Thankfully, most drivers with an international driving licence can exchange it for a full UK driving licence without needing to take a driving test. This includes drivers with an EU licence or a licence from a designated country, such as Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
The exceptions are those with non-exchangeable driving licences, like those from the United States. In these cases, you can only use your licence for 12 months, after which you’ll need to take a driving test to get a full UK licence.
You’ll also need to take a driving test if you only have a provisional international driving licence.