Tips for getting the most from your lessons and passing your driving
test sooner.
1. Sleep - It's been scientifically proven that those who are
well rested respond far better in reaction tests. Your driving test is
one long reaction test! The night before avoid having any alcohol or
caffeine - both of these will interrupt your sleep cycle. Humans’ optimum
sleep time is 8 hours. If you go to bed at 10pm, you MUST set an alarm
for 6am. Any more than this and your body and mind enter a new sleep
cycle from which waking will make you groggy. To find out more about
sleep, click here.
2. Food - What you eat makes your body respond in different
ways. If your exam is early in the morning you need to get a good night’s
sleep so eat a carbohydrate rich meal e.g. pasta. Carbohydrates make your
body feel sleepy. If your exam is in the afternoon you need to eat
protein e.g. meat, eggs or fish. Protein makes your body feel alert.
3. Be prepared - The night before your test get all your
documents ready and leave them by the front door. You need 4 things; photo
driving licence card, the paper driving licence counterpart, your written DSA
booking confirmation for the driving test with the time and day (check they are
correct), and your theory test pass certificate.
Know what is to be expected from you on the day of
your exam. Have a look at how the practical driving test works and how
the Examiners mark it.
4. Use this site – Click on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
(DVSA) links and the other useful links on this website. These links will take
you to study materials supplied by the DVSA and to further information which
will be of use to you. There are also a number of videos which I have created
to give you some idea of what to expect during lessons.
People learn in 3 ways; visually (seeing things),
aurally (listening to instruction) and kinaesthetically (by doing). If
you learn visually, like I do, you'll greatly benefit by seeing instructions
written on a page. A tiny percentage of people learn aurally, mostly
women, and that's how most of the instruction in the lesson is taught.
Most people respond well to kinaesthetic learning, which is great, as your
driving lesson is just that.
5. Practice - “Those who pass
their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training
combined with 22 hours of private practice. Learners who prepare this way, with
a combination of plenty of professional training and plenty of practice, do
better in the test." This is copied directly from the DVSA
website. If you have only had a handful of lessons with an instructor and
no private practice, you are attempting the impossible. Although there is
no requirement to practise between lessons, i.e. you are not obliged to
practise, it’s best to get out on the road and behind the wheel as much as you
can. If you can't learn practically, you MUST practise theoretically!
6. Make the most of your lesson - I will always give you at
least an hour, if I can. If you turn up late, and I have another lesson
afterwards, I can't let down my next client so be ready to
go and make sure you get an hour’s worth.
Make sure you are well hydrated; lack of fluids
severely diminishes concentration levels. Make sure you have eaten (no
crash diets) preferably something that will stimulate you like; asparagus,
avocados, bananas, cod, cheese, peanuts, lettuce or fresh fruit. If you give
your brain the right nutrients, you will be able to think faster, have a better
memory, be better coordinated and balanced and have improved concentration.
7. Ask me - If you are unsure about something, ask
me. That's what I'm here for. If you are thinking about driving
whilst at work, text me, email me, Skype me, call me. I really don't mind
and will try my best to explain in the simplest way possible. I enjoy
teaching and want you to pass.
8. Don't try to do too much at once - I've seen this
too much recently. Students try to pass as quickly as they can, squeezing
lessons into lunch breaks, between school/college/university exams and after
work. DO NOT TAKE A DRIVING LESSON IF YOU ARE ALREADY TIRED! You won't get
the most from your driving lesson and it can be counter-productive. This exam is very
stressful, be flexible. Don't pile unnecessary pressure on yourself.
9. Be relaxed and calm - dress comfortably - the Examiners
aren’t there to judge you on appearances; they are paid to judge your driving
ability.
Don't wear high heels - flat shoes are the best
option. Remove bulky jackets and heavy jumpers.
Breathing - In through the nose, out through the
mouth; doing this 5 times slowly will help to lower your heart rate.
Remedies - Antispasmodic stomach medicine, such
as Colofac, can help keep those 'butterflies' under control. Rescue Remedy
spray can help too.
Your environment - open the window. Fresh
air will help keep you alert and cool. Make sure the car's environmental
controls are set so you are comfortable. Don't sit there melting! Even if
I am sitting in the back seat as an observer, protocol requires that I say
nothing, so I can’t bring things like that to your attention during the test.
10. Have confidence - I will only let you go forward for the exam
if I think you have a great chance of passing. If you don't feel
confident with your driving ability - you're not ready. You are allowed
to change your test date 3 working days before hand. Don't throw away
£112 (£62 for the test, £25 for lesson before, £25 for use of the car during
the test) needlessly! No one likes to fail and if you think you're going
to, you'll make it happen. Only when you feel confident, do you stand a
chance of success.
11. Music - The Mozart Effect is believed to
increase learning and spacial awareness by up to 20%. Years ago it was
said that listening to Mozart made people smarter. This is not the
case. What helps increase learning is to listen to your favourite music
for 10 to 20 minutes before you start to learn something. It helps to
increase the brains ability to make memories, and by making memories you
remember how to do things, i.e. driving. So before each lesson, try to
listen to your favourite songs for 15 minutes and perhaps you'll be able to
learn 20% faster. This will in the long run save you 20% on the cost and
possibly get your licence in far less time.
When it comes to your exam, you'll have a few minutes wait before your test,
why not take a MP3 player/mobile with your music on and some head phones and
listen before your test starts. You'll not be learning anything here, but
it could help with spacial awareness, a core skill for driving.
The British
driving test is the most difficult in the world. Every day, 10 people are
killed on British roads and every one in three deaths is as a direct result of
a newly qualified driver. Due to these horrific statistics, the test is
becoming more difficult every day. The price of the test has increased
(now £62 for the practical driving test, £75 for practical driving test taken during the weekend, £31 for the theory test - both weekday and weekends,) and the pass rate has gone
down. The days of turning up, driving for 40 minutes and passing are well
and truly over. Indeed, passing the test is not a “right of passage” as
some might assume. You MUST study for this exam alongside the practical driving
sessions. Give yourself the best chance possible by following my driving test
tips.