PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST TIPS

We are pleased to share some invaluable practical driving test tips that can significantly enhance your readiness. Our comprehensive pre-test practical driving test tips are designed to equip you both mentally and physically as you approach your driving test, ultimately increasing your chances of passing on your first attempt. Throughout my experience as an instructor, I have observed common patterns in the results of numerous students, highlighting crucial factors that every learner driver should be aware of.

It is essential to embrace the straightforward yet significant unwritten rules of driving behaviour during the test. In the following sections, you will find a collection of practical driving test tips aimed at reducing the stress and pressure you may feel, allowing you to approach your test with a sense of calm and confidence. I genuinely hope these insights prove helpful for my current learners as well as for new students who visit this site seeking effective practical driving test tips for their upcoming preparations.

OUR PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST TIPS

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GET IN THE CAR

• The night before your test day is crucial for your success. Ensure you get a full night of restful sleep, as it can significantly impact your mental sharpness and alertness. A well-rested mind is key to enhancing focus and concentration, which are essential for performing well in your driving test. Do not overlook the power of a good night’s sleep; it can make all the difference in how you approach the challenges of the day ahead.

• Dress in comfortable clothing that you typically wear, particularly what you choose for your driving lessons, as this will help you feel at ease. It is important to avoid wearing different driving shoes from those you usually wear during lessons to maintain familiarity and comfort. Opt for loose trousers and a t-shirt to ensure that you feel relaxed and unrestricted while on the test, allowing you to focus on your driving rather than being distracted by your attire.

• Have all the necessary documents for your test organized and within clear sight before you leave your home to avoid any last-minute scrambling. Ensure that your driving licence, theory test pass certificate, and house keys are easily accessible in a designated spot, allowing you to grab them quickly and confidently as you head out the door.

• To ensure you feel your best, it’s important to stay well-hydrated and eat something nutritious before you head out. A growling stomach due to hunger can be distracting, especially if you’re feeling nervous, so make an effort to consume a small snack, whether it’s a slice of toast, some fruit, or even a sweet treat to boost your energy. Taking the time to fuel your body can improve your focus and confidence. Additionally, chewing gum can be a simple yet effective way to enhance your concentration levels, helping you to stay alert and engaged in whatever you are doing.

• Keeping your test date to yourself can be beneficial. Sharing this information with friends and family may inadvertently add more pressure and anxiety that you simply do not need at this time. It’s wise to confide in only those you trust deeply, as they are less likely to burden you with their own stressful experiences or horror stories related to their own tests. By keeping your plans private, you can focus on preparing and maintaining a calm mindset, which will ultimately contribute to your success.

• Go over your “SHOW ME/TELL ME” questions thoroughly before your instructor arrives so you can provide a clear and concise answer to the examiner during your driving test. Starting on a positive note is crucial, and answering the “TELL ME” question incorrectly will result in a minor fault being recorded even before you begin driving on the test. To avoid this, take the initiative to ask your instructor to review the “SHOW ME/TELL ME” questions with you prior to setting off, ensuring that you are fully confident in the location and operation of all the necessary controls that may need to be demonstrated during your test. This preparation can significantly boost your confidence and contribute to a smoother driving test experience.

PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST TIPS WHILE ON THE TEST

• While on the driving test the examiner gives an instruction, but you are not sure what they want you to do. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat it back so that you fully understand what you are about to do. Do not leave it too late to ask this question, get the repeated instruction request asked as early as possible. Remember this is your drive so make them work for you. After all, you are paying their wages as well as mine.

• Lane discipline. If you come to a point where you find yourself in the wrong lane approaching a junction. DO NOT swerve into another lane at the last minute just to try and be in the correct position as this will be deemed a serious or even a dangerous error and all you have to do if it is not safe to change lanes then just go in the wrong direction. The examiner will not and cannot mark you for this as long as you go in the wrong direction correctly. Examiners assess the ability to drive, not the capacity to follow directions properly, especially on the independent drive section of the test.

• If the examiner looks directly at you approaching things like hazards, they are watching you checking mirrors. When you have done this, they will go back to looking at the road. If you see this, then make sure you check your mirrors as they are giving off lifeline signals for you to check properly.

• Ensure that you have enough time to overtake any vehicle including cyclists approaching junctions. They could speed up making it difficult to complete the manoeuvre, examiners don’t want to see you taking any unnecessary risks and would rather see you hold back.

