The purpose of every single driving lesson that you take is to prepare you for the test that will determine whether or not you are legally able to drive on the roads. There’s a lot of preparation that goes into getting ready for the test, so try to keep all of the following in mind if you find that your nerves are getting the best of you.
It’s Okay To Fail
Not everybody passes their test at their first attempt and that is perfectly fine. After all, the practical test offers you an hour long, pressure-filled window to demonstrate what you have been learning over the course of many lessons. You may find that you make little mistakes that you wouldn’t normally make because of it. It happens but it is not the end of the world. If you end up failing the test, see it through to the end so that you can get a little more practice in and then jump back on the horse and try again.
You Are Ready
A lot of people start to feel as though they aren’t ready to take their driving test in the days leading up to it and, again, this is a perfectly natural thought to have. Our brains will often start panicking and questioning what we will do if the test focuses entirely on the weaker aspects of our driving or if we know everything there is to know about the Highway Code. However, rest assured that your driving instructor would not have recommended you to take the test if they didn’t think you were ready. Keep the first point we made in mind and try to attack the test with a sense of confidence.
You’re Already A Driver
If you have gotten to the point where your instructor feels as though you are ready to take on the practical driving test, then you are essentially already a driver. The only thing that differentiates you from the other people on the road is the scrap of paper that says so. Take confidence from the fact that you already know exactly what you should be doing when you enter the vehicle and make sure to demonstrate that the lessons you have taken were not wasted on you. Don’t approach the test with the thought that you are still learning what you need to know to drive, as you’re pretty much already there.
Practice
Let’s say that the worst thing happens and you end up failing your test. As we said earlier, it’s really not a big deal and it happens to many drivers. Your job now is to look on the bright side. Once you know that you have failed, all of the pressure is off and you have the opportunity to complete the test without any stress. This gives you a chance to learn about what you should expect the next time you try to pass it, leaving you more prepared and capable as a learner driver.