10 Test Tips
1. Familiarise
yourself with the area on the day of the test
Although there is
usually more than one possible test route, prior to taking your test,
it is recommended that you take at least 30 mins to drive around the
general area on the day of the test. It will familiarise you and more
than likely boost your confidence that nothing will be a surprise,
taking lesson with your driving instructor beforehand will help to
calm any nerves.
2. Don’t give in
to peer pressure - take your driving test when you’re ready
It is very easy to
listen to those among us that like to tell you just how quick they
picked driving up and how soon after starting they passed. It is also
easy to rush in to your test as it does feel that the whole
experience will end up being cheaper. If you’re not ready, then 1)
you probably won’t pass and it will end up costing you more in the
long run and 2) you will do nothing at all for your confidence going
forward.
3. Learn the basics
privately
If you have access to a
vehicle and understanding relative or friend, then use the
opportunity to familiarise yourself with the basic controls. That way
you aren’t wasting time you’re paying for learning the
fundamentals of driving. Another nice side effect is that you will
boost your road sense and general confidence.
4. When you park at
the test centre
Preparing the way, is
the key to feeling confident. Give yourself a head start by parking
before your test in a place that’s easy to leave that way you know
you can do it calmly.
5. Do your homework
Just because you’ve
passed your theory test, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have to
know your highway code for the practical test itself. How galling
would it be to fail on your knowledge when that’s one of the
easiest things to prepare for. A few good driving schools will help
you prepare with resources and worksheets as they want you to pass.
Have a look on Amazon for a wide range of helpful books. Another
helpful tip is to use post-it notes that you place around your home
with important things you need to learn. You will keep seeing them
often and subconsciously you will be taking them in without much
effort. On the toaster, on the back of the toilet door and the
mirror.
6. Do a mock test
Nothing can completely
prepare you for the real thing, but the nearest thing to that is by
doing a mock test. All aspects of your mock test are prepared in
great detail to best replicate test conditions. Like driving the test
route, it is giving you a prior knowledge of what to expect.
7. Don’t tell
everyone you’re doing your test
Don’t
put undue pressure on yourself on the build up to your test day. The
less people that know, the less you will feel people are ‘expecting’
you to pass. And if you don’t pass, at least you don’t need to do
that dreaded call but you will pass if you believe you can. Having a
positive mind-set is a powerful tool. Motivate yourself with a goal.
Use the post-it notes method to build your confidence. Write what you
want to achieve by explaining in detail the exact specifics. e.g.
“When I pass my driving test I will drive to London for my holiday
with a blue ford focus 1.6 with the windows down, with my favourite
music blasting out.” This picture is automatically programming your
mind to succeed. Look up NLP for more information.
8. When parking,
don’t be afraid to start again. You will not fail for trying again
There’s no time limit
for manoeuvres. If after starting a parking manoeuvre, you feel that
you’ve done something wrong. Reposition the vehicle to its original
position and try again. The last thing you want to do is persist with
the bad manoeuvre and hit a curb or worse still another vehicle. That
WOULD be a fail....obviously.
9. Don’t do your driving lessons too far apart
You need to keep your
experience of driving fresh. The old way of doing 1 lesson per week,
will get you there, but much slower. Increasing the frequency of your
lessons or time spent in charge of a vehicle will significantly
improve the speed of your progress.
10. Don’t try and
watch what the examiner is writing.
Watching the examiner’s
clipboard to see if he’s writing not only takes your attention away
from what you’re supposed to be doing i.e. driving, it will greatly
affect your confidence if you see writing occur. Ironically, if the
examiner feels that you aren’t driving safely because you are
peering at what he/she is doing, they will mark you down...so don’t
do it!
Lastly and perhaps not
deserving the title of a full-blown ‘tip’, but essential all the
same, make sure you take your provisional licence with you and that
your eyesight is up to scratch. Either of these could result in the
immediate termination of the test.
Happy driving and good
luck! If your looking to learn to drive in London visit our driving school website http://drivingschool-harrow.co.uk/
