 6,881 tests/year), which may mean longer waits for bookings. St Albans could offer more flexible scheduling.
  • Best months: Borehamwood (London)'s highest pass rate month is Nov (53.0%). St Albans peaks in Feb (52.7%).
  • Practice area: Book at the centre whose surrounding roads you've practised on most. Route familiarity consistently matters more than pass rate statistics.
  • Cancellation checking: If your preferred centre has a long wait, consider using a cancellation checking service. Both centres may have short-notice openings that aren't visible when you first book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the higher pass rate, Borehamwood (London) or St Albans?

St Albans has the higher pass rate at 48.4%, compared to 46.8% at Borehamwood (London). This is a 1.6 percentage point difference.

Which centre is busier?

Borehamwood (London) conducts more tests (7,798 vs 6,881 per year). The quieter centre may offer more flexible booking times.

Are these pass rates trending up or down?

Borehamwood (London) has declined slightly over the last three years, dropping 4.8 percentage points. St Albans has shown a gradual improvement over the last three years, gaining 4.4 percentage points. Check each centre's individual page for the full historical chart.

Should I choose a centre based on pass rate alone?

No. Pass rates reflect the overall candidate pool, not test difficulty. A centre with a lower pass rate may have more first-time or nervous candidates. Your own preparation, familiarity with the roads, and comfort level on test day are far more important than a few percentage points of difference.