8 STEPS TO DRIVING TEST SUCCESS

At P 4 Pass Driving School our aim is to provide the highest quality tuition.
Follow our eight steps to success.

01

Be Consistent with Your Driving Lessons

A first-time pass is possible for everyone just by following a few guidelines. Endeavour to take a weekly driving lesson. Those students that take regular driving lessons learn so much faster than those that are irregular. If possible, commit to two-hour driving lessons. You will learn far more and far faster. One-hour driving lessons will not give you the best value for money. Taking two-hour driving lessons will greatly reduce the time it takes to be ready for your driving test. The reason being that you will build momentum, as when a new subject is introduced, you will not only have time for it to be explained, but a decent amount of time to practice and develop while it’s fresh in your mind. Often, on a one-hour driving lesson, it can be frustrating for both you and your driving instructor when time runs short just as you were getting to grips with the topic.
02

Be Prepared for Your Driving Lessons

It’s your driving lesson - make the most of it. Being in the right frame of mind will give you the best value for your money. Spending a few minutes thinking about your last driving lesson just prior to your driving instructor arriving will give you the right frame of mind and make sure that you are focused on the lesson ahead. Staying up half the night before or overindulging is probably not going to give you your best learning experience. Also, actually being conscious is definitely a major plus.
03

Your Driving Lessons Should Always Begin with a Recap of Your Previous Lesson

The recap phase at the beginning of your driving lesson is crucial. Better-trained instructors will be utilising client-centred learning and will have an interactive discussion with you to determine your frame of mind and discuss what topics you would like to cover during the driving. Please don’t underestimate this very important point. Your driving instructor should be asking you questions at this stage to confirm your understanding of previous learning and to test your knowledge of the next subject. Your driving practice will be far less effective if you do not fully understand the theory of the subject, and mistakes can be made through a lack of knowledge.
04

The Lesson Objective

This is possibly the most important element to your progress. Trust us, without a firm objective, your learning period will be greatly increased. It is absolutely vital that every lesson has a definite objective. You must understand what will be covered in the current lesson and how it will move you forward towards your goal. Driving aimlessly around is a complete waste of your hard-earned money. At the beginning of your driving lesson, and after you have agreed with your driving instructor what the lesson’s main objective is, it’s crucial that you are completely clear on the actions that are required to achieve that objective. Regular breaks during the lesson will be required to evaluate progress toward that objective, with tweaks being implemented as necessary.
05

Your Driving Lessons Should Be Structured

Your driving lessons should follow a structured path, being very easy at the beginning before increasing in complexity as you progress. Your instructor should be encouraging you to develop by asking you relevant questions to check your understanding. This is a very important procedure as responsibility is gradually transferred to you. Generally speaking, driving lessons will have a talk-through stage to ensure you are completing the objectives correctly, with your driving instructor talking you through each element required. The next stage will be prompted questions where your driving instructor will ask you, in advance, what you are going to do before you do it, so correction can take place, if required. This is an important stage as you will now be taking some responsibility for your actions. The final stage is normally independent practice. This is where your driving instructor will keep quiet while you drive, unaided, and practice what you have learned. He or she will be ready to intervene if required, so don’t worry, you are not on your own.
06

Summary of Your Driving Lesson

What you discuss at the end of your lesson will compound the retention of that newly gained knowledge and understanding. Think back to the objective that was agreed at the beginning of your driving lesson and discuss what actions were taken and whether progress was made. This is a great opportunity to evaluate your driving lesson and decide if your objective was achieved. Objectives are not always achieved in full, but what is very important at this stage is that you understand why. Any misunderstanding or further practice can be carried forward to the next lesson as failure to do this will lead to frustration and a lack of confidence.
07

Self-Evaluate, Be Confident, and Be Ready

Be honest with yourself! Are you still making mistakes during your driving lessons? Many students fail their driving tests because they are not driving consistently before they go to the test. Arriving for your practical driving test knowing that you are lacking in confidence due to inconsistent driving will just add to the anxiety. Many will blame nerves on the day, but in reality, it’s generally down to lack of consistency in the build up to test day. Being able to drive during your lesson and make very few minor errors and no serious errors will make a massive difference to your confidence, and this will be reflected during your driving test.
08

Listen to the Advice of Your Driving Instructor

Driving instructors are highly trained and experienced at assessing when you are ready for your driving test. After all, you are paying for professional advice, so it would be wise to listen to it. You will know if you are still making mistakes, and your instructor will be reluctant to take you to test on that basis. He or she will have been working with you and building a rapport over a period of time, and the last thing you or your instructor wants is a test fail. Your driving instructor will have a massive incentive to get you a first-time pass as his or her reputation depends on a high pass rate, and the drive home from a failed test is the worst feeling in the world. Make sure your driving instructor follows the structure mentioned above and you adhere to the guidelines, and there is no reason why your first driving test shouldn’t be your only driving test. We wish you every success and safe motoring for the future.
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