Most learner drivers consider the practical driving test to be a nerve-wracking ordeal. This is not surprising at all, considering that this is the stage that culminates all the things that one was able to learn from weeks or months of driving lessons. If you are a learner driver, yourself, and you are about to take your first practical driving test soon, you are likely feeling an irrational fear knowing that you will be sitting behind the wheel of the examiner’s vehicle to take the test that will determine whether you will be able to drive legally or not. Such a feeling is understandable. However, there are accomplished tips you can follow to help stack the cards in your favor and will give you higher chances of acing your test; some of them are written below.
Before the Test
Take to heart what your driving instructor teaches you. Your driving instructor will be the first person who will teach you everything you need to know about driving. As such, it pays to listen to everything that he or she has to say because he or she knows the ropes of practical driving tests from the most basic uo the most complex subjects. Taking to heart the things that your instructor teaches you will give you the confidence to sit behind the wheel.
Practice. As with any other endeavor, practice will allow you to fine-tune your driving skills and ultimately pass your driving test. You can spend an hour each day practicing how to drive, independently control the vehicle, and build your confidence behind the wheel. Practice until you can drive without receiving verbal instructions or physical intervention from your driving instructor.
Do not forget the highway code. Reading and understanding the Highway Code will greatly help you pass your practical driving test. The examiner assigned to you will ask questions throughout the test, where you will be compelled to remember almost everything about the Highway Code, too, properly navigate the roads, and read traffic signals. Of course, learning the Highway Code does not stop once you have passed your driving test. It is something that you can use throughout your driving life. Hence, it pays to update yourself with the Highway Code, especially if there are revisions.
Learn to observe others. Whenever you go out with your friends or other people, carefully observe how they drive and search for the mistakes they make. Correct those in your mind without actually voicing out the mistakes, and think about how you would control the vehicle if you were behind the wheel. It would also be beneficial for you to watch for safety issues or bad habits. Knowing these things and taking note of them in your mind will help you avoid making the same mistakes during your driving test.
On the Big Day
Once the day of your practical driving test arrives, one of the most essential driving tips you can take is to properly prepare yourself for the event. Below are some ways you can prepare for the big day.
- Ensure that you get a good night’s sleep the night before the test and eat the right amount of food before you go to the testing center to help you cope with the nerves.
- Prepare all the necessary documents.
- Get to the test center early, so that you can have the time to gather your thoughts before taking the test.t
- If possible, arrange an hour of driving lesson around the test area on the day of your test st.
- If your exam gives out instructions, make sure that you fully understand them and do not be afraid to ask for clarification if you think you have misunderstood.
- Remember to keep your eye on the road and try to talk yourself silesilentlymaintain your concentration on the possible hazards along the way.
- Always keep your cool and do not crack under pressure
- If you made a mistake, never assume that you have already failed because doing so is the fastest route for you to be disheartened and ultimately fail the test altogether.
- Enjoy driving and look at the test as a challenge, which, i you overcome it, will give you great rewards.
Your driving instructor will not have pushed you through to take the test if he or she thinks that you will not pass. Hence, share his or her confidence and bear in mind that you can only do well in your test if you believe in yourself and your capabilities as a driver.