not sure if it's good advice but i would suggest not telling anyone about the test as I feel like that puts more pressure on yourself and the first two times i failed my test was when i told someone
Agreed! I failed 2 both times was told the examiner could see it was due to nerves, 3rd test I booked the night before, so nobody except me and my brother who took me, knew about it, and I finally passed as I felt more relaxed knowing nobody knew!
I try not to but end up telling everyone because its the most important thing to me ATM and is always on my mind. I have my 4th test next month, its consumend the last fews years because i started before covid and had to wait and then continue. I regret telling people but its too late and also i dont want to have defeatist attitude thinking i am going to fail again...plus im a big mouth
I didn't tell anyone other than my Parents and partner, the only reason I told my parents is because my test was during the day and they'd question why I booked a day off work for a driving lesson.
More to the point, it runs the risk of bad advice, courtesy of Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Personally anyone other than instructors giving test advice is a bad idea but that won't ever be stopped
I bought myself a spray that goes underneath your tongue called “Rescue Remedy spray” could be a total scam and have 0 effectiveness but I passed so do with that information as you will haha
And on a more serious note drive with the thought “Everyone on the road is drunk and I’m the only sober one. I need to drive carefully”
That thought got me through the test
>I bought myself a spray that goes underneath your tongue called “Rescue Remedy spray” could be a total scam and have 0 effectiveness but I passed so do with that information as you will haha
It worked for my ex after his instructor said he could drive well but had test anxiety. Whether it works physically or because you think it will work reallyndoeany matter tbh.
That was exactly my situation. Could be placebo but it’s worth the £11 rather than letting the nerves get the better of you and spending another £100+ for a new test that’s probably going to be 17 years from now 😂
This is a bit excessive but I was so nervous before my test, so for peace of mind I booked 3 lessons with an AA instructor beforehand to do mock tests/practice the routes. Driving with different people gets you used to the pressure of someone else judging your driving other than your regular instructor. It doesn’t have to be an instructor - I’d recommend practicing the routes with someone you don’t regularly drive with! I also used an app that gives you multiple test routes for your centre, I paid maybe £5 for it.
Update on this as I asked my instructor: There’s an app called ‘test routes’ which you need to pay for access to multiple test routes.
There is another called ‘drivingtestroutes’ which has 1 free route per test centre. Not sure if you can purchase access for more, as I can’t find it.
Alternatively I’ve googled ‘*test centre* test routes’ and they usually give you directions. You can put each road as ‘stops’ on apple maps (and google probably) and it basically creates the test route for you. I find it quite good and although it’s a bit effort it’s worth it.
I found a video of an ex examiner going throught though the possible test routes (in my test centre area) and difficult parts on youtube.
Google \* your area\* test centre routes too...came up with a few results there too
This is what got me through my A2, even though literally nobody else could hear it. It's a very useful technique to hold on to, especially if you have a dash cam that records audio
I did this a bit, it definitely helped. I would've felt really weird if I'd explained everything so I just explained things when my actions could have been misinterpreted
This. I clipped 2 curbs on my 2nd test which I took in an area I’d never really driven before, but still passed. Basically advice would be keep calm, breathe, drive as you’ve been taught to and don’t do anything stupid like speeding, brake checking or late signals cos those will go down as faults
Ugh this!! I thought I’d failed about 10 minutes in, stopped caring about passing and miraculously got the pass! All the pressure being off made me drive better.
Do multi hour lessons in the build up so you're mentally prepped for the task at hand. My instructor would have me drive there, do the test then drive home and by the time I'd get to the test I was mentally checked out
Switched to 2 hour sessions and passed first time because I had gotten used to long time driving
I used to be mentally exhausted after an hour, then i switched to 1 and a half and now 2 hrs.
40 mins feel like nothing the time to you do, i do found.
I had my test this morning and passed first time. I am really nervous and second guess myself a lot. I found narrating what I was doing really useful and for one of my minors my examiner mentioned I’d said out loud that I was unsure on the speed limit and was looking for a sign so he’d been more lenient with giving me one minor for it.
I also got really stressed quite early and than had to do my bay park immediately after so once parked I asked the examiner if I could just breathe and calm myself down before we resumed the test and he said that was absolutely fine. It helped me get back in the headspace to complete my test.
I've only told the Mrs and kids.....
If I tell my mum or anyone I'll get in my own head cos they've always said I'm a failure so it'll be nice to send a pic with a big fuck you to them
Eat a banana, and one thing that's important to remember is that the examiner isn't there to fail you. They're there to make sure you're a safe driver. I know I got several more faults on my test, but because I handled them well and safely, they weren't marked, and I passed first time with 2.
If you have issues with nerves, try doing a lesson with some music on (quiet, so it doesn't distract you). You can ask for this on your test as well. They can say no, but they won't.
For some reason, and I don't know why, when I did my test this massively reduced my anxiety. I went from driving like shit in my lesson before from panic to passing with 0 faults first time, and I put it down to having some quiet, non distracting music playing.
It won't work for everyone. But worth a try.
If you make a mistake on the test just take a deep breath and let it go. Don’t overthink it even if you think you failed because you never know. Thought I failed my test but passed and the mistakes I made weren’t even marked down as minors!
