When to use it
Use a three-point turn only on a quiet street with no driveways available and no traffic in either direction. If a driveway is available, use it instead — it is safer and faster. The test will give you a clear instruction such as 'turn around using a three-point turn at the next safe place.'
The three points
Signal right and pull to the right edge. Check both directions for traffic. With no traffic, signal left, turn the wheel hard left, and pull forward across the road to the opposite curb. Stop just before contact.
Shift to reverse, check both directions again, turn the wheel hard right, and reverse until the car points roughly in the new direction. Shift to drive, signal, check traffic, and proceed.
Observation routine
Examiners want to see your head turn at every transition, not just a glance in the mirror. Look left, look right, then look forward as you accelerate. The routine takes seconds and earns points back on every road test scoring sheet.
If you can't fit
If the street is genuinely too narrow for three points, the examiner will not deduct for using five points instead. The deduction is for hitting the curb or for failing to check traffic, not for the count.