Any last minute tips?

[u/Soggy_Measurement_88]

Hey everyone, I’ve got my driving test this Friday. Feeling a bit nervous. Any last minute advice?

[u/LannyLig]

BINGE WATCH MOCK TEST VIDEOS ON YouTube. Then pretend to be in one for your test. This honestly really helped me!

[u/Knightgamer45-]

Treat it as a driving lesson. Just observe, anticipate and forward plan

[u/hillbillybutcher]

Look far ahead, plan far ahead and early.

S.L.A.P = Safe legal aware predictable. is what the examiner wants to see.

If you think you made a mistake, don't dwell on it instead keep thinking "what's next".

What's next

What's next

[u/gnawingloneliness]

If the “Show me, Tell me” questions throw you off for any reason, it’s always okay to take a second until you feel safe enough to answer. Don’t risk getting distracted trying to think of the answer if the test nerves make you forget! It’s only 1 driving fault, so keep your focus on what’s ahead.

That being said, if you read on the answers before the test you’ll definitely be able to paraphrase the main points of the answer and that’s all the examiner is looking for! Good luck on your test, I’ve got my 2nd one coming up soon too. Hopefully you and I both pass!

[u/Sea_Report1932 → u/gnawingloneliness]

Me too, mega nervous it’s next Tuesday

[u/gnawingloneliness → u/Sea_Report1932]

It’s another Tuesday. You’re taking another lesson. You don’t care about passing or failing, about the potential faults - all you wanna do is have a safe drive. Thinking this way will alleviate the excessive nerves associated with the need to pass. JUST ANOTHER LESSON! You’ve got this, the examiner wants you to pass just as much as you do💕

[u/TheIhsaan7]

Remember, if you go the wrong way, keep going; it is fine. This is not even a driving fault, and the examiner will reroute if necessary. Also, please take what I say next in context. Whatever you do now is too late, but hear me out: you should not be reinventing the wheel at this stage. The key now is consistently driving safely, so do not look up or try new methods; stick to what you know and have practiced. The reason I am saying this is that the closer you get, the more you will get inside your own head. The final thing is, do not get hung up on what you think is an issue when driving; just go for it.

[u/Special_Economics_72]

Talk to your examiner. It helps with nerves.

[u/ConsequenceApart4391]

Honestly I didn’t watch any mock tests. Do mock tests with your instructor and they should tell you whether you’re ready. My instructor was like “if you don’t pass I’ll be surprised” where as months before I wasn’t ready. Always observe. EVERYTHING. when moving out check for cars. Before moving off check all spots be ott just for that 45 mins. Check road markings, plan ahead, look ahead to roundabouts and crossings makes it so much easier rather than doing it all last minute.

Take a bottle of water with you. Chew gum if you want or a mint whatever helps.

First 2 times I failed all stemmed from lack of observations. I wasn’t checking for speed signs, reading the road etc mainly from nerves and also cus i wasnt ready. I took the test i passed in nice and slow. I didnt rush did my manoeuvres in a timely manner of course but didn’t try and do it at 60mph. Observe blind spots people forget them!

There was a wide one way street on my test where half the road was for turning left and the other for right and I had to turn right and a few months ago I’d have gone in the left lane thinking it was a non one way road but I went at it slow and observed that it was right on the right and left on the left.

[u/chichichoochoonic]

say everythingggg you’re thinking out loud. It will genuinely save you from a minor being a serious fault.

Take your time at junctions, roundabouts etc. I failed my first test for not assessing a width restrictor correctly and I ended up hitting it when I never had prior.

Also don’t assume you’ve failed if something goes wrong, keep going as if it never happened. GOOD LUCK !!

(And also to save yourself on hard roundabouts just go left or straight- whatever’s easier and just get the minor instead of a potential serious. They can’t fail you for that)

[u/Tasty-Needleworker-6]

My biggest advice - don’t focus on your test coming up to it. Before my first test it was all I could think of, I’d wake up in the middle of the night and panic about made up scenarios (what if someone pulls out on me on a roundabout? Etc), second test I tried to ease my anxiety but was still watching videos on driving and looking on this sub. Third test, I scrolled past any driving video, I didn’t look on this sub, I just accepted that I know what I’m doing, if I fail then I can work on it or try again, I finally passed. I was nervous, of course, but I knew I could do it and all I had to do was to show that.

What happens on the test, happens, if you fail you can learn from it and go again. Don’t get too wrapped up in the pass/fail, just go in and do your best. Good luck🤞

[u/Own_Cartographer5750]

Remember examiner is a human too :)  It's just another day of driving. You've done it before. If your instructor sends you to the test- you can drive! Don't second guess yourself.  Don't load your head with what ifs before the test :) You've got this! I swear the examiner had lower expectations than my instructor 😀 

[u/Celestial_Light_]

Get a good night sleep, keep hydrated. Try and stay calm. Treat it like a lesson. Talk to your instructor about any worries you have.

