Five Things To Remember Before And After Your Driving Test

Preparation for your driving test is always going to be difficult, especially if you are a little less confident with your driving than you feel like you need to be in order to take on the challenge. It is important to remember that what you’re feeling in the days leading up to your test is by no means uncommon, so try to keep all of the below in mind to calm those nerves so you can approach your test the way it needs to be approached.

Everybody Feels Unready

That nervousness that is leading you to constantly question your current knowledge base, forcing you to ask yourself if you’re actually ready for the test, is extremely common. If you ask your driving instructor, it is likely that they have had to deal with the same thing, as did many other drivers when they prepared for their practical tests. You will always feel like you could have done more preparation, but that doesn’t mean that you haven’t already done enough.

It’s Okay To Fail

Failing your driving test is definitely not the end of the world. In fact, it can be a valuable learning experience. A silly mistake could lead to an early fail, but this will allow you to take the rest of the test completely unhindered, which in turns lets you see what the test is all about for next time. Not only will this mean that you know what you’re getting into when you rebook your test, but you will also find you can approach the new test with much more confidence.

Trust Your Instructor

Your driving instructor will have done everything possible to prepare you for your test, so if they think you’re ready you should trust them. If you find yourself struggling, take a deep breath and consider what your instructor would tell you to do in a certain situation. This can prove especially useful when executing manoeuvres, where you have a little bit more time to think. Trust in what you have been taught and apply it properly during the test.

You Are A Driver

Even if you don’t have the official piece of plastic that says so just yet, you are equipped with all of the skills you need to pass your driving test. If you weren’t your instructor would not have put you in for the test in the first place. Approach your practical test, and the vehicle, as though you actually belong. It’s remarkable how much of a beneficial effect this will have on your confidence.

View It As Practice

A first time pass is a wonderful thing, but your first test can also be used as a practice run as well. Of course, you should still make every effort to pass, but just doing it and getting it out of the way removes the fear of the unknown that you might be dealing with before your first test. If you do fail, as mentioned above, there’s nothing stopping you from booking straight back in, only now you’re equipped with even more knowledge.