Driving test pass rates are improving, government figures today showed.

The pass rate for the practical part of the test reached 47% in the period April-December 2011.

This compared with 44% in 2007/08 and 46% in 2010/11.

A total of 437,038 tests were conducted across all test categories between October and December 2011 - 14% more than in the same period of 2010 when severe weather kept test numbers down.

The Department for Transport said the number of tests being taken by women was higher than for men, "largely due to females having a lower pass rate than males, hence taking higher number of tests before passing".

It added that in most years the male pass rate for the practical part of the test was about 6% to 6.5% higher than the female pass rate.

But the department added that there was no difference in pass rates between males and females taking the practical motorcycle test.

Pass rates for females taking the large goods vehicle practical test average around 54%, although women account for only one in 13 test passes in this category.