Friday 15 March 2019

When should I book a driving test?

To begin with, there is no such thing as an easy driving test. It wouldn't be a test if it was easy. So, in reality, any day and time is as good as any other. Test routes are varied to robustly examine a candidates ability across all driving scenarios, except motorway.
If there is a weakness, believe me, the examiner will find it - whether it is breakfast time on a Monday or tea time on a Friday. Thorough training will certainly minimise the possibility of failing due to skills gaps, but what about other factors?

It has always has been the case that, irrespective of knowledge and ability, some people perform better in test conditions than others. Not fair perhaps, but that's life.
There are, however, a number of factors that you can take into account when booking your test which may give you an edge on the day.
Your body clock - When are you most alert? When do you function best? Don't book a test at a time when, on a normal day, you would still be fast asleep.

Rubbish Collection Days - Yes, I know that this sounds like a strange one, but think about what happens to the roads in and around your area when all the refuse and recycling lorries arrive at once. These good people have got a job to do, and a tough job at that, but what effect does it have on the roads? What effect does it have on many drivers? So why create an additional layer of stress that doesn't need to be there? Simply avoid bin collection days around your test centre area.

Pick a quiet day in your diary - Don't cram a driving test in between college exams or work meetings. Minimise the stress and do your test with a clear head.

Nervous or Confident? - Some people take exams in their stride, while others experience anxiety in varying degrees. Some experience mild nerves, while others go to the other extreme and test nerves become all consuming..

In many cases, the levels of stress or anxiety that build up prior to a test can be a big factor in determining success or failure on the day. In other words, a really good, well prepared candidate can panic themselves into a fail.
So what is the answer? My advice, and it is just advice, is that anyone who does experience severe test nerves, they should take their driving test first thing in the morning to avoid a build up of anxiety prior to the test.

So breakfast, test, pass, home, celebrate.
Hopefully, this has given you a few things to think about. The main thing to remember is that there is no quick route to a driving licence. No short cuts. Just good old fashioned hard work.

The bottom line is this. Any person greatly increases their chances of test success with thorough training and preparation. It is after all a test of skill, not luck.

Skill is permanent, luck is temporary. I know which I prefer.