driving test

[joko]

anyone got any tips for passing my practical driving test. obviously lots of practice and stay calm, but any general tips, big or small, would help, as i feel a bit lost and doomed to fail. i can drive well but i go blank and nervous when faced with another driver doing something bad or a busy or complicated roundabout or junction

thanks in advance

[CheekyChops]

Don't panic and assume you have failed if you make a mistake. On my test I came to a stop at a junction on a hill and rolled backwards when I tried to pull off.  Because I remained calm and applied the handbrake to stop myself before pulling off 'properly', I still passed.

[KebabMeister]

Try and strike up a conversation with the instructor and hopefully that might relax you/put you at ease.  Helped for me.

[dilligaf]

EXAMINERS not instructors who conduct driving tests are encouraged to converse with their canidates at SUITABLE times to help to put them at their ease. .Be careful if you start a conversation when you should be concentrating on a hazardous situation. Its not unusual for driving test candidates to distract themselves from what they are doing even to the extent of taking both hands off the steering wheel. A driving examiner (contrary to belief) wants you to pass. If you fail a lengthy report has to be written explaining the serious or dangerous faults committed which resulted in a failure.
Pretend you are driving a friend who is giving you directions where they want to go. .
If you make a mistake don't dwell on it ,concentrate on what you are doing, it may be only a minor fault, and you are allowed 16 of them.
Rember what your ADI has taught you on your lessons.
Good luck.

[zipadeedodah]

I failed my first test for pulling out too early from having had to stop just at the side of the road. It meant a Moped had to slow down (even though they were going more than the speed limit anyway...grrrr..) My worry was observation, I didn't check my wing mirrors as often as they want you to, so for my test I drew a big 'O' on my thumb where I could notice it while I was driving so I wouldn't forget my observation!

I'd just go along with CheekyChops...don't panic, I know several people who have stalled, but stayed calm and they didn't mind at all!

[Tim Baxter]

If you are getting nervous try taking 'Calms'.  Some of my students swear by them.  Good luck.

To correct and earlier post, the examiner does not 'want' you to pass, he is supposed to be impartial but he isn't there to deliberately 'fail' you either!.  You are only allowed 15 minor errors.

[dilligaf]

Sorry Tim Baxter, hit wrong key, 16 th driver fault is a failure. Examiners are impartial but a pass involves far less work (they are also human).

[andizuki1982]

If you make a mistake, forget about it straight away. I know when I did my test, a couple of times I mentioned my mistakes to the examiner like, oops, left my indicator on there, and was that a 30 sign? The examiner will pick up on these mistakes even if he has missed them himself and it could make the difference between pass and fail. Good luck