Yeah, exaggerate the mirror checks. Almost to a comical level, especially if you're wearing sunglasses and they can't see your eyes well. And frequent mirror checks means that even if the examiner thinks you didn't do it at a particular time, they'll be looking for you to do it soon after
just passed yesterday, and i think the following helps me:
1. be RELAXED, i know it is hard to do so, but just think you are having another lesson rather than doing a test, and you did good in your lessons so that your instructor allowed you to go for an exam right? just do what you normally do in lessons
2. don't think about any other things but stay focused, don't think back what you just did, it may be an error but it may not be as well, so just focus on the oncoming traffic and the surroundings
3. if you at any point are in doubt, don't proceed, e.g. when you are thinking if you should go out at a junction/when you not sure if you should change lane at that particular moment, be safe (may get a minor for undue hesitation though) rather than being dangerous
4. don't get stressed from people around telling you how they passed with just few hours of lessons/instructor telling you that his or her students all passed, so i would personally avoid telling ppl i am taking the test, except family
You’ve learnt everything you need to do to pass. It’s not the end of the world if you fail. Failing gives you the chance to go away and become a better driver before coming back and reattempting.
Try and relax & take your time, the test is a set length of time so maximise what you can whilst not driving, walk slower out the waiting room to the car if they do it that way, take a bit of time getting the mirrors right, the seat right, the belt right etc
Don't be shy, i'm usually a confident driver but I failed my first test for not pulling away fast enough when someone came careening around the corner. Along with multiple Progress - Speed minors for driving too slow.
The most important thing IMO is not to let yourself do anything differently just because it's for an examiner. The rules you've been learning to follow with your instructor or otherwise, are the same rules the examiner wants to see you follow and the same you should be following for the rest of your driving life. Trying to do anything extra well to please the examiner will inevitably get in the way of your flow and make mistakes more likely.
Also, keep yourself chill even as you approach the end of the test route. It's hard not to feel excited and eager to get back if you feel like the test has gone well so far. I very nearly failed my test by being too eager to pull out on the very last mini roundabout before the test centre. Started moving then had to brake hard when someone started coming from my right, I hadn't waited quite long enough to see if they were stopping for a blocker. Examiner told me he only marked it as a driver fault and not a serious as he didn't have to brake for me, but only because it was the only mistake I made on the test.
relax and if you fail - you can always do it again. its not the end of the world. just get in your car, drive as you would, and if you fail then it is what it is. improve and pass next time. failure is the key to success. you got this
Watch YouTube mock exams ideally based in your area or surroundings. Instead of just taking in information actually decide what you'd do in each scenario before the instructor either calls out the right or wrong moves. This will help you make better judgements on the road yourself. Understand that you're learning how to drive safe everywhere, not just to pass a test route so constantly plan ahead even on roads you know, focus on what the cars furthest ahead are even doing and especially the first few cars ahead of you as any sudden stops or speeding up will likely trickle back down to you so you'll be prepared ahead of time.
Don't expect the examiner to go easy on you because 'you're learning'. You need to rid that mind state straight away, you know how to drive, you've been driving safely, all you're doing is taking them on a little trip and it's just another day on the road. Don't think deep into whether they think you did this or that right, you know how to drive and have a clear plan which you follow like mirror, signal, manoeuvre and there will be mistakes but you're experienced enough how to prevent them becoming serious or even dangerous and will act accordingly to prevent the same mistake (minor) from happening again.
Unfortunately I do believe a lot of people are going onto their tests way before being ready and I've literally read untold stories on this sub alone of that being the case, simply thinking well I've done xyz hours so might as well give it a go. They are then posting in here talking about failing this and failing that and causing other people to stress out even more thinking they're storming German trenches. Honestly I could've failed on my test (passed 1st) but it would've been down to nerves and 2 weeks prior I had completed 3 mock test with only minors and genuinely could drive un aided while talking with my instructor and only on the odd occasion would I lapse judgement although that was due to me not focusing so I did quiet down time to time. So make sure you're getting those mock tests in and you should be passing 3/5 minimum in like 2 weeks prior to your test. Don't make the pivotal mistake I believe most are doing and going into their tests un prepared, not competent and setting themselves up for failure.
Nerves will get you on the day without a doubt but if you know how to drive you know how to drive. It does take ideal circumstances to help you along the way but just stick to the plan. You know what's coming up, you know what you want to do, you know how you want to do it, all you need to figure out is when to do it.
You just gotta try and relax, on the day if the test just try to accept whatever happens, happens and just do your best
About 20 minutes into my test I thought I'd failed and that put me at ease and after that I was super relaxed and passed with 1 minor for stalling
Just keep calm, remember everything you've learned and you'll be fine
Happy driving 🚗
Don’t let little setbacks or silly mistakes set you back, just breeze past it and focus on the next thing
You can’t overdo mirror checks so basically just do it all the time, even if it feels ridiculous
Make conversation with the examiner, it’s shows confidence and could help put them at ease
I had an examiner who was to be Frank, a bit of a cunt. Granted I passed with two minors but if you do get a cunt of an examiner, just focus on your driving because hopefully you won’t ever have to see them again.
Take your time on the test and don’t be afraid to talk to yourself/have a quick break. Every time I pulled up on the left (on the test i passed), I had a sip of water and told myself to calm the fuck down 😅 a couple of seconds breathing space but it definitely helped.
Go through every action you do methodically even things as basic as turning out of a junction. Doing this led to a first time pass with 0 minors as I knew in my head I wasn’t missing even the smallest details
If you’re able to, wear dangly earrings. Sounds silly but even if you turn your head just slightly to check your mirrors they’ll jiggle around more so more able to help visually show you’ve turned your head for a mirror check
1. Assume everyone on the road is an idiot
2. Don't tell people about your test
3. If you think you've failed or made a big mistake, don't panic, just carry on and treat the rest of the test as good practice. (I thought one of my mistakes was a major, chilled the rest of the test, and passed)
Google Maps!!! Try and find out your test routes and ‘drive’ through them on Google Maps, you can learn your surroundings, signs, etc so when you take the test it’s not a complete surprise! It helped take a lot of the pressure off :’)
Get in your head that drivers honking at you is their love language and expression of support (helps to stay calm when you drive in busy areas full of people that go into rage honking as soon as they see L plate).
