News & blog - Practical & Theory Tests

  It’s one of the most nerve-wracking exams you’ll ever do. So it’s no wonder people worry so much about the driving test. The huge costs involved, the time, pressure from friends,  it all adds up and places a huge burden of expectation. Then there’s the knowledge one small slip up could ruin the whole thing and send you back to square one. No wonder people get so wound up about it. To help ease your worries we’ve been talking to a man in the know to get his top tips on how to pass first time. Gary Lamb is an instructor with BSM in central London and has been teaching people to drive for the last 22 years. So he knows a thing or two. He’s seen big changes in the way people learn to drive over the years but he knows better than anyone the best ways to improve your chances of bagging your licence on the first attempt. Tip 1: Stay cool! Having decided to take the plunge and get your driving licence you’ll be keen to get mobile as soon as possible. But patience is a virtue when it comes to learning to drive. “Don’t pressurise yourself when you start to learn,” advises Gary. “You’ll find there will be an awful lot of people telling you how quickly they did it,” he warns. “And that gives you the idea you want to be doing it a lot quicker than you actually need do.” Less haste more speed in other words – take the time to do it right and you stand a better chance of passing first time round. Tip 2: Get the basics Put simply, don’t learn on the job. “Give yourself the chance to understand how to manage the controls,” says Gary. “If you’re just about managing to control the car on the road it’s going to put pressure on you and you’re going to feel nervous.”So invest some time on private land with an understanding friend or parent and learn the basics. “Learning the clutch biting point, steering, getting used to exactly what the limitations of the brakes are – all this is really, really helpful,” says Gary. Not only will you be more confident on the road – you won’t be wasting valuable lessons learning the basics. Tip 3: Do your homework “You want to use your literature like your highway code, not just to pass the theory test but to understand what’s actually going on out on the roads,” advises Gary. “Nine times out of 10 people get inside the car and you spend 15 or 20 minutes refreshing their memory on what they were doing on the previous lesson.”Lessons cost a lot of money, so make sure you’re investing it wisely. “If you actually swotted a bit and understood you’d make better use of the lesson you’re actually having,” he says. “And that’s even after you’ve passed the theory test.” Tip 4: If in doubt, ask! Driving isn’t a one-size fits all activity, says Gary. “If you’re struggling with a certain technique or style you shouldn’t be afraid of asking the instructor if there’s another method because most instructors will have lots and lots of different techniques that they can use that can be tailoured to suit various individuals.”So if you can’t nail that reverse park no matter how many times you try or your steering seems to be all over the place just admit it and see if you can work it through with the instructor. It’s in their interests too and they know all the tricks to get you up and running! Tip 5: Drive on all types of roads Don’t confine yourself to the area around your local test centre. “Make sure you drive on all the different types of road before taking your test,” says Gary. “It’s one thing to actually be confident within one small comfort zone but driving is for life.”Variety is the key and though it’s tempting to learn every last inch of the test route in the end it won’t serve you well as a driver. “You need to be comfortable on all the different roads and at the various speeds so when you actually get the keys you’re not afraid to get in the car and drive it properly,” says Gary. Tip 6: Ignore the rumours “Try not to listen to horror stories,” says our man in the know. “A lot of the time people only talk about the test when they’ve failed.” He’s right too – when was the last time you heard someone talk about how they actually succeeded in their driving test?”When people have passed they don’t tend to volunteer information,” says Gary. “The test isn’t as bad as you think!” So don’t be put off by rumours of people failed for wearing the wrong clothes or nightmare examiners giving out dangerous faults for sneezing and instead put all your energy into learning the skills to pass. Tip 7: Do a mock test “Mock tests with another instructor are a good indicator of how independent you are on the variety of roads,” is Gary’s next pointer. “If you simulate the actual test itself you can see whether you can drive independently and also you get the chance to see what it’s like to drive with a stranger.”It also avoids costly – and basic – mistakes. “If someone comes to me to do a mock test it happens in exactly the way it would happen on the real test from – checking the licence right through to the eye sight test,” says Gary. “For example, if you turn up with just your card licence you’d fail in the real test.”   Tip 8: Practice outside of lessons Lessons cost an awful lot of money and driving is as much about experience as anything so drive with parents or other suitably qualified people whenever possible. But there are provisos. “Private practise is good so long as the person you’re[…..]