• Busy junctions, remember this if you can’t see you can’t go. Don’t be inpatient in thinking the examiner will mark you down for hesitation. You can only go when you can go it is as simple as that. There are no failures just for a couple of hesitation faults. Although, you can for pulling out into the path of an oncoming vehicle when you should not have done. So don’t worry and go when you are safe to go. If you cannot pull out without making another vehicle have to slow down, then you should not emerge.

• Examiners want to see you make progress so do speed limits when they are safe to do so and slow down when road conditions are more complicated, or there are more hazards. Do not get into the mindset of I will drive slower to make sure I pass the test as this will get you serious faulted for not keeping the flow of traffic moving and possibly slowing traffic around you down therefore potentially making other vehicles try to overtake you in sometimes the wrong area to do so.

• To ensure your safety on the road, maintain a following distance of at least two seconds gap behind the vehicle in front of you; this rule is crucial in all driving conditions. When it rains, it’s wise to increase that gap to four seconds, as wet roads can significantly reduce traction. In icy or snowy conditions, you should increase your distance dramatically to a minimum of 20 seconds to account for longer stopping distances. Additionally, if you’re driving at slower speeds, such as 20 or 30 mph, make sure to leave ample space between your vehicle and the one ahead, allowing yourself plenty of time to react to any unexpected stops or obstacles. An examiner can record a fault on your test report if you continually drive to close to vehicles in front of you. When in stationary traffic use the “TAT” rule, leaving tyres and tarmac between you and the car in front of you.

• Manoeuvres, take your time as there is no rush to get these done and remember you can shunt the car meaning you can move forward or back as many times as it takes to complete any reversing manoeuvres. Sometimes examiners ask strange questions such as have you finished or sometimes even stay quiet when you think you have finished, take this as hints that something is not correct. So, check your distances from kerbs or check you are completely inside a parking bay for example.

• The examiner will ask you to park on multiple occasions to check that you are parking and moving off correctly. So, they will ask you to park on the left in a place that is safe, legal and convenient. It is your responsibility to park in a correct place. Look for somewhere to park where you could happily take your keys out and leave your car all day. Don’t be too eager to park and try to make sure it is correct for the park. If it is not then move on to a suitable place. You may be asked to park just behind another parked vehicle to test your move off at an angle. You should just pull up on the left behind the car as though you have just parallel parked behind it.

• You will see the examiner marking the sheet through your driving test. Do not think he or she is marking you down for faults every time. Sometimes they mark the sheet for when you have completed certain tasks like a manoeuvre or the emergency stop. Don’t watch them watch your road and forget what they are doing concentrate on what you need to do.

• Remember not every stall of a car will result in a minor or serious fault. Some stalls just like when you are at a junction and try to move off too quick with the clutch, therefore stalling the car. That is deemed not even to be a fault if you are in the correct gear and you do not cross the give way line or move out onto the new road. Just secure the car take a deep breath and start again.

• Dwelling on any fault, you do make will only result in you making another error because you are still thinking about the mistake you have just made. So, LET IT GO!! Concentrate on the next job at hand. What typically happens is the fault that just happened is not the one counted as a serious error. It will be the mistake you make next by not thinking about what you are about to do.

Lastly, RELAX, it’s essential to remain calm and not let your mind overthink the process. Simply engage in the driving techniques you’ve practiced with me or your instructor, and approach the road with the same confidence you always demonstrate. Remember, there’s no need to alter your behavior or skills; just focus on driving as you typically do and maintain the composure you’ve developed during your lessons. Avoid any actions or decisions that you wouldn’t consider while driving alongside your instructor or with me.

We hope you have enjoyed these practical driving test tips in preparation for your driving test.

Be sure to check out our page on the actual practical driving test.

Also, read our post on Top 10 reasons we fail the driving test.

For more practical driving test tips, look up the DVSA test nerves help

If you are taking driving lessons with me, you will certainly hear me offer various phrases and practical driving test tips designed to guide you safely through each session in Milton Keynes and prepare you effectively for your driving test. These guiding words are meant to instill confidence and ensure a thorough understanding of safe driving practices. It is crucial that you feel well-equipped not only for our lessons but also for the practical driving test ahead of you. I sincerely hope that the practical driving test tips provided play a significant role in your journey toward obtaining your driving licence and becoming a safe and skilled driver.