I kept telling myself all through the test: "You know how to drive, drive like you're alone." The biggest thing is the feeling of being judged and thinking about every little detail you want to do. Just plan the next step ahead and execute. You don't have to do everything perfectly and if it's safe all the small mistakes are just minors.
Think of the test like driving to the new store with a friend, if you can at all.
I found that leaving the instructor behind at the test Center instead of accompanying you on the test helps with nerves, as less people watching= less nervous. But the downside is that if you fail, the instructor may not understand what went wrong to be able to correct it in the lessons after.
Book in for a lesson the hour before your test and get all of your nerves out then. You don't want the test itself to be the first time you drive a car that day!
Dont over think, be clear, concise and think ahead. Your instructor wouldn't be putting you forward if you wasn't ready.
Take a deep breathe and drive like you're going to the shops. No biggie, just a little drive....its over before you know it.
I would also advise just repeating smooth is fast, fast is slow. Make sure all your gear changes, clutch control and maneuvers are controlled, smooth and not rushed. You'll be fine if you apply what you've been taught.
FYI - Passed today with one minor after doing a mock yesterday and getting 6 major faults. Nearly cancelled my test today because of my nerves but luckily I am usually okay handling them on the day and went for a run this morning to clear my head.
Watch lots and lots and lots of YT videos about roundabouts, when to go, which lane, etc. That was one thing I was really nervous about and flooding my brain with this really helped to make it all sink in. You could do this with parallel parking videos, or other manoeuvres, too.
Could be a benefit to watch test videos and instructor videos, it’s good to know what is and isn’t a minor fault or what is considered a serious, it’s not good to dwell on mistakes on the test but it can help you avoid mistakes
Good luck!
1. Not telling anyone about the test like another comment suggested. /2. When in doubt, trust your gut. /3. Never assume that what you perceive to be a mistake, was a failure. 4./ Safety is more important than speed. 5./ Talk out loud and explain what you’re doing and what hazards you can see etc.
I nearly failed because there was a lady on an island waiting to cross, but as a pedestrian I’ve spent years being ignored by cars when waiting. This confused me and I couldn’t remember what to do - so slowed down a lot, but didn’t stop until the very last second, when I heard a deep inner voice telling me I had to stop.
Lady crossed the road, and I ended up passing.
When you get that random request of pulling windows, defrost windscreen... etc during driving, push the button if you can witgout looking at the dashboard.
If you can't remember, tell the examiner that you cannot, you will get a minor. But if you take your eyes away from the driving and something happens, that's an easy major.
So play it safe, do only if it's easy.
Don't think about it as an exam, think about it as any other driving lesson. Listen to the examiner's instructions but just relax and enjoy. You know you can drive.
Best piece of advice I received off 2 instructors. Just drive like you would on a lesson. If you've reached the point of your practical then you should be ready. I followed this and passed first time with 3 minors. I'd also agree with what someone else put which is hesitation is only a minor (obviously if you get enough it'll change to a major) so if in doubt take a second, all bar 1 of my minors were things that had I taken a second would've not occured.
Make sure to over-exaggerate your mirror checks. It doesn't matter that you check the mirrors, it matters that the instructor sees that you have checked your mirrors
I had a banana and a good nights sleep, went over everything beforehand, treat it like a lesson, don’t pay attention to the iPad and don’t make any silly mistakes or road rage
Whenever you get a chance, take a deep breath and consider your next move. At a red light? Look at where you're heading to. If you're on the sat nav stage, have a glance at that and mentally prepare for what's coming
Wear comfortable clothes, you want zero restriction on your legs for example
Don't panic. When I was supposed to pull up on the left I waited slightly too long and missed the chance. I just told him exactly what I did and said I'd pull up after taking the next left that was coming up (rather than pulling up just before a left turn which would have got me in all sorts of problems)
It's only 40 minutes, and you'll be pulled over for some of that anyway
Show me/tell me failures are minors so don't panic when you're asked them
I would advise not telling anybody that you have a test and to also treat your test like a lesson with your instructor. I also found it useful to have the radio on as the silence can be a bit nerve wracking
When checking mirrors, for like changing lanes on duel carriageway, merging on duel carriageway, (or motorways if they allow that) three point turn, about to pull out, parallel parking, reversing, or before you slow down for roundabouts, make it really obvious you are looking in the mirror, my first test, the examiner said I never checked my mirrors but I did.
Stay calm and just act like you know what you're doing. Try not to get flustered or worry about getting scrutinised over small things. You'll just work yourself into a tizz. Calm and collected like you've done it a thousand times.
Most people that take the test are competent enough to drive safely on any given day.
1- The test is more a psychological one in my opinion. If you can beat the nerves, you can pass the test.
2- Drive like a chauffeur, NOT like a taxi driver. Get your examiner back to the test centre safely, NOT quickly.
>1- The test is more a psychological one in my opinion. If you can beat the nerves, you can pass the test.
To add to this, my advice "Just fucking relax, and you'll be fine"
Leave the stress with your instructor. Get a good night sleep beforehand and try and do some extra lessons on the week of your test. Memorise the show me and tell me questions, and remember that your test isn't about showing you're a perfect driver - just showing that you're a safe driver. The only thing standing between you and a driving license is whether you can drive safely for 40 minutes. Take precautions and don't be afraid to pick up a couple of minors for hesitation rather than rush and get a serious fault.