Exams are nerve-wracking at the best of times, and driving tests can feel particularly harrowing. After all, with written exams if you get something wrong you can always go back and cross it out, whereas if you reverse into a bollard on your practical test then your fate is sealed. Knowing that someone is watching and judging your every move can be pretty bizarre as well. It would be enough to make most people feel self-conscious if they were just carrying out an everyday task such as opening their post, let alone demonstrating a complex skill like driving. So if you’ve got your test coming up and you’re feeling anxious about it, then remember you’re not alone. Most people suffer from nerves to some extent and they can in fact be beneficial by raising your adrenaline levels and making you more alert. The challenge is keeping them under control. And getting it right first time is more expensive: the practical test now costs £62 and the theory is now £23. Here are the top 10 tips for overcoming your driving test nerves and passing your practical test. 1.Confidence Remind yourself that instructor wouldn’t be putting you in for your test if he or she didn’t think you were good enough. During your lessons you’re already driving at a standard where they consider you’re safe and responsible enough to be on your own. Now all you’ve got to do is to show the examiner what you’re capable of and that driving licence is all yours! 2. Visualise Tap into the power of visualisation and positive thinking – sports stars use it regularly to help them attain their peak performance. Spend time imagining yourself successfully carrying out difficult manoeuvres and dealing confidently with heavy traffic. This will reinforce the message to your subconscious mind that you can do these things and lessen the likelihood of you falling apart on your test. 3. Support Get support. Talking through any anxieties with friends, family and your instructor will help you feel more positive, and many of them will be able to give you useful advice and encouragement. Herbal remedies for nerves such as Kalms can be helpful – but you do have to start taking them a couple of weeks in advance to reap the full benefits. 4. Breathe Breathing exercises can be very useful – practicing them doesn’t have to involve sitting cross-legged in a room surrounded by burning incense. Just focusing on your in and out breaths will have a soothing effect – you might like to try counting the breaths, or focusing on a mantra such as ‘I feel calm’. 5. Flower power Many ex-learners put their success down to Bach Rescue Remedy. This is a new-age concoction of ‘flower essences’ developed by Dr Edward Bach, a Harley Street doctor and homeopath. It’s available from most health food shops and has a reputation for being very effective in stressful situations. 6. Eat a banana Shortly before your test, eat a banana. It’s well-known among instructors as the driving test superfood, for the following reasons – bananas are full of B vitamins, which help calm the nerves. They contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into seratonin, the ‘happy hormone’ – which will keep your mood upbeat. And they’re also high in potassium. When we are stressed our metabolic rate rises and potassium levels decrease. Eating a high-potassium snack like a banana will help rebalance the levels of this important mineral, normalise your heartbeat and send extra oxygen to the brain. 7. Distract yourself Sitting in the waiting room before your test is often the situation where people feel the most anxious. It’s a good idea to bring a book or magazine to distract yourself. If you’ve been practicing breathing exercises, this is an excellent time to get them going. And remind yourself that this is the worst bit – once you’re actually on your test you’ll be so busy concentrating on the road that your nerves will ease off. 8. Pretend to be a taxi If the thought of being tested freaks you out, stop thinking of it as a test – instead imagine that you’re taking someone home and as you don’t know where they live they have to give you directions. If you’ve failed your test through nerves several times, then the answer is to ask your instructor to get your driving above the standard required by the test. That way you can underperform due to anxiety on the day, but still be of a high enough standard to get that vital pass. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! Call Us Now Chat Live Now Clients

