Hello and welcome, in this blog I will be discussing our top 5 practical driving test tips to help you to pass your driving test first time in the UK. As a driving instructor, I have valuable experience which I will share with you, I will provide practical advice which you can act on immediately in preparation for your test and also advice for the actual test day. So, let’s get stuck in!
Tip 1 Make sure you are ready!
Before you can even begin to think about booking your test you need to consider the following:
Have you had enough lessons?
Not just to be able to pass your test, but are you confident that you can drive safely by yourself?
Does your instructor feel that you are ready for your test?
If the answer to any of the questions above is no, you should consider pushing the test date back until your instructor has given you the green light. The average student would need to take 47 hours of professional tuition in addition to 20 hours of practice in a private vehicle. Some students may require more hours and some may require less.
Don’t just have a go for the ‘experience’. Family and friends may suggest for you to do so, however, you need to remember that it will be you sat in the driver seat, not them.
If you’re not successful on the first attempt, from experience, the second and subsequent attempts come with a heightened level of anxiety and nerves. In short, make sure you are as ready as you can be and aim to pass the first time.
Tip 2 Know what to Expect Expect to feel nervous, even the most composed of individuals will feel some anxiety in the days/weeks leading up to the test, especially on the test day itself. Feeling nervous about the test is normal, all being well those nerves should settle down as you get into the groove of the test. Anxiety caused by not feeling ready for your test is also quite normal; if your instructor has given you the green light then you should have confidence in their judgment and also in your driving ability. Remember the examiner isn’t looking for a perfect driver; they are looking for a safe driver, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you are feeling super nervous you can ask your instructor or a familiar face to accompany you on the test. Tip 3 Preparation is key The driving test will last around 40 minutes of which the first 20 minutes will consist of an independent drive. The examiner will either ask you to follow road signs/road markings or a pre-defined route on a sat nav. During this time the examiner will expect you to take full responsibility for navigating (following directions without the input of the examiner) whilst managing all other aspects of the drive.
If you haven’t had much or any practice at the independent drive aspect, speak to your instructor and ensure that this is covered effectively before your test. 1 in 5 tests require the student to follow road signs, so there is a 20% chance of you being asked to follow road signs.
The timing of your practical driving test is crucial. Don’t book your test at a time when other stressful events are taking place such as exams, the fewer the distractions the better. You should also consider the time of day that you book your test. From experience driving test times in the morning from 9 am-11 am tend to be ideal times for a test. Traffic is much heavier before 9 am and after 11 am, this may be more specific for Burton-on-Trent so you should speak to your instructor regarding the ideal test time for your area.
Tip 4 Keep your cool Don’t dwell on mistakes that you have made or mistakes that you think you have made. Firstly, if a mistake has occurred, you can’t do anything about it. It’s done, move on. Secondly, the perceived fault might not be as serious as you think it is, or it might not be recorded as a fault at all. Worrying about such things may result in you committing a serious fault and the situation could spiral out of control. Like water passing under a bridge, let it go and focus on the task at hand, and lastly, never assume that you have failed.
Wrong turn!
Another scenario which will require a calm head is if you have missed an instruction or are about to take a wrong turn. Don’t panic, if you didn’t hear the instruction, ask the examiner to repeat the instruction. If, for example, you are in the incorrect lane on approach to a roundabout or junction, don’t panic. If there is time and space, carry out the required hazard routine (mirror-signal) and move to the correct lane if it’s safe to do so. If it isn’t possible, follow the direction of the lane that you are in. Don’t make abrupt changes to your position as other road users will not expect it and the likelihood of a serious or even dangerous fault being committed is much greater.
Tip 5 Observations
One of the most common causes of a failed test is a lack or an absence of effective observations. Observations are one of, if not the most vital aspect of driving safely.
Observations while driving
During the test, you will be asked to pull over several times on the left and once on the right if you get the ‘Pull up on the right’ manoeuvre. The last place to check before pulling away must be the blind spot. Its good practice to start your observations on the side which you are parked on, check all mirrors and then lastly over your shoulder on the side which you will be pulling out on. The blind spot is often missed and this is a serious or even a dangerous fault depending on the circumstances.
Observations while reversing
The observations during the reversing aspect of manoeuvres are a bit more uniform. Put very simply, you need to have a good idea of what is happening all around you while reversing and if required, pause at various stages so you can have a good scout around before continuing. Alternate between the right blind spot and over the left shoulder to look out of the rear windscreen.
So there we have it. Some great tips to help you pass your practical driving test first time. We hope you enjoyed this blog post. Get subscribing to receive more great content from Burton Driving School. We look forward to seeing you in our next blog post. Bye for now!
You may also be interested in one of our other blog articles: How much do driving lessons cost and how to find a driving instructor?
I have also written a blog about the changes in the way practical driving tests are carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK: Your driving test during the Covid-19 Pandemic.