The thought of having your driving test can be a little daunting, but, don’t worry, nerves are normal. You’ve been learning to drive for a while and now that you’re ready for your test, it’s no doubt that you’ll be eager to pass the first time. So long as you’re fully prepared, you should be able to ensure that you don’t have to spend a fortune retaking your test. To help you prepare for the big day, why not check out our top tips to help keep your cool:
Here are our top tips to help give you the best chance of passing the first time:
1. Be there or be square
It may sound simple and obvious, but arriving for your test on time will allow you some time to get familiar with the area. Getting there just on time may add to your stress levels, and arriving late could result in you missing your test entirely. Don’t put yourself in panic mode before your test has even started as you’ll be feeling flustered when it comes to getting into the car with the examiner and starting your test.
2. Have a lesson beforehand
To get yourself in the zone, it’s recommended that you have a driving lesson before your driving test. In doing this, you’ll be able to practice any maneuvers and ask your driving instructor any last-minute questions that you may have. If you have a lesson beforehand, this may also help to calm your nerves and put you in the right frame of mind for your driving test.
3. Exaggerate those mirror checks
Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors. One of the biggest causes of minor faults for those on their driving test is their lack of mirror checks. Safety is key when you’re driving, so checking your mirrors regularly is crucially important. The trick to ensuring that the examiner knows that you’re checking your mirrors is to knock your head out slightly each time you’re checking a mirror. By moving your head slightly, the examiner is less likely to give you a minor fault, and sometimes, being a bit over the top in checking your mirrors won’t harm anyone.
4. Take a mock driving test
Before you take you’re driving test, you should try and do at least one mock test, under test conditions with your instructor. This will help you to prepare, settle your nerves and allow you to get a feel for what driving will be like on the day of your test. A top tip, which is most people tend to do nowadays, is to keep the date of their driving test a secret, in the hope that the fewer people that know when the test is, the less pressure they will feel on the day.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask the examiner a question
When you’re on your driving test, although you want to appear as though you know exactly what you’re doing, if you don’t hear an instruction properly, don’t be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat it. If you forget what the examiner has said and you start to panic, this could cause you to lose focus on the road ahead.
6. Learn to drive in different weather conditions
So you’ve booked your driving test and now you’re praying that the weather will be kind to you on the day of your test, but as we’re all aware, you can never predict British weather. To ensure that you’re fully equipped for whatever the weather might throw at you on the day of your test, try to practice in the rain, shine and fog with your instructor beforehand. In doing this, if the weather happened to take a turn for the worst on the day of your test, you’ll feel more confident and prepared to handle whatever the weather may throw at you.
7. Revisit your theory
Usually, the gap between you taking your theory test and practical test can be pretty lengthy. It’s good practice to go over your theory test, the meaning of road signs before you get in the car with the examiner. Knowing your signs and the Highway Code will greatly settle your nerves, boost your confidence and help you to feel more relaxed.
8. Don’t assume that you’ve failed
It’s important that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself to pass the first time. So, if you make a mistake, don’t let this ruin the rest of your test. Remember, you’re allowed up to 15 minors during your test, so if you make a mistake or you happen to see the examiner making a note out of the corner of your eye, don’t let this distract you, and don’t assume that you’ve failed. Stay positive and don’t let minor mistakes play on your mind.
