8 Critical Driving Test Tips to Walk Out of Your Behind-the-Wheel Exam with a Pass

8 Critical Driving Test Tips to Walk Out of Your Behind-the-Wheel Exam with a Pass

Finally getting a driver's license is an important milestone in most people's lives, and one that they look forward to with an incredible amount of excitement, anticipation and even anxiety. There's no guarantee that you will be walking out of your driving test with a passing grade, but there are some tips to improving your chances of success.

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  1. Get plenty of practice
  2. Know your car
  3. Prepare and adapt to anything
  4. Pay attention to driving
  5. Don't rush to get there
  6. Don't tense up
  7. Don't forget the basics
  8. Don't be afraid to ask questions
  1. 1
    Get plenty of practice

    Like anything else, learning how to be a good driver takes lots of time behind the wheel practicing. There are things you'll learn while driving that you just can't get from reading, so it's important to log plenty of time at the wheel. Before you get behind the wheel, you can start with a driving test tutorial, for tips on passing with flying colors. Check below how to drive expertly in the center of a lane and practice it today:

  2. 2
    Know your car

    The car you're using for your test should be familiar to you, and not one that you're sitting in for the first time. You'll want to know where the controls are for everything from the lights to the windshield wipers, so you aren't frantically searching if it starts raining. The way each car's brake and gas pedals react can be different, so knowing how sensitive these are can help you avoid braking or accelerating too aggressively or too slowly.

  3. 3
    Prepare and adapt to anything

    Whether it's weather conditions, an ambulance coming down the road or any other situation that could happen, you should be mentally prepared to adapt and adjust accordingly. The only true way to do this is get in those hours of practice driving, and trying to do so in a variety of weather conditions. Only getting out to drive on beautiful, sunny days will only work against you if your test lands on a rainy, overcast day. Check the following tips for driving in the rain and drive safely in every weather:

  4. 4
    Pay attention to driving

    It sounds obvious enough, but it's easy to get distracted by what the evaluator is doing. Trying to sneak a peek at what they're writing down or their facial expressions is not a good idea if you're hoping to walk out of there a licensed driver. Paying attention to the road, and what's happening around you is the best way to ensure that whatever the examiner is writing down is positive – and you can read all of that once your test is over anyway.

    Leave everything else at the door, and give your full attention to the task at hand. Whether it's schoolwork or other things happening in your life, it needs to be temporarily put to the back of your mind. Clear your school workload for the near future, so you aren't worrying about how and when you'll complete upcoming assignments. Online tools like Essayroo, Ukwritings and Assignment help can provide you with quality writing assistance, so you can get your workload out of your head and focus on the road. And, if the stress of your driver's test has muddled your clear thinking, some help from the resources at Academized and Boomessays can help you weed out any mistakes you may have made in grammar or the clarity of your writing.

  5. 5
    DON'T Rush to get there

    Leave yourself plenty of time before your scheduled test, so you're able to arrive and get yourself acquainted with the area. Getting there just on time, may add to the stress you're already feeling and could put you in panic mode before your test even begins. If possible, booking a lesson right before your test can help you warm up and erase any jitters you may be feeling.

    dmv waiting lines

    You may still need to wait in line even if you have your appointment scheduled in advance (kennejima)
  6. 6
    DON'T Tense up

    Staying relaxed is vital to driving well. You've got to have a clear mind, an awareness of what's going on around you, and the ability to react to anything. When you're nervous and tense, you aren't able to think clearly and react accordingly. Positive Hypnosis has some great tips for dealing with nerves related to driving tests.

  7. 7
    DON'T Forget the basics

    Nervousness can get the best of you, and in your worrying to remember the smallest details of the rules of the road, you may be overlooking the essentials. Checking your mirrors regularly is one of the most commonly forgotten things new drivers miss in their test. Focused on the road ahead of them, they often neglect to check what's behind or beside them. Here are 10 most typical mistakes made by new drivers during their tests.

  8. 8
    DON'T Be afraid to ask questions

    You want to appear as though you know exactly what you're doing, but that doesn't mean that if an instruction isn't clear that you shouldn't ask for clarification. If you don't ask for clarification, the tester will undoubtedly believe you've heard and understood the instructions, so if you don't do what they've asked, you could lose marks and possibly fail your test. Ask questions before your test date on the driving test tips thread at College Confidential. You can also get advice from those who have already taken the test, from Vinted. Those who have passed can share their tips for success, while those who have failed can pass along what they've learned to help you avoid the same fate.

Here is a short video guide to your driver's test to ensure your success:

Give yourself the best chances of success with the outcome of your driving test, by following these tips and accessing the resources available to you.

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