How many show me, tell me questions are there? Two in total on the car test: one "tell me" asked at the start before you move off, and one "show me" asked once you're driving. There's a fixed official list to learn, published by the DVSA.
The "tell me" question
The "tell me" question is asked at the roadside, before you begin driving. You explain, in words, how you would carry out a basic safety check - you do not have to physically do it. Typical examples include describing how you would check that the brakes are working before setting off, how you would check the tyres have enough tread and are safe, or how you would check the oil or coolant level. There is one "tell me" question per test, drawn from the official DVSA list.
The "show me" question
The "show me" question is asked while you're driving, and you demonstrate a control without taking your attention from the road. Common examples are showing how you would switch on your dipped headlights, clear a misted windscreen, wash and clean the windscreen, or sound the horn. You should only carry it out when it is safe, and keep your main focus on driving.
How they are scored
Getting one or both questions wrong results in one driving fault in total - not one per question - so a wrong answer will not fail you on its own. The exception is the "show me" question: if your actual driving becomes unsafe while you carry it out, that can be marked as a serious fault. In practice, learning the answers removes an easy avoidable fault from your test.
How to prepare
The best preparation is simple: learn the official list, which the DVSA publishes in full on GOV.UK, and rehearse the checks on the actual car until they feel natural. Practising them with your instructor during driving lessons in Coventry means you learn where everything is on the car you'll test in, and you can fold the questions into your run-up to test day.