On the day of the test
- You will arrive at the test centre about 10 minutes before your test.
- The examiner will need to see your licence and theory certificate.
- You will need to sign the declaration sheet.
- You will be asked if you would like your instructor to sit in the back of the car.
- Outside in the car park you will be asked to read a number plate at 20.5 meters
- The examiner will ask you a ‘show me’ and a ‘tell me’ question on vehicle safety.
- They will tell you how they will direct you and explain that you will do 10 minutes of independent driving.
- You will be instructed that you will do one manoeuvring exercise (the emergency stop is carried out in every third test).
- On return to the test car park the examiner will give you your result .
- On passing the examiner will point out any minor faults then explain Pass Plus.
- Your instructor will drive you back.
You will need to bring the following
- Any outstanding payments
- Photo card licence
- Glasses if worn or sun glasses
- Appointment letter (if you can find it)
- Bottle of water
Driving test advice
Warm up This will help you to warm up and get into the swing of things. You will also be aware of any new road works, obstructions etc and will feel more able to deal with them more easily. Forewarned is forearmed.
Nerves If you start feeling shaky bag of nerves, breathe in, hold your breath, count up to 20 and out breathe out. Repeat this exercise until you gain control of your nerves. Once the test starts, you’ll settle into your driving and your attention will be on the road rather than on your own feelings, and your nervousness should disappear.
Think confident: Talk to yourself (silently!) through the test. Talk about hazards coming up and how you are going to deal with them. This really focuses your mind on how you should be driving in order to pass the test.
Don’t be afraid to ask If you don’t understand what the examiner has asked you to do, don’t be afraid to ask him or her to repeat the instruction.
Think positive Before you start a manoeuvre, silently repeat to yourself three times “this is a piece of cake”. Think positively at all times. You can do it!
Making a mistake If you feel you’re messing up a manoeuvre, just pull forwards and do it again correctly. As long as you haven’t done anything wrong, such as touching the kerb or failing to make effective observations, you can still pass.
Stalling If you do unfortunately stall, don’t panic, deal with it and move on. As long as you don’t stall in a dangerous situation, such as on a roundabout and as long as you handle it properly, this needn’t count as a major fault and you can still pass your test.
Have I already failed? If you feel you’ve made a mistake, don’t instantly assume you’ve failed – it may only have been a minor fault. Put it behind you and carry on driving as well as you can.
Keep your eyes on the road Resist the temptation to look at the examiner and what he or she is writing. You will not be able to deduce anything anyway. Keep your attention on your driving and the road ahead.