When assessment slips in to assistance

How driving test examiners assess candidates can, at times, be quite puzzling.  Let me give you this real example that I observed.

On the driving test, the candidate is pulled over to the side of the road a few times, more if the examiner spots an error and wants to ascertain if it is habitual.

My pupil was pulled over on a busy road.  Tailbacks were coming back from a mini roundabout up ahead.  So we had slow moving traffic to our right.  After about a minute (seems like a short time, but in the test environment, feels quite long), the examiner steps in and recommends my pupil put on a 'requesting signal' in the hope that some kind soul will let us out.  'Requesting signals' by the way is covered by me in my training as it is an essential skill for dealing with day to day driving congestion.

Having complied with the examiner regarding the signal, my pupil then fails to spot a driver letting her out.  The examiner intervenes, again, and tells her to move off, which she does.  Interestingly, she does a full blindspot check to her right immediately after the examiner stated that a driver was letting her out.

Later in the test, another pullover, and no blindspot check on a quiet road.

It is promptly followed by another in the next street, with no blindspot check. 

So by now, we have 3 moving off's, 2 of which have no blindspot check, and one that was prompted by a verbal intervention from the examiner.

My pupil also moves on to a roundabout with a big white van doing a U-turn, and makes the van slow as a result.

Back at the test centre, my pupil reversed three quarters into the bay, stops, handbrake on.  The examiner tells her to go back a few more feet.

Result?  Pass.

He then tells her off for lack of blindspot checks and pulling out in front of the van.