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More than half the people that take driving tests in Bournemouth fail the first time. Do you want to be among the few those that pass at the first time of asking? The answer is obvious, yet many people plan to fail by failing to plan and prepare for their driving test properly. Here are 7 tips that will help you. Get what you deserve by being smart about the process.

Pick the best time for your test

The best time for your practical driving test in Bournemouth depends on you.  Do you prefer driving in the morning or in the afternoon? Do you drive well in the face of congestion and traffic? Your answer will determine if you should take your test during rush hour or when the roads are quieter.

Zone out of the test environment

As soon as you head off for your practical driving test, you need to forget the fact that you are being examined. Focus on your driving and ignore what the examiner is doing on their clipboard. Focus on getting your driving head on and try to get your first manoeuvres correct. In rugby they say get the first tackle in. In football, keep the first pass simple. The idea is to get your confidence from the outset by doing the simple things right. Your driving lessons in Bournemouth will have prepared you for the test. Now just drive as you have been taught by your driving instructor.

Prepare thoroughly and practice extensively

There are no cutting corners on this one. The Driving Standards Agency expects you to show high quality driving performance and the examiners can be very strict with their marking. The only way you can pass at the first time of asking is to prepare and practice properly. Don’t make the mistake of equating your theory test results with the practical test. They are a different kettle of fish. The practical skills that you must master are built through doing the right things over and over again. Perfect practice makes a permanently good driver.

Understand the ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ questions

These questions were introduced by the DVSA to measure understanding about controls in modern cars. The questions are typically worth only one minor mark so this part of the test should not have much effect on the final result unless you performed under par terribly in the other areas of the test.  However, it is still important for you to pay heed to these questions. Failure to impress the examiner in this part of the test can create a negative impression and make him question your attitude and aptitude. Examiners are trained not to be unduly influenced by their subjective opinions, but they are only human.

This holds true for the way you dress and the way you address the examiner. Create a good impression by dressing smart but comfortably, and acting politely and courteously. If there are margin calls then this small things could make the difference between passing and failing.

Check your documents

The DVLA are efficient so they expect you to have your documents ready before you can go out on your test. If you mislay a document you could wait a further two weeks before a new one is sent. It is best therefore to check that everything is present and correct before you book your practical driving test.

Get the mental side right

Nerves are a natural part of any test. When you are doing your late preparation Bournemouth driving lessons you should act as if you are in a test situation. You can even put a bit of pressure on yourself on a mock test by withholding a reward if you fail. For example, you could make a deal with yourself that you will go to see Bournemouth vs Chelsea at the weekend if you pass the mock, but won’t if you fail. Or you could use a cinema trip as the reward. In this way you are tricking your mind into feeling some pressure, and so simulating the test situation in a small way. Alternatively, you could ask your driving instructor if someone you respect could sit in on the mock test. If your older brother is in the car that might add the pressure that really stretches you.

You also need to get your thinking right. Fear is very similar to excitement, and if you change the way you frame the situation you can change your whole outlook. Have positive thoughts and banish negativity the moment it enters your mind.

Don’t skip breakfast

Skipping breakfast in the morning on the day of a driving test is not a good idea. Your brain needs the fuel to function optimally. With a good breakfast inside you, you can improve your mental strength and co-ordination, which will be tested a fair deal over the course of the driving test. Whatever you choose to have for breakfast, include some fruit.  Bananas are rich in potassium which is a good mental fuel.

Your driving test is a test of your mental and physical performance. You therefore need to do the prep work so that you have the skills to do a good drive, and you need to follow the routines and mental patterns that aid you in your performance. Above all, be positive and believe you can pass; then just go out there and do your very best.

Click here for more driving test tips from our blog.

 

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