Tips For Passing Your Driving Practical Test

Before taking your Practical Test you must first pass the
Hazard Awareness and Theory Test.

We’ve been providing driving lessons in Canterbury and Kent since 2001 helping many students pass in this time. We hope our collection of ideas and advice will help you pass your practical test.

Here’s Our Tips To Help you Pass Your Practical Driving Test..

Master Your Nerves

Firstly, don’t worry about being nervous as this is only natural. Studies show adrenaline and nerves can help keep you alert and performing well.

Tips for controlling nerves:

  • Get comfy: Take some slow long deep breathes
  • Be prepared: Have an early night before the day of your test
  • Visualise: Imagine yourself 3 hours after the test, calm and successful.
  • Medication: If you’re going to take medication (e.g. Rescue Remedy) then make sure you’ve tried them before and are aware of their effects. Do not take strong medication that warns against the use of machinery and driving.
nerves on your driving test

 
 

Learn Speed Limits of local Areas and Roads

While taking your driving lessons, instead of just asking or checking what speed limits roads are try and make a concious effort to really remember the speed limits.  On your test you should still pay attention to speed limit signs, but you should be checking as a back-up and not because you can’t remember.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

If you have any queries what-so-ever, don’t be afraid to ask before and during your test. The examiner should always be helpful and responsive to questions.

Get Comfy and Adjust Your Seat

Don’t forget those routines that affect your performance: Being comfy!  Make sure the car temperature is comfortable before you begin your test, and don’t forget to adjust your seat before you start.

Don’t Ever Quit Half-Way Through

Even if you’ve made a mistake, it may only be a minor. Always continue in your best efforts, some students may wrongly assume they have failed.  Don’t let any mistakes put you off, just try your best onwards and make the most of it.

Know the Area and Test Routes

Chat to your instructor about common areas and roads that examiners are using.

Final Thoughts

Have a chat to your friends and family about how they found their driving test, it will help you understand where others struggled.  Be prepared, don’t rush towards taking your test but don’t be too fearful of taking it either!

If you have any more suggestions or have passed your test, please contact us and tell us what helped for you.

The Driving Test Will Involve

  • A quick eye-sight test.
  • Show me, tell me questions regarding vehicle safety.
  • Driving for 40 minutes total.
  • Displaying knowledge of: Roundabouts, Junctions, Crossroads, One-Way systems and possibly Duel Carriageways.
  • 10 minutes of independent driving.
  • Performing an emergency stop.
  • Performing one or two manoeuvres.
  • Possible manoeuvres:
  1. Turn in the road.
  2. Reverse parking around a corner
  3. Paraller parking
  4. Bay parking

DSA’s Top 10 Reasons For Not Passing

  1. Junctions - Lack of observation or making a bad decision based on what you could see. Always look Right, Left and Right again.
  2. Reverse Parking - Lack of accuracy or observation.
  3. Mirrors - In frequent checking and not acting on what you see in your mirrors.
  4. Reversing Round A Corner - Lack of accuracy or observation.
  5. Signalling - Giving misleading signals or forgetting to turn them off.
  6. Moving away safely - Lack of observation
  7. Roundabout Positioning - Incorrect positioning and bad lane discipline at roundabouts.
  8. Steering control - Lack of control and timing (steering too early or late).
  9. Positioning Turning Right - incorrect position for turning right at a junction or one way street.
  10. Speed - Inappropriate speed, too fast or too slow.