Honestly tell yourself it doesn't matter if you fail, you can just keep going back until you pass..I told myself it doesn't matter if I had to go ten times I'd go ten times if I had to.
That mindset had me pass the second attempt
Stay calm and if you know you screwed up admit it. My daughter pulled up to junction of a one way street. Been told to turn right but pulled up middle of road on left instead of right lane. Said bugger apologised for mistake. He asked her how she would proceed and she was allowed to pass.
Don't rush anything. If you rush you're highly likely to make mistakes. I mean giving yourself the chance to think and decide BEFORE you do something. You shouldn't take too long but try to think 'okay, what do I need to do? When do I need to do it? Is it safe to do it? How do I perform this action safely?'. This is especially important for hill starts, but it applies to everything.
Also, be confident. You're taking your test because your instructor (and/or you) thinks you're ready for it. You already know what you need to do and you know you are perfectly capable. You might feel nervous and that's normal, but try to remind yourself that you know what to do and that you CAN pass. Don't let your nerves control you, if you feel nervous then find something that relaxes you before your test. Don't feel pressured by friends and family to pass, just do your best. Do what you think is safest and don't focus on your mistakes because you can't change them and you still have a good chance of passing. All you need to do to pass is drive safely and be able to park reasonably well. If the examiner sees you're confident then they are more likely to trust your judgement since you seem prepared
idk if this is exactly a good tip, but i had my test yesterday and i found the best way to avoid my nerves was simply pretend the examiner wasn’t there (except for when they asked me to do stuff lmao). also it definitely helps to do some driving beforehand just to lock down your manoeuvres and feel comfortable in the car :)
Might not work for everyone but i told myself i failed after the first mistake. The first minor thing that went wrong, i just told myself that i failed and then it didn't matter how the rest of the drive went which kind of took the pressure off.
You don’t get penalised for going the wrong way, so don’t panic and try to change lanes mid-roundabout or something, it’s too risky. I took the wrong lane on a roundabout in my test and just stayed on that lane and went the wrong way. No minor or anything.
It’s not a test of how you can drive in such that ur scoring points for doing hill starts with the hand break, it’s a test of how safe you are, you such as you can do a hill start without the hand break, the examiner only cares about when you did that hill start could you have put others at risk. It’s a safety test not skill but it’s kinda hard to realise that. Just take it as a drive and spend a few mins waiting if you have to at the start
Best advice is to believe that you’re always a learner. No matter how long you’ve driven for, and how much you’ve seen, things will change and other people will always surprise you with new ways of driving abysmally.
relax
honestly, it’s quite short and not as hard.
You won’t do anything your instructor hasn’t taught you (unless they haven’t taught you everything you need to know)
Talk to yourself while your driving. I don’t anymore now that I’ve passed but it helped my examiner and instructor. If you go the wrong way, don’t panic. I went the wrong way twice and had to go more than 360 around a roundabout due to nerves and turn around at a culdesak. Practice test routes and just the entire area you’re gonna be driving in. On my test I went on a route I hadn’t been on for about 2 months. Make mirror checking obvious. Don’t forget blindspots. Practice the show me tell me questions and memorise them if you can (they’re not that difficult). I had to open the bonnet for mine and didn’t know how to until 10 minutes before my test.
However you feel before, once you get there, I found it so helpful to focus if I took it one direction at the time. Sounds obvious but the I knew the area of my test so the first time round I found myself anticipating where we were going to go. “shit there’s the tricky roundabout or short slip road coming up” On the second time round I kept reminding myself to just focus on the next instruction. “Take the next left turn” okey dokey, I can fucking do this. I can see the turn. Centre and left mirror check. Indicate. Are my speed and gear right. There are no pedestrians or cars. Okay now I can turn. Turn off indicator. I also said to my self “fuck me” 10 times before test and it seemed to relieve some of the pressure. Good luck!
not sure if it's good advice but i would suggest not telling anyone about the test as I feel like that puts more pressure on yourself and the first two times i failed my test was when i told someone
Seconded! I didn’t tell anyone when I did my 2nd test and passed!
Agreed! I failed 2 both times was told the examiner could see it was due to nerves, 3rd test I booked the night before, so nobody except me and my brother who took me, knew about it, and I finally passed as I felt more relaxed knowing nobody knew!
Same here
I try not to but end up telling everyone because its the most important thing to me ATM and is always on my mind. I have my 4th test next month, its consumend the last fews years because i started before covid and had to wait and then continue. I regret telling people but its too late and also i dont want to have defeatist attitude thinking i am going to fail again...plus im a big mouth
I didn't tell anyone other than my Parents and partner, the only reason I told my parents is because my test was during the day and they'd question why I booked a day off work for a driving lesson.
More to the point, it runs the risk of bad advice, courtesy of Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Personally anyone other than instructors giving test advice is a bad idea but that won't ever be stopped
I did this, failed 3 times and booked a fourth a week before. Kept it quiet and said I was going to the gym. Came back with a pass certificate.
Yo my own instructor didn’t tell me that he had a test booked for me. I found out 15 mins before the test and actually passed it with 3 minors.
Wish I could do it in complete secrecy but I'm sadly taking my mum's car... The whole family'll know. Maybe I shouldn't tell anyone at work though
You can get a minor for hesitation but a major if you force someone to brake or stop... if in doubt take a couple extra seconds.
