Here are some fantastic tips and tricks to help you pass your test with flying colours! Don’t hang about too long we can get you a quick driving test much sooner than you think!
It may seem obvious but the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency suggests that learners, on average, need about 45 hours of professional training plus 22 hours of private practice. Make sure you learn with an instructor you feel comfortable with, from a reputable driving school and practise with an experienced friend or relative to hone your skills. The more hours you put in, the sooner you can get a quick driving test!
Book a lesson near the test centre just before your test appointment time, so you don’t drive ‘cold’ when you have to get into the car with the examiner. It can also helps to scope out any obstructions such as potholes, local congestion or new roadworks, so you’re prepared if you encounter them during the test.
It’s perfectly normal to be nervous about taking your driving test, so take the pressure off yourself by not telling many people beforehand, have a good sleep and try do something you enjoy like listen to your favourite songs.
Before you enter the test center, believe that you’re going to pass. Try some creative visualisation, which involves closing your eyes and imagining yourself driving well over the route, making flawless manoeuvres and seeing all the potential hazards.
Make sure you sit your test in a car you have driven regularly – either your instructor’s or the car you use for practice. This will help you get a quick driving test as you will not have to familiarise yourself with multiple cars.
Do your homework and make sure you know the area around the test center and all the possible routes you’ll be driving. Drive them as often as possible with your instructor and, if possible, when practicing privately.
Common driving test pitfalls include not checking mirrors sufficiently, inadequate observation when reverse parking or moving away, poor positioning at junctions and roundabouts, and inappropriate speed.
When learning, try to drive at different times of day, in sunny weather and the wet – and, if possible, in slippery or icy conditions so you’re prepared for any eventuality during your test.
If, at any time during the test, you don’t understand what the examiner has asked you to do, don’t be afraid to ask him or her to repeat the instruction. Remember, it’s a driving test not a speaking and listening test!