What Happens on Test Day?
Everyone has to start driving somewhere
Please remember everyone started to drive once, including your examiner.
Everyone going through a test will be nervous by the nature of a Test, the trick is not to allow the nerves to get the better of you.
Knowing what will happen will greatly reduce the nerves so I have tried to outline here as best I can. Always ask me if you want any clarification before test.
If I am taking you in my car, I will collect you around 1 hour before your test time.
You drive as normal and we will head toward your test centre. we have plenty of time so can practice anything your still nervous off, However I do recommend we dont practice manoeuvres. If you make a mistake it plays heavily on your mind and can have a negative effect.
We normally pull up around 5 mins from the test centre and normally go through the Show me/Tell Me questions to keep your focus.
About 10 minutes before your test time you drive us down to the Test centre. Always reversing onto the Test Centre bays in any available space. Your not on test yet so take your time and get the car lovely and centre of the Bay.
Deep breath and familiarize yourself with whats around you. How are you going to Pull away shortly, what Risks may you encounter, start Planning already.
We both go into the centre and take a seat in waiting room. at your allotted test time the examiner will come into the waiting room, wearing a high visibility jacket. They may be with other examiners for other students so will be calling your name.
Make yourself known to them by answering them along with a Huge smile (First impressions) are so important. they will invite you up to them and show you the details they have for you, name, address, email etc. Confirm these with them and then show them your Provisional licence.
They will ask you if you wish your trainer to accompany you, your choice yes or no and then if you would like your trainer present for the de-brief at the end. Again a yes or No and of you/we go to the outside of test centre.
They will check your eye sight with a road side check similar to the one we had done previously, then ask you to show them to your car.
They may ask you a Safety question such as under the bonnet at this stage or may invite you to sit in the car. They will walk around the car checking for any damage and then join you in the car.
They may offer to explain the test to you, always say yes if they do, it helps you both bond and get to know each other. they will always brief you on how the test will be conducted and ask if you have any questions.
Once your ready they will direct you to start the car and then direct you on which way you are going to turn.
Over to you now, drive as you have learnt, safely and legally. Be confident but not overly confident. Follow the instructions you are given and if you need to ask a question or clarify please do so.
You have less than 40 minutes now to drive the route they are taking you on, most likely you will know the area (not the route) and you will have driven the area many times before. You Must have passed a Mock test to be here so in my humble opinion will have demonstrated to me that you can drive safely and legally.
Try to enjoy the experience and relax as best you can, it will go in a flash and you will not remember much of the test when you return.
What you need to drive for Test is well documented so I have not repeated here, but when you return to the centre Do NOT Relax and make silly mistakes until the car is parked safely and the examiner says Test Over.
The examiner normally has a couple of minutes to look at their scores and then will say either “Congratulations I am glad to say you have passed”, or “I am sorry to say you have been unsuccessful today”.
We all hope its the first but in either case, they will explain their decision and what they observed and why they scored as they did.
Please listen carefully to what they say, but I will always try to be present for this part and will update you later as your nerves, tensions, adrenaline and just tiredness will be taking over and you might not even remember your own name at this point.
Please remember they are doing a very tough job with a huge responsibility, it is more effort on their part to fail someone than pass them, so if you do get a bad result, it is due to at least one serious issue they have identified. It is never personnel, indeed they are probably protecting your current self from a serious issue down the line. They know how important it is to everyone, but can only score what they have seen and thats the fair result.
100% of tests I have been on our fair and good results, even those that didn’t pass at that time. As I author this, I have never had a Student not pass at a later test having realised their mistake and worked to correct it.
Assuming you pass, you will be given a paper temporary licence from the examiner, they will collect your provisional licence and inform you you should receive your licence in around two weeks at the address you confirmed earlier.
We then swap seats and I drive you home as you can now relax and inform your loved ones the great news.
Well done and Congratulations!
So not the right result?
So the result was not a pass, thats ok, the test is not easy. We re group, figure the problem and do it again.
When every student passes or indeed fails they are emailed a copy of the test results.
These results are outlining what went wrong and where we can focus our efforts to correct the issue(s).
I always look at the results from my students and work out what faults they had, I then update my lesson plans with more focus on each point that was identified for that student.
The overall effect should be as I take more to test, my results get better and continuingly improve.
If your results identified an area(s) we need to focus on, we will in the next few lessons. When you have corrected any issue we can go back to test and repeat the process, this time with better results we hope.
What you can do
1) Eat a banana prior to test – it does seem to have some good results, maybe a myth, might not be but does seem to work.
2) Dont tell all your friends and family the date of test. Limit who you tell, that way you wont be bombarded with lots of “good luck” messages morning of test. They mean well but apply more pressure on you.
3) Avoid other stressful activities in your life around test time. Never easy but allow yourself some space to prepare and undertake your test. Sounds simpler but really works.
4) Get plenty of rest and sleep, it makes such a difference if you are fully prepared and Not tired.
5) Speak to me well before in our lessons about any concerns or worries around your driving. If you are confident in your ability it will show.
6) be respectful to every examiner, they are doing a tough job, it will come across as you drive.
7) Book and plan a test when you are ready, do not rush it “As you need a licence by…” this never works.
8) Keep regular lessons, large gaps do not help everyone.
9) Try to avoid over exposure to on-line videos of test. They can be of assistance but can also undo all your good work.
10) Dont listen to non professionals about test day e.g. friends who have gone before. Everyone’s experience is different and does not mean its correct, it can really confuse you.
Top Tips To Pass
1) Always remain confident – if you pass the Mock your ready for Test
2) Do not get over confident – the test is robust respect it
3) Drive Normally – drive as you have been whilst learning dont change for test
4) Stay Focused – think about each action, keep focused
5) Always remember safe and legal – thats answer to passing
6) If you go wrong – do it safely and manage the situation
7) If you go wrong – do not dwell on it, its in past stay focused
8) Do Not Over think the test – Nobody is trying to catch you out, just drive normally
9) Anticipate – think ahead of what the dynamic road is telling you Plan It
10) Try to enjoy the experience