Am I ready?
You'll be ready when you can confidently drive safely without any help from your driving instructor. You should be able to drive on busy roads and deal with other cars in plently of time without any sudden braking. Make sure you can do the reversing exercises correctly without any assistance and advice from your instructor. During the test, you need to drive without any help, wait until you reach this standard with your driving instructor and you should pass the test.
Prepare the day before
Get your driving licence ready the day before the test, looking for your licence an hour before your test can be quite stressful. Without your driving licence the driving test will be cancelled and you will lose your fee.
During the Test
- Don't stare - When driving you need to look both far and close. Looking far helps you stay straight and spot hazards early. However looking close is also important for negotiating bends. If you find you are staring in one place you are probably going to miss something.
- If you don't know, you don't go - If you're not sure it's safe to proceed, plan to stop the car. Being ready to stop will aviod harsh braking.
- Warm up lessons - A one hour warm up lesson immediately before your test will get you into the swing of driving, however too long may cause fatigue towards the end of your test.
- Nerves - If you start to feel nervous before your test, take a deep breath and hold it for up to 20 seconds. Repeat this until you start to feel calm. It's easier said than done but try not to worry about the driving test, you can always take another test if you don't pass. It's also worth noting that most of the examiners are really nice people and don't bite; often.
- Believe - It's important to believe in your ability and drive exactly as you have learnt. Try not to put on a special show, your driving instructor will have taught you well.
- Stalling - If you stall the car, get it started again as soon as possible. As long as you get moving without obstructing others, you will still pass the test.
- Never give up - If you make a mistake, put it behind you and carry on. The mistake may not be as serious as you thought, however giving up rarely ends well.
- Comfort is key - Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, being comfortable will help you focus on driving. Putting the car's air conditioning on will not only keep you cool in the summer, it will stop the windows steaming up in the winter.
- Sleep well - Never underestimate a good night sleep, this can boost you concentration levels and bring out the best in your ability. However you are unlikely to fall asleep if you are stressing about trying to nod off, instead of getting an early night, keep yourself busy until you feel tired and hopefully you will sleep like a baby.
