Practical Test Tips – Part One

So the time has finally arrived and it is do or die! Not in the literal sense of course, but still, your practical test is pretty important. If you make too many errors then the chances are pretty good that you will fail the test and have to take it all over again, meaning that you have to wait even longer before you can get out on the road on your own.

We don’t want that to happen, which is why we often place a focus on the practical test here at The Driving Force blog. We have already looked at the things you need to do to make sure that you are prepared for the test, but what about once you’re in the car and you’ve gotten rolling?

There are a number of little tips that you should follow to make sure that you have the best possible chance for success. Here we take a look at a few of them.

Manoeuvres

A lot of people stress out about their manoeuvres, with many seeing them as one of the most high-pressure points of the practical test. After all, if you fail the manoeuvre then you are not going to end up passing the test. Luckily there are a few things you should keep in mind while doing them.

The first is the “two second rule.” You may have heard this referenced by your driving instructor and it is very important that you follow it. Basically it refers to the fact that you should be constantly looking around while you do the manoeuvre. Your eyes should never focus in one place for more than two seconds, so keep moving your view between your mirrors, over your shoulder and wherever else you need to look to do the manoeuvre safely.

The second is taking cues from the examiner themselves. Once you have completed the manoeuvre the examiner may comment something along the lines of “Are you happy with your position.” This is usually a polite clue that you haven’t quite gotten it right in terms of the vehicle’s final position, so make a few adjustments as necessary. As a further boost, if the instructor simply asks you to move on when you have finished the manoeuvre, you can feel pretty safe in the knowledge that you got it right.

Emergency Stops

A lot of people underestimate the importance of the emergency stop, as failure to execute it properly could lead to a swift failure of the test, or at the very least a minor fault. There are two parts to the stop that you need to keep in mind.

Firstly is the stop itself. You need to remain in control, with your hands firmly on the steering wheel, and you reaction must be very quick. You shouldn’t feel like you are pulling up to a slow stop in this scenario, so apply the brake and clutch properly and keep the car straight.

The second step is one that catches a lot of people out. Once the stop is completed, make sure that you do all of your observations before continuing. Don’t get caught up in being too pleased with yourself for completing the stop well.