COLCHESTER is officially the hardest place to take your driving test in Essex, new figures have revealed.

The data, released by the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency, shows that in the year to March, pass rates for the practical driving test varied by almost ten per cent depending on where you take your test in the county.

Colchester is apparently the most difficult place to take your test, with 43.9 per cent of 6,009 learners passing in a year.

The centre with the highest pass rate is in Clacton where between April 2019 and March, 3,258 people took their test, with 53.1 per cent passing.

Chelmsford, which saw the most tests over the year, was the second best place to take your test, with a 49 per cent pass rate.

Basildon’s centre had a pass rate of 46.7 per cent over the same period and it Southend it was 47.6 per cent.

Here is the data from all of the test centre’s in Essex in order of pass rate:

Clacton - 3,258 tests - pass rate 53.1%

Chelmsford - 7,675 tests - pass rate 49%

Southend - 6,306 tests - pass rate 47.6%

Brentwood - 2,896 tests - pass rate 47.3%

Basildon - 5,893 tests - pass rate 46.7%

Bishop’s Stortford - 6,238 tests - pass rate 46.2%

Colchester - 6,009 tests - pass rate 43.9%

The average pass rate for test centres nationally was 46 per cent.

A spokesman for the DVSA, which is responsible for driving tests, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving.

“All candidates are assessed to the same level and the result of their test is entirely dependent on their performance on the day.

“It’s essential all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely.”

Driving tests have been severely impacted by the coronavirus, with several centres, including Colchester and Clacton, being shut for a number of months.