It is natural – and potentially even helpful – to experience a certain amount of nerves as you approach the test. The examiner is expecting this and will make some allowance for it, although it will not excuse dangerous or serious mistakes. The best way to beat nerves is to be confident in your own ability. As such, the first thing you need to ensure is that you are actually ready to take the test. Insufficient preparation is the other principal cause of failure and it will have a bearing on your confidence going into the test. Your driving instructor is best placed to judge whether or not you are ready to take the practical test. Don’t go against their advice, even if you suspect they merely wish to retain your custom. In the vast majority of cases this will not be true, and you will probably save money in the long run by waiting until you are deemed to have a realistic prospect of passing. When you have developed sufficient confidence in your driving ability, make a test appointment early in the day. This will ensure you have less time to get worked up. Don’t pay any attention, however, to myths about daily pass quotas or people only passing on a Monday etc. These are entirely untrue. Try to make sure the test date does not clash with other stressful events such as school exams or wedding preparations, and don’t let your friends know when you’ve got your test as this will only create additional pressure. Turn to parents or other family members for support. In the week before the test Get as much practice as possible. Book extra lessons with your driving instructor. In your final sessions, ask the instructor to concentrate on the manoeuvres you find most tricky. Complete at least one ‘mock test’ in which your instructor ensures that conditions are as realistic as possible, providing a full debrief at the end of the session. Don’t listen to the advice of your friends / family. They doubtless mean well, but their instructions may be confusing, misguided or otherwise unhelpful. Remember that your driving instructor has years of experience as well as a professional training. Ignore driving test horror stories. There are hundreds of them doing the rounds. A couple may even be true. On the day before the test Don’t drink any large amounts of alcohol Get a good night’s sleep Get all the required documents together so that you are not rushing around looking for them just before you leave for the driving test centre. Make sure you know how to get to the driving test centre. Do a practice run if necessary. Plan what time you are going to get up, eat, leave home etc the following day. On the day of the test Think positively from the moment you wake up. Tell yourself that you are going to get through the day calmly. Eat light meals at your normal mealtimes and ensure you get your regular fluid intake. Even if your test is early in the morning, it is important to have a good breakfast in order to boost your concentration levels. Try not to over eat, however, as this may make you uncomfortable or lethargic. Wear clothes that make you feel as comfortable as possible. Try not to think too much about the test until it is time to leave. Take the telephone off the hook or switch your mobile phone off and pre-occupy yourself with something else. Don’t take pills to calm your nerves. They are likely to slow your reactions and negatively affect your performance. Do not drink any alcohol Leave for the test centre in plenty of time, allowing for the possibility of heavy traffic etc. You need to be there at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time or you risk the test being cancelled. On the hour before the test Concentrate on the matter in hand. Think about the test route you will be following and the important points you need to concentrate on. Use visualization techniques to practice driving in your head. Picture yourself performing particular manoeuvres and focus on the points at which you need to turn the wheel, change gear, apply the brakes etc. Listen to the last-minute advice of your instructor, and don’t be afraid to ask him or her for clarification / reassurance on any matter. If you are driving to the test centre, do so to the best of your ability. Maintain the accuracy and observation levels you have been taught so that you are properly ‘warmed-up’ by the time you come to take the test. Just before the test, take a few slow breaths to relax. Clench and relax your muscles to get rid of any tension. Tell yourself that you can do it! 32 million people hold full driving licenses in the UK. We’re sure you can too. During the test Remember that some nervousness is normal. It can increase your alertness and improve your performance. Don’t be intimidated by the examiner. He is merely a person doing a job. He is not a god and he will not be judging you as a person. He doesn’t want you to fail your test and he will not try to trick you at any stage. Don’t try to interact too much with the examiner. Silence is normal in the test car, and too much chit-chat could be distracting. Listen carefully to the examiner’s instructions. Ask for repetition / clarification if necessary and act in good time. Bear in mind that the examiner just wants to see how you would normally drive – nothing you don’t already know! Explain your decisions to the examiner if you feel you have done something that could be misjudged. If you come across a new situation, don’t rush in. Stay calm and assess things carefully before you proceed. Be prepared to change your decision if necessary. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly[…..]