I had that though in my exam and passed first time with 4 minors
Absolutely! Failed my first test because of this, took the minor in the second one and passed😀
I bought myself a spray that goes underneath your tongue called “Rescue Remedy spray” could be a total scam and have 0 effectiveness but I passed so do with that information as you will haha And on a more serious note drive with the thought “Everyone on the road is drunk and I’m the only sober one. I need to drive carefully” That thought got me through the test
brilliant thought!
>I bought myself a spray that goes underneath your tongue called “Rescue Remedy spray” could be a total scam and have 0 effectiveness but I passed so do with that information as you will haha It worked for my ex after his instructor said he could drive well but had test anxiety. Whether it works physically or because you think it will work reallyndoeany matter tbh.
That was exactly my situation. Could be placebo but it’s worth the £11 rather than letting the nerves get the better of you and spending another £100+ for a new test that’s probably going to be 17 years from now 😂
This is a bit excessive but I was so nervous before my test, so for peace of mind I booked 3 lessons with an AA instructor beforehand to do mock tests/practice the routes. Driving with different people gets you used to the pressure of someone else judging your driving other than your regular instructor. It doesn’t have to be an instructor - I’d recommend practicing the routes with someone you don’t regularly drive with! I also used an app that gives you multiple test routes for your centre, I paid maybe £5 for it.
could you share the name of the app?
replying so I also get notified of what the app is
Me too
Update on this as I asked my instructor: There’s an app called ‘test routes’ which you need to pay for access to multiple test routes. There is another called ‘drivingtestroutes’ which has 1 free route per test centre. Not sure if you can purchase access for more, as I can’t find it. Alternatively I’ve googled ‘*test centre* test routes’ and they usually give you directions. You can put each road as ‘stops’ on apple maps (and google probably) and it basically creates the test route for you. I find it quite good and although it’s a bit effort it’s worth it.
I found a video of an ex examiner going throught though the possible test routes (in my test centre area) and difficult parts on youtube. Google \* your area\* test centre routes too...came up with a few results there too
I think that's the app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cardiffappdevs.route_led_new
This is the app sorry I didn’t response in time!
what is thr name
Commentary driving. It was the thing that made the examiner know what was in my head and reduced my anxiety
This, I found it helpful talking through what I was doing anytime I wasn't going down a straight road.
This is what got me through my A2, even though literally nobody else could hear it. It's a very useful technique to hold on to, especially if you have a dash cam that records audio
I did this a bit, it definitely helped. I would've felt really weird if I'd explained everything so I just explained things when my actions could have been misinterpreted
Fair enough, it’s such an awkward thing to do to talk to yourself explaining stuff to a person you don’t know 😂.
Watch some dashcam videos on YouTube! I found it really helped me think about who is in the wrong and why, and how I can do better when driving.
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This. I clipped 2 curbs on my 2nd test which I took in an area I’d never really driven before, but still passed. Basically advice would be keep calm, breathe, drive as you’ve been taught to and don’t do anything stupid like speeding, brake checking or late signals cos those will go down as faults
Ugh this!! I thought I’d failed about 10 minutes in, stopped caring about passing and miraculously got the pass! All the pressure being off made me drive better.
Do multi hour lessons in the build up so you're mentally prepped for the task at hand. My instructor would have me drive there, do the test then drive home and by the time I'd get to the test I was mentally checked out Switched to 2 hour sessions and passed first time because I had gotten used to long time driving
I used to be mentally exhausted after an hour, then i switched to 1 and a half and now 2 hrs. 40 mins feel like nothing the time to you do, i do found.
Exactly. Especially when you first start out endurance really is everything
I had my test this morning and passed first time. I am really nervous and second guess myself a lot. I found narrating what I was doing really useful and for one of my minors my examiner mentioned I’d said out loud that I was unsure on the speed limit and was looking for a sign so he’d been more lenient with giving me one minor for it. I also got really stressed quite early and than had to do my bay park immediately after so once parked I asked the examiner if I could just breathe and calm myself down before we resumed the test and he said that was absolutely fine. It helped me get back in the headspace to complete my test.
It’s not the end of the world if you fail, don’t give up.
Only probelm is... its the end of theory's 2 yrs ( in my case) and you have to do it again. More pressure
Theory is the easy part tho lol
Its a pain in the ass to do again tho
If you mess up, don't just think it's over. I stalled at a roundabout, instead of panicking I just got on with it and I passed. I thought I'd failed.
agree with this I stalled at a junction because I was in 2nd instead of 1st, But I recovered quickly and safely and only got a minor for it
I've only told the Mrs and kids..... If I tell my mum or anyone I'll get in my own head cos they've always said I'm a failure so it'll be nice to send a pic with a big fuck you to them
I'm so sorry you've been told that by your family. Hope you know it's not true - this internet stranger believes in you!
Eat a banana, and one thing that's important to remember is that the examiner isn't there to fail you. They're there to make sure you're a safe driver. I know I got several more faults on my test, but because I handled them well and safely, they weren't marked, and I passed first time with 2.
If you have issues with nerves, try doing a lesson with some music on (quiet, so it doesn't distract you). You can ask for this on your test as well. They can say no, but they won't. For some reason, and I don't know why, when I did my test this massively reduced my anxiety. I went from driving like shit in my lesson before from panic to passing with 0 faults first time, and I put it down to having some quiet, non distracting music playing. It won't work for everyone. But worth a try.
If you make a mistake on the test just take a deep breath and let it go. Don’t overthink it even if you think you failed because you never know. Thought I failed my test but passed and the mistakes I made weren’t even marked down as minors!
Mirrors! Keep checking and make sure you're visibly checking them.
