How will I know I am ready for my driving test?
You booked the test months ago, and now the big day is fast approaching! But maybe there is some doubt in your mind. Maybe you’re hoping that a particular roundabout or manouevre doesn’t come up in the test.
How do you know you’re test ready?
A driving instructor should be many things – coach, mentor, someone to vent your frustrations at. But above all, they must be honest with you. When you’re learning to drive, you and your instructor need to place an enormous amount of trust in each other. Any time a difficult or potentially hazardous situation arises, you must be able to trust them.
Your instructor will look for many things when decided how to answer the question ‘am I test ready?’ You need to be driving at a consistently high standard, with confidence, and an eye for detail.
As your test date nears, you will be offered a mock test – this is an excellent opportunity to see how you cope under pressure. The instructor will play the role of an examiner, and will not help you during the test – to make it as realistic as possible.
If you can pass a mock test, there is a strong chance you will be successful at the real thing!
If you make any serious faults during the mock test, or the instructor has to verbally intervene, or take control of the car, then you will fail.
At this point, your instructor will have an honest conversation with you about your readiness to pass the test. They must not endanger a DVSA driving examiner by bringing a candidate to a driving test who is not test-ready.
The most common reasons for not being test ready are:
Poor observations at junctions and during manouevres
Not using your mirrors appropriately (when changing speed, direction and position on the road)
Failing to make correct observations before moving off
Not responding to traffic signs and signals
Stopping and hesitating at every junction and failing to spot opportunities to emerge
Stalling regularly when moving off
Drifting out of your lane on roundabouts and multi-lane roads
Driving too fast
Poor steering control during manouevres
When you are test ready, your instructor should be taking a much less active role during lessons. They should be observing rather than instructing, and never need to take control of the car.
If you can drive independently during a lesson, and your instructor’s feedback is positive, then you can spend time on the other factors that may affect your performance on test day. Nerves and anxiety play a big part in the outcome – be sure that you are aware of what happens before, during and after your test. Your instructor will be able to help you embrace test-day nerves and use them to your advantage.
When you and your instructor both agree about your readiness to take a test, then that’s how you know.
Remember, learning to drive is a team sport!