Did you know? Every year in England, Wales and Scotland, around 1.6 million people take a driving test. But, unfortunately, more than half of them fail.
This should not come as a surprise, considering the majority of them would have been 17- to 19-year-olds who were probably wracked with nerves. Indeed, even people of more mature years no doubt would have had butterflies floating around their tummy, possibly contributing to the failure rate too.
However, if you or your child has been learning to drive and is about to take your test, it is important to remember that examiners are there to pass you, not to fail you. So as long as you do everything right, you should be fine.
To help you ease the nerves, you’ll undoubtedly be feeling, we have put together this comprehensive 14-step preparation guide for navigating your UK Road test.
Take all the steps on board and you should have no problem aceing it on your big day.
- Choose the location of your test
You might not be aware of this, but you can actually choose where you take your driving test. So, to give yourself every chance of passing it the first time, you should take the opportunity to request where you want it to take place.
Most test centres in cities tend to be around high-traffic areas where there are lots of roundabouts and traffic lights that can be confusing. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then, that the failure rate is higher here than in rural areas where the only thing to worry about is sheep or a slow tractor on the road.
While it might not be practical for you to take a test in places like Peebles, Hawick or Kelso, which have the highest first-time pass rate in Britain, it is still a good idea to check out the success rates of the centres where you live and then pick out the best one. By contrast, you might want to steer clear of Speke in Liverpool, which has the lowest first-time pass rate in the UK.
- Familiarise yourself with the test route
Wherever your test is due to take place, it is worth familiarising yourself with the area. Although you have no way of knowing where you will be directed during the test by your examiner or what the level of traffic will be like, you can still get to know the potential test routes and general area beforehand.
It is also worth practising on a range of road types including motorways, dual carriageways, main roads, narrow side streets and even country lanes if you live near them.
Doing this will reduce your likelihood of being surprised by a situation or road type you have not experienced before.
- Learn to drive in different conditions
As well as different road conditions it would be wise to practise driving in different weather conditions before your test.
You never know what the weather gods have in store for your big day, so it is a good idea to gain some experience driving in rain, shine, hail, fog and wind. It is also worth getting some miles up at night, during rush hour and in particular at the exact time of your test.
There are plenty of driving instructors throughout the UK that can help you do this. You can compare driving instructors with EZ Licence, who can help give you the confidence to take your test in any weather.
- Make sure your instructor thinks you are ready
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency recommends that you have at least 45 hours of driving lessons and about 22 hours of practice before your test. However, if you feel you are ready to take your test before that, it is a good idea to double-check with your instructor before booking one.
Having been in the car with you for several hours, they should have a pretty decent idea of whether you are at a level where you can pass it. For this reason, it is important to listen to their honest verdict and remember they have a reputation to uphold – after all, they will want to boast as high a first-time pass rate as possible.
Essentially, if they say you are up to the challenge then you should trust their judgement. Likewise, if they say you are not ready yet you should abide by that too. They will also have a firm understanding of what areas you need to work on to give you every chance of passing, when you do take your test.
- Choose when you take your test
It is important to take your test with full clarity of thought. Therefore, you should avoid booking it during a time when other things might prey on your mind.
This could include school exams or assessments, work commitments or family matters, which could prevent you from giving your test the undivided focus it deserves.
- Brush Up on your Theory
Sometimes, there can be a bit of a gap between passing the theoretical part of your test and taking the practical side of it. Subsequently, it is worth brushing up on your Highway Code in the interim period to make sure that you still recognise all the signs when driving on your test.
A good way to do this is to use the Driving Theory Test UK app. It has everything from hazard perception clips and learning materials to Highway Code, which should get you back up to speed.
- Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Just like with a school exam or a job interview, it is important to arrive for your test with plenty of time to spare. Not only does arriving late for it put you at risk of missing it completely, but you will also probably feel flustered and rushed when you do start the test. This, in turn, can leave you prone to making mistakes and not concentrating properly.
Aim to get to the test centre at least 15 minutes prior to the start time, as this will give you long enough to mentally prepare for it without having to wait too long. You should also aim to get a good night’s sleep before the test to help you arrive in a more relaxed state of mind.
- Take Everything You Need
You will be amazed how many tests do not go ahead every year in the UK due to candidates not bringing everything they need with them. (We are talking thousands!)
Therefore, to prevent this from happening to you, make sure you collect all the necessary documentation required and ensure that your car meets the minimum standards for a test vehicle.
- Book a lesson Immediately Before the Test
If you are able to, it is worth scheduling a driving lesson on the day of your test and ideally immediately before it if you can.
Should you do this, you will be able to practice the things your instructor thinks you most need to work on and also benefit from their calm presence, if your nerves are getting the better of you.
In the week before your test, it might also be a good idea to book a couple of two-hour lessons. This should help you build up your confidence, driving skills and muscle memory.
- Use the same car you have been learning in
It is a good idea to take your test in the car you have been learning to drive in. For a start you will be in a comfortable vehicle you have gotten to know pretty well over the last few months, which should go a long way towards improving your chances of passing first time.
Additionally, knowing the layout of the car will also be advantageous during the ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ part of the test, when you might be required to demonstrate your ability to activate your fog lights or explain how you will be able to complete a safety task in the vehicle.
To gain a thorough understanding of its workings, you should ask your instructor to go over the car’s mechanics as often as you need to in the lead up to your test. Doing this should help you to easily navigate the first part of it before heading off on the road.
- Keep Looking in the Mirror
It is important to demonstrate to your examiner that you are using your mirrors regularly whilst driving. That is because one of the biggest minor faults they record during a test is the driver’s lack of observation.
Before setting off, remember to adjust the mirrors to enable you to see perfectly from your side and behind angles. Also, make a point of regularly checking them when you do start driving, are changing lanes, approaching hazards or moving up and down gears.
Examiners are trained to recognise signs of candidates looking in their mirrors. So, if you do this, it will hold you in good stead. That said, deliberately moving your head, as opposed to just your eyes, is a good way to register with them that you are constantly monitoring the traffic and roads around you.
- Know Why People Fail
To give you every chance of passing your test first time, it is important to understand the main reasons why people fail.
Some of the most common ones include repeatedly not looking left when turning left, not using your mirrors when leaving a roundabout and causing a vehicle to slow down when changing lanes, especially on a dual carriageway.
If you work on performing these aspects correctly whilst driving, half the battle is already won.
- Don’t Think You Have Failed
If you do find yourself making a minor mistake, it is important not to panic because it does not automatically mean you have failed your test.
Many people aren’t aware that you are actually allowed to make up to 15 minor mistakes during your test (though we recommend trying to make as few as possible!).
Some minor mistakes include stalling, (so long as it is not done in a situation that is potentially dangerous) and not reverse parking as perfectly as you could. Therefore, should you feel like you have made a mistake it is crucial not to dwell on it. Instead, try to concentrate on completing the rest of the test as perfectly as you can and keep your emotions in check.
- If in Doubt, Ask
It is important not to leave anything to interpretation during your driving test. So, if your examiner asks you to do something that you don’t quite hear, don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat the request.
Panicking or doing what you thought they asked you to do, instead of what they actually asked you to do, will not help you to pass your test.
- Be Confident
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you need to be confident. If you go into your test thinking you are going to fail the chances are you probably will.
Up to the time of your test you would have already done a significant amount of driving in lessons and gone from someone who was a complete novice to a person who has all the attributes to be a competent and safe driver on the road.