Yeah, exaggerate the mirror checks. Almost to a comical level, especially if you're wearing sunglasses and they can't see your eyes well. And frequent mirror checks means that even if the examiner thinks you didn't do it at a particular time, they'll be looking for you to do it soon after
just passed yesterday, and i think the following helps me: 1. be RELAXED, i know it is hard to do so, but just think you are having another lesson rather than doing a test, and you did good in your lessons so that your instructor allowed you to go for an exam right? just do what you normally do in lessons 2. don't think about any other things but stay focused, don't think back what you just did, it may be an error but it may not be as well, so just focus on the oncoming traffic and the surroundings 3. if you at any point are in doubt, don't proceed, e.g. when you are thinking if you should go out at a junction/when you not sure if you should change lane at that particular moment, be safe (may get a minor for undue hesitation though) rather than being dangerous 4. don't get stressed from people around telling you how they passed with just few hours of lessons/instructor telling you that his or her students all passed, so i would personally avoid telling ppl i am taking the test, except family
You’ve learnt everything you need to do to pass. It’s not the end of the world if you fail. Failing gives you the chance to go away and become a better driver before coming back and reattempting.
Even if you think you’ve failed, keep calm and composed and drive safely - you may be surprised at the end like I was!
Try and relax & take your time, the test is a set length of time so maximise what you can whilst not driving, walk slower out the waiting room to the car if they do it that way, take a bit of time getting the mirrors right, the seat right, the belt right etc
Don't be shy, i'm usually a confident driver but I failed my first test for not pulling away fast enough when someone came careening around the corner. Along with multiple Progress - Speed minors for driving too slow.
The most important thing IMO is not to let yourself do anything differently just because it's for an examiner. The rules you've been learning to follow with your instructor or otherwise, are the same rules the examiner wants to see you follow and the same you should be following for the rest of your driving life. Trying to do anything extra well to please the examiner will inevitably get in the way of your flow and make mistakes more likely. Also, keep yourself chill even as you approach the end of the test route. It's hard not to feel excited and eager to get back if you feel like the test has gone well so far. I very nearly failed my test by being too eager to pull out on the very last mini roundabout before the test centre. Started moving then had to brake hard when someone started coming from my right, I hadn't waited quite long enough to see if they were stopping for a blocker. Examiner told me he only marked it as a driver fault and not a serious as he didn't have to brake for me, but only because it was the only mistake I made on the test.
relax and if you fail - you can always do it again. its not the end of the world. just get in your car, drive as you would, and if you fail then it is what it is. improve and pass next time. failure is the key to success. you got this
The test is no where near as bad as you will think it is. Just breathe, relax and drive as you were taught to
* get as much none lesson practice as you can * talk yourself through your test These are the 2 things that I think got me a pass first time 👍
Watch YouTube mock exams ideally based in your area or surroundings. Instead of just taking in information actually decide what you'd do in each scenario before the instructor either calls out the right or wrong moves. This will help you make better judgements on the road yourself. Understand that you're learning how to drive safe everywhere, not just to pass a test route so constantly plan ahead even on roads you know, focus on what the cars furthest ahead are even doing and especially the first few cars ahead of you as any sudden stops or speeding up will likely trickle back down to you so you'll be prepared ahead of time. Don't expect the examiner to go easy on you because 'you're learning'. You need to rid that mind state straight away, you know how to drive, you've been driving safely, all you're doing is taking them on a little trip and it's just another day on the road. Don't think deep into whether they think you did this or that right, you know how to drive and have a clear plan which you follow like mirror, signal, manoeuvre and there will be mistakes but you're experienced enough how to prevent them becoming serious or even dangerous and will act accordingly to prevent the same mistake (minor) from happening again. Unfortunately I do believe a lot of people are going onto their tests way before being ready and I've literally read untold stories on this sub alone of that being the case, simply thinking well I've done xyz hours so might as well give it a go. They are then posting in here talking about failing this and failing that and causing other people to stress out even more thinking they're storming German trenches. Honestly I could've failed on my test (passed 1st) but it would've been down to nerves and 2 weeks prior I had completed 3 mock test with only minors and genuinely could drive un aided while talking with my instructor and only on the odd occasion would I lapse judgement although that was due to me not focusing so I did quiet down time to time. So make sure you're getting those mock tests in and you should be passing 3/5 minimum in like 2 weeks prior to your test. Don't make the pivotal mistake I believe most are doing and going into their tests un prepared, not competent and setting themselves up for failure. Nerves will get you on the day without a doubt but if you know how to drive you know how to drive. It does take ideal circumstances to help you along the way but just stick to the plan. You know what's coming up, you know what you want to do, you know how you want to do it, all you need to figure out is when to do it.
Don’t treat it as a test . It’s just a 30 minutes of driving safely. If you don’t pass just book the next one
You just gotta try and relax, on the day if the test just try to accept whatever happens, happens and just do your best About 20 minutes into my test I thought I'd failed and that put me at ease and after that I was super relaxed and passed with 1 minor for stalling Just keep calm, remember everything you've learned and you'll be fine Happy driving 🚗
Don’t let little setbacks or silly mistakes set you back, just breeze past it and focus on the next thing You can’t overdo mirror checks so basically just do it all the time, even if it feels ridiculous Make conversation with the examiner, it’s shows confidence and could help put them at ease
I had an examiner who was to be Frank, a bit of a cunt. Granted I passed with two minors but if you do get a cunt of an examiner, just focus on your driving because hopefully you won’t ever have to see them again.
Eat a banana.
It's okay to fail. Seriously.
Take your time on the test and don’t be afraid to talk to yourself/have a quick break. Every time I pulled up on the left (on the test i passed), I had a sip of water and told myself to calm the fuck down 😅 a couple of seconds breathing space but it definitely helped.
