I have made a list of the tips that I think would help anyone to prepare for their test. Some may sound familiar, some may be new to you.

As always, follow your driving instructors advice. They are trained professionals with an experience dealing with driving tests.

TIP #1

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors – Once you will show the progress on learning to control your car, the next step is to work on your mirrors.

That’s because mirrors are the best SAFETY FEATURE in your car.

Your driving instructor will often watch you at certain times to ensure you check your mirrors when you should be. These are when you change the SPEED or DIRECTION. That means, you should be checking mirrors before you:

• Turn right or left, or
• Drive around parked cars, or
• Change the gear (up or down)
• Before you start slowing down.

TIP #2

Plan ahead – if you spot hazards early enough, you give yourself enough time to check the mirrors and to make decision of what to do next.

TIP #3

Safety First – if you catch yourself in the situations where you are unsure what to do next, ask yourself – WHAT IS A SAFE THING TO DO?

TIP #4

Never take a risk – the second you take a risk assuming that things will go your way, your driving becomes unsafe. For example, if you drive on the double parked road on both sides, and there is oncoming vehicle, and there is barely or not enough space for both of you to drive forward. But even though you know that’s the case, you take your chance to drive forward. That’s when you take a risk.

In the example above, you took a risk because you have assumed that the other driver will stop for you.

TIP #5

Learn references that works for you when you do manoeuvres – for the test, you have to learn to do 4 manoeuvres:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• reverse bay parking
• forward bay parking
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

People’s height has an impact on which references will work for you. When you drive, your seat will get adjusted depending on your height.

TIP #6

Familiarise yourself with car controls – did you know you could fail exam by not knowing how to use the wipers? It may seem a minor thing, but it could become crucial control during rain or if your front/back windscreen would get heavily sprayed.

Or how to demist your front windscreen. Not being familiar with these controls, would affect your visibility and make your driving unsafe.

TIP #7

Go to driving test only when you are ready – DVSA strongly advises to only go to your booked driving test if you feel ready. In the current situation,

How to know that you are ready?

Firstly, you should feel confident enough to deal with different road situations.

Secondly, make sure you don’t have any serious or dangerous faults.

TIP #8

Learn and understand all of the ‘SHOW ME, TELL ME’ questions – there are:

• 14 Tell me questions, and
• 7 Show me questions.

You’ll be asked the:

• 1 ‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving.
• 1 ‘show me’ question while you’re driving.

You get a driver fault for either wrong tell me or show me question. You wouldn’t fail driving test if you get any of these questions wrong.

When you are asked SHOW ME question, firstly check your mirrors, and make a decision if it is SAFE to do whatever you have been asked to do.

Most probably you will be asked SHOW ME question as you are approaching roundabout, traffic lights etc. The examiner wants you to ensure that you understand safety and do your observations.

Gitana Bulatova