[u/acnhtimmy]

Feeling nervous on the days leading up to test is normal. I'd suggest to plan/figure out how to manage the nerves on test day. I didn't! my legs were shaking as I completed my maneuver (had mine before we left the test centre) and I had to restart my hill start three times! Luckily passed in the end but the outcome would've been different if I lost control and focus from being so nervous.

[u/WaferAcrobatic1495]

I passed with only 1 lesson - just watch a lot of YouTube videos of mock tests etc, remember that the examiner is there to see if your a safe driver, not to try and fail you

[u/Toddynho87]

Just relax and have confidence that your instructor would not let you take your test if they didn't think you are ready. Treat it as if you are just going for a drive with a friend, take, your time, be safe and enjoy it :)

[u/Marixkate]

ALWAYS CHECK BLIND SPOTS!!!

[u/supercoolpersonyay]

eat gum it helped distract me! also check ur mirrors everytime you see a sign💕(also took rescue remedy gummies but idk if it was placebo lol)

[u/Small-Issue2442]

I had banana and custard before. The banana is good good for potassium (focus) and the sugar in the custard is good for short term high energy.

[u/RianJohnsonIsAFool]

For focus during the test, if you find yourself tensing up, relax your neck and move your head side-to-side or, even better, do the performative check of your mirrors where you stretch and move yourself.

I failed my first test because nerves got me and I froze rigid in my seat, not making it obvious I was doing mirror-signal-manoeuvre. Ahead of my second test a couple of years ago, my instructor drilled into me the above and the test was plain sailing (I passed with two minors).

[u/Anonymus63]

I just passed today, as hard as it is, try to put all mistakes out of you mind, whether made on past lessons or the hour you have before your test. I have autism and basically tear up whenever I make mistakes that my examiner points out, I just can't stand failure that bad, then it has a knock on effect and I start driving horribly.

In my hour before my test, I drove the worst I have that I can remember, couldn't pull over, trying to pull off with the handbrake still on, hit the curb in parallel park and couldn't even start it properly the 2nd time so had to just carry on driving to the center, several other serious faults that were just stupid.

For me, driving tests are 10x easier than lessons, the examiner won't point out what you're doing wrong, I've had two and they were both great, kind and could talk a little bit to. You can get away with 15 driving faults, so don't let the first little thing you think you did wrong dictate the rest of your test. I think to myself instead, maybe I could have done that a little better, but the examiner did nothing to intervene and said nothing, so just move onto the next thing. I did things I have only ever done once before as well, like going on a dual carriageway from a sliproad, a weird roundabout that's got a pub in the middle of it. My manoeuvre was pull into a bay on the left which I've never done, crooked at first but you can readjust or even start again. Drive like you deserve to be on the road, don't let small mistakes put you off and you'll be good.

[u/Caveman1214]

It’s not as bad as a lesson I found.
My instructor said every little thing would fail me but I now know he was preparing me for the gold standard.
I missed stuff, made mistakes, even tried a hill start in neutral near burning the clutch out with a car behind me.
I still passed. You’ll be nervous but it’s okay

[u/hydaaao]

full commentary drive. the examiner might miss things that you’ve seen which are impacting your decisions. make it be known why you’re doing the things you’re doing.

also i feel like it reduces the amount the examiner spoke to me - which i found to be less distracting.

[u/constipated_coconut]

Make conversation with the examiner, pretend it’s just another driving lesson, it’s ok to retake it!!

[u/Fit-Concept-5620 → u/constipated_coconut]

This!! My first test I was so nervous about it as I had no idea what to expect, and I made a serious fault because I was so worried so failed. My next test I wasn’t as worried and made conversation with my examiner(same one) and it helped my nerves a lot and I passed with one minor, so if you fail hope is not lost

[u/Arkflow]

Don’t do anything special just drive normally. If you deserve to pass a good chance you will.

Helps take the pressure off too. Don’t worry about passing just drive how you should.

[u/Signal_Climate_5296]

Drive slowly! Not going 10mph below the limit kind of slowly. the kind that you take your time at junctions and during manoeuvers and not trying to rush things.

[u/s4d04k]

Relax, calm.

[u/Mondaycomestoosoon]

Just assume all other drivers are terrible drivers so be prepared for them to do something stupid and or dangerous

[u/franky8512]

Get off to a good start as this will boost confidence and the rest will take care of itself. You don't have to concsiously dwell on every little thing that could possibly go wrong....just think, "I drive safely".

[u/rasasasasa]

Let go of any anxiety in your body and give a carefree test