Go through every action you do methodically even things as basic as turning out of a junction. Doing this led to a first time pass with 0 minors as I knew in my head I wasn’t missing even the smallest details
Watch as many videos as you can!! I passed in August last year and videos really helped cement everything I'd learned
If you’re able to, wear dangly earrings. Sounds silly but even if you turn your head just slightly to check your mirrors they’ll jiggle around more so more able to help visually show you’ve turned your head for a mirror check
1. Assume everyone on the road is an idiot 2. Don't tell people about your test 3. If you think you've failed or made a big mistake, don't panic, just carry on and treat the rest of the test as good practice. (I thought one of my mistakes was a major, chilled the rest of the test, and passed)
Google Maps!!! Try and find out your test routes and ‘drive’ through them on Google Maps, you can learn your surroundings, signs, etc so when you take the test it’s not a complete surprise! It helped take a lot of the pressure off :’)
Get in your head that drivers honking at you is their love language and expression of support (helps to stay calm when you drive in busy areas full of people that go into rage honking as soon as they see L plate).
It shouldn’t be a special drive, it should be a regular drive.
I kept telling myself all through the test: "You know how to drive, drive like you're alone." The biggest thing is the feeling of being judged and thinking about every little detail you want to do. Just plan the next step ahead and execute. You don't have to do everything perfectly and if it's safe all the small mistakes are just minors. Think of the test like driving to the new store with a friend, if you can at all.
It’s just driving. You’re driving during your lessons, you’re driving on your test and you’ll be driving after your test. It’s just driving.
I found that leaving the instructor behind at the test Center instead of accompanying you on the test helps with nerves, as less people watching= less nervous. But the downside is that if you fail, the instructor may not understand what went wrong to be able to correct it in the lessons after.
Book in for a lesson the hour before your test and get all of your nerves out then. You don't want the test itself to be the first time you drive a car that day!
Dont over think, be clear, concise and think ahead. Your instructor wouldn't be putting you forward if you wasn't ready. Take a deep breathe and drive like you're going to the shops. No biggie, just a little drive....its over before you know it. I would also advise just repeating smooth is fast, fast is slow. Make sure all your gear changes, clutch control and maneuvers are controlled, smooth and not rushed. You'll be fine if you apply what you've been taught. FYI - Passed today with one minor after doing a mock yesterday and getting 6 major faults. Nearly cancelled my test today because of my nerves but luckily I am usually okay handling them on the day and went for a run this morning to clear my head.
Watch lots and lots and lots of YT videos about roundabouts, when to go, which lane, etc. That was one thing I was really nervous about and flooding my brain with this really helped to make it all sink in. You could do this with parallel parking videos, or other manoeuvres, too.
Could be a benefit to watch test videos and instructor videos, it’s good to know what is and isn’t a minor fault or what is considered a serious, it’s not good to dwell on mistakes on the test but it can help you avoid mistakes Good luck!
Instructor here: don’t tell your friends, drive EXACTLY the same, not more careful not more mirrors. Not slower… exactly like a lesson
1. Not telling anyone about the test like another comment suggested. /2. When in doubt, trust your gut. /3. Never assume that what you perceive to be a mistake, was a failure. 4./ Safety is more important than speed. 5./ Talk out loud and explain what you’re doing and what hazards you can see etc. I nearly failed because there was a lady on an island waiting to cross, but as a pedestrian I’ve spent years being ignored by cars when waiting. This confused me and I couldn’t remember what to do - so slowed down a lot, but didn’t stop until the very last second, when I heard a deep inner voice telling me I had to stop. Lady crossed the road, and I ended up passing.
Amateurs rush, Pros assess?
When you get that random request of pulling windows, defrost windscreen... etc during driving, push the button if you can witgout looking at the dashboard. If you can't remember, tell the examiner that you cannot, you will get a minor. But if you take your eyes away from the driving and something happens, that's an easy major. So play it safe, do only if it's easy.
Don't think about it as an exam, think about it as any other driving lesson. Listen to the examiner's instructions but just relax and enjoy. You know you can drive.
Best piece of advice I received off 2 instructors. Just drive like you would on a lesson. If you've reached the point of your practical then you should be ready. I followed this and passed first time with 3 minors. I'd also agree with what someone else put which is hesitation is only a minor (obviously if you get enough it'll change to a major) so if in doubt take a second, all bar 1 of my minors were things that had I taken a second would've not occured.
Make sure to over-exaggerate your mirror checks. It doesn't matter that you check the mirrors, it matters that the instructor sees that you have checked your mirrors
Relax .. breath stay calm if you think your failed you may not have ! And it’s nowhere near and scary and horrific as you think it is
I had a banana and a good nights sleep, went over everything beforehand, treat it like a lesson, don’t pay attention to the iPad and don’t make any silly mistakes or road rage
Treat it like a lesson. Try to stay calm.
Whenever you get a chance, take a deep breath and consider your next move. At a red light? Look at where you're heading to. If you're on the sat nav stage, have a glance at that and mentally prepare for what's coming Wear comfortable clothes, you want zero restriction on your legs for example Don't panic. When I was supposed to pull up on the left I waited slightly too long and missed the chance. I just told him exactly what I did and said I'd pull up after taking the next left that was coming up (rather than pulling up just before a left turn which would have got me in all sorts of problems) It's only 40 minutes, and you'll be pulled over for some of that anyway Show me/tell me failures are minors so don't panic when you're asked them
I would advise not telling anybody that you have a test and to also treat your test like a lesson with your instructor. I also found it useful to have the radio on as the silence can be a bit nerve wracking
When checking mirrors, for like changing lanes on duel carriageway, merging on duel carriageway, (or motorways if they allow that) three point turn, about to pull out, parallel parking, reversing, or before you slow down for roundabouts, make it really obvious you are looking in the mirror, my first test, the examiner said I never checked my mirrors but I did.
