How To Pass Your Driving Exam

T aking your driving exam is not an easy thing to do and it can be tough to prepare for. That’s why we asked Alex, who’s a driving instructor, for some helpful tips for you! Here’s what he had to say. 

Driving Test Tip 1: Take Time For Training

Anyone who decides to get their driver's license should take enough time to do so. That doesn't even include learning how to drive along with your high school graduation, sports club, and tutoring. Many think it's just clutch a little, shift gear, steer, and drive a car. But it is not about sitting a few hours in the driving school and driving a little; it's more than that. 

Alex recommends focusing on training and not underestimating driving. As soon as you have the license in hand, you are not only responsible for yourself on the street, but also for everyone else.

Driving Test Tip 2: Find The Right Driving School

For the next step, you should look around for the right driving school. It is best to find out more about the relevant training in a consultation. There are some important questions you need to ask yourself. Will the training be individually tailored to you? How many driving instructors are there? How often are the theory units that are offered?

For a driving instructor, gut instinct is also very important. "If the harmony and the cooperation between the driving instructor and the student are not right, it has a negative effect on the entire training." 

The decisive factor should not be the price of the training, by the way. Sometimes it pays to invest a little more money so that the quality is right and the driving instructor can take enough time for each class properly. 

Tip from Alex: Always ask for experience reports in your personal circle. If things go well, you can get a driver's license with just one test, so the decision should be considered carefully.

Driving Test Tip 3: Learn Theory At Home

Alex describes the training as a mini-degree. The students would benefit from taking notes instead of just sitting in the theory class. Studying it at home is also an important part of the training, which many students do not take seriously. All the content that is discussed is relevant later -not only for the tests but above all for driving afterward.  And another advantage is that if you prepare well, you end up having less fear of exams.

Many students want to practice by themselves in addition to the driving lessons and drive to a practice area with their parents. According to Alex, this does not properly prepare them for the exam situation. This is because the traffic can hardly be compared with the reality of driving.  Parking, emergency braking, and other exercises that you have learned from the driving instructor will help you during the exam, "This way, the older generation can also gain new knowledge."

Driving Test Tip 4: Talk To The Driving Instructor If You Have Problems

Driving instructors cannot look into the minds of their students either. One can see whether a student is ready for the exam in terms of content. But they don't know whether someone suffers from exam anxiety and would prefer to drive a few more hours. It is, therefore, very important for Alex that his students confide in him.

Every student is different. One person needs one more driving hour, the other one less, so you shouldn't compare yourself to one another student. During the practice lessons, it is also helpful for the driving instructor if the students tell them what they would like to repeat or if something is unclear. Says Alex, “The exchange and communication between driving instructors and learner drivers are important. Questions that are in the mind of a student should be addressed and followed upon. "

Driving Test Tip 5: Distraction Helps Against Fear

Many students fail the practical test because they ignore a right-before-left situation or because they turn into a forbidden street. They actually know better, but the exam situation puts them under so much pressure that they react differently than usual. "The moment the student is too preoccupied with the test result, he forgets to drive," explains Alex. Due to this a lack of concentration can occur and mishaps happen.

With him, about ten percent of the students fail the practical test. The driving instructor suspects that it is due to the excitement, the students could drive but are too nervous in the exam situation. He advises his students to clear their heads. The day before the exam, they should do sports or meet friends -but just don't think about the exam.

“When I drove my car over the intersection and I ran over the stop sign in my exam lesson, I could laugh about it. Because if we're being honest, in the end, the best stories are told by those who didn't make it the first time but were allowed to do a lap of honor.” 

Now you know all you need to know on how to pass your driving exam, good luck! 

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• vehicle
• driving
• car
• driving test
• exam instructor