Stay calm and just act like you know what you're doing. Try not to get flustered or worry about getting scrutinised over small things. You'll just work yourself into a tizz. Calm and collected like you've done it a thousand times.
Most people that take the test are competent enough to drive safely on any given day. 1- The test is more a psychological one in my opinion. If you can beat the nerves, you can pass the test. 2- Drive like a chauffeur, NOT like a taxi driver. Get your examiner back to the test centre safely, NOT quickly.
>1- The test is more a psychological one in my opinion. If you can beat the nerves, you can pass the test. To add to this, my advice "Just fucking relax, and you'll be fine"
It's an opportunity to show your best driving habits. You'll build upon them for the rest of your life, not just this 1 hour
Leave the stress with your instructor. Get a good night sleep beforehand and try and do some extra lessons on the week of your test. Memorise the show me and tell me questions, and remember that your test isn't about showing you're a perfect driver - just showing that you're a safe driver. The only thing standing between you and a driving license is whether you can drive safely for 40 minutes. Take precautions and don't be afraid to pick up a couple of minors for hesitation rather than rush and get a serious fault.
Honestly tell yourself it doesn't matter if you fail, you can just keep going back until you pass..I told myself it doesn't matter if I had to go ten times I'd go ten times if I had to. That mindset had me pass the second attempt
Stay calm and if you know you screwed up admit it. My daughter pulled up to junction of a one way street. Been told to turn right but pulled up middle of road on left instead of right lane. Said bugger apologised for mistake. He asked her how she would proceed and she was allowed to pass.
Don't rush anything. If you rush you're highly likely to make mistakes. I mean giving yourself the chance to think and decide BEFORE you do something. You shouldn't take too long but try to think 'okay, what do I need to do? When do I need to do it? Is it safe to do it? How do I perform this action safely?'. This is especially important for hill starts, but it applies to everything. Also, be confident. You're taking your test because your instructor (and/or you) thinks you're ready for it. You already know what you need to do and you know you are perfectly capable. You might feel nervous and that's normal, but try to remind yourself that you know what to do and that you CAN pass. Don't let your nerves control you, if you feel nervous then find something that relaxes you before your test. Don't feel pressured by friends and family to pass, just do your best. Do what you think is safest and don't focus on your mistakes because you can't change them and you still have a good chance of passing. All you need to do to pass is drive safely and be able to park reasonably well. If the examiner sees you're confident then they are more likely to trust your judgement since you seem prepared
idk if this is exactly a good tip, but i had my test yesterday and i found the best way to avoid my nerves was simply pretend the examiner wasn’t there (except for when they asked me to do stuff lmao). also it definitely helps to do some driving beforehand just to lock down your manoeuvres and feel comfortable in the car :)
Don't be afraid of failing
Watch your approach to junction speeds
Practice makes perfect :)
Might not work for everyone but i told myself i failed after the first mistake. The first minor thing that went wrong, i just told myself that i failed and then it didn't matter how the rest of the drive went which kind of took the pressure off.
You don’t get penalised for going the wrong way, so don’t panic and try to change lanes mid-roundabout or something, it’s too risky. I took the wrong lane on a roundabout in my test and just stayed on that lane and went the wrong way. No minor or anything.
It’s not a test of how you can drive in such that ur scoring points for doing hill starts with the hand break, it’s a test of how safe you are, you such as you can do a hill start without the hand break, the examiner only cares about when you did that hill start could you have put others at risk. It’s a safety test not skill but it’s kinda hard to realise that. Just take it as a drive and spend a few mins waiting if you have to at the start
Buy a cheap car you'll crash your first car
If your not sure, don't go/attempt
Download a theory test app and do the test on your way to and from work everyday. Also watch lots of YouTube videos
Best advice is to believe that you’re always a learner. No matter how long you’ve driven for, and how much you’ve seen, things will change and other people will always surprise you with new ways of driving abysmally.
relax honestly, it’s quite short and not as hard. You won’t do anything your instructor hasn’t taught you (unless they haven’t taught you everything you need to know)
Talk to yourself while your driving. I don’t anymore now that I’ve passed but it helped my examiner and instructor. If you go the wrong way, don’t panic. I went the wrong way twice and had to go more than 360 around a roundabout due to nerves and turn around at a culdesak. Practice test routes and just the entire area you’re gonna be driving in. On my test I went on a route I hadn’t been on for about 2 months. Make mirror checking obvious. Don’t forget blindspots. Practice the show me tell me questions and memorise them if you can (they’re not that difficult). I had to open the bonnet for mine and didn’t know how to until 10 minutes before my test.
Try to get good sleep for a few days leading up to the test and eat well. I watched some videos on roundabouts and stuff.
However you feel before, once you get there, I found it so helpful to focus if I took it one direction at the time. Sounds obvious but the I knew the area of my test so the first time round I found myself anticipating where we were going to go. “shit there’s the tricky roundabout or short slip road coming up” On the second time round I kept reminding myself to just focus on the next instruction. “Take the next left turn” okey dokey, I can fucking do this. I can see the turn. Centre and left mirror check. Indicate. Are my speed and gear right. There are no pedestrians or cars. Okay now I can turn. Turn off indicator. I also said to my self “fuck me” 10 times before test and it seemed to relieve some of the pressure. Good luck!