Mind Games - Manage Your Examiner

It is understandable, but pupils taking their test usually feel they are at a disadvantage compared to the examiner. He is bound to know more than you and you are probably the 'umpteenth' person he has had the displeasure of sitting next to today. He is probably bored out of his skin and just can't wait to have another kid in the car who thinks they can drive!!! You and your driving are instantly forgettable and he has no interest in whether you live or die, let alone pass the test!!!

Let me tell you something you may not know...
Examiners are human too!!!

They are just aching to find someone with a spark of ability and common sense. They know you are new to driving and they want you to pass (yes - they do). They will excuse the odd hiccup, such as a stall or a touch of the curb - just as long as they can see that this is not how you always drive.

Now you know this - take advantage of it!!!

There is the classic saying that 'if you've got it, flaunt it' and to some extent, do it. I'm not advocating short skirts and low-cut blouses, but look the part, look professional & business like. If you don't feel comfortable like this, at least take some care in your appearance. This will do 2 things: 1 - make you look confident to the examiner and 2 - give you a more 'can - do' attitude that will dispel some of those nerves.

On the subject of nerves, there is no problem conversing with your examiner and telling them just how nervous you really are today. If you lay it on a bit thick (over emphasise it a bit), there is a chance that your examiner will be a bit more forgiving in the first part of the test and they are going to be suitably impressed about your abilities as you appear to be better that you first thought.

Keep a dialogue with your examiner. This is not to say that you should tell him your life story as you go around, but remark on what you see around you, such as 'he was a bit fast wasn't he?' or 'this is the way to the big roundabout isn't it?' This shows that you are looking ahead, spotting problems and are aware of your surroundings. The examiner will feel more confident that you know what you are doing and where you are going.

Some pupils find it helps to say what they see and what they are doing, such as 'OK, clucth down, into first, gas, biting point, mirrors, indicate, blind spot, hand brake' and off you go. Don't worry that you sound like you should be in an asylum, the examiner will have seen & now heard your thought patterns, that will allow him to understand your logic at any complicated junctions etc.

If you have made an absolute 'pig's ear' of a manoeuvre, catch it before you complete it and ask the examiner, very nicely, if you can start the manoeuvre again. If you have not completed the manoeuvre and have not taken up too much time, they are very likely to agree to your request. You have now got a second chance - don't blow it - do it correctly.

If you are looking for any more advice on driving, please contact GT Driving school by going to our website at http://www.gtdrivingschool.net .

Practical Test Success - One step at a time

When a pupil is ready to take the practical test, I try to explain that they need to focus just for 40-50 minutes by taking the test one step at a time.

Break the test down into lots of small obstacles or events. On a straight piece of road, there may be dozens of events, such as parked cars or pedestrian crossings. Every time you approach an obstacle, go through the motions of checking mirrors & slowing down first. This will buy you time to get round the obstacles. There is a good chance that if you slow down, the issue will become less of a problem as lorries will have moved off, traffic lights would have changed to green or on-coming traffic will have got out of the way.

However, this is not a licence to crawl along the road at 5mph. If you appear to be holding up cars behind you, there is a chance that you will fail because you were going too slow! If the obstacle needs you to slow down, move out of the way and stop - then that is what you should do, however, try to get up to the speed limit (in urban areas) as soon as you can afterwards.

If you brake the test route down into loads of 'events', then you will return to the test centre totally exhausted, but hopefully successful.

For more help and advice, please go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net

Practical Test - Preparation is everything!

I am a great believer in the need for the pupil to be ready mentally as well as physically to take the test.
I believe the run up to the test is critical.

• I once had a female pupil who took her test after completing over 20 hours of lessons. Her test was on a Friday morning. On the Wednesday night, she had broken up with her boyfriend & was devastated. I took most of the hour's lesson to convince her that she needed to concentrate and to show that .... 'person'!!! that she was better off without him by passing her test. On Thursday night, he returned and pleaded with her to take him back, they went out clubbing until 2am Friday morning and finished off at his house. I was to meet her at 9am. She called me at 8.45 to say she was going to be late & got to Maidstone at 9.20 - but without her own clothes (she had borrowed some from her boyfriend's sister) and all her documents! Boyfriend had to race over to her house, collect her things and race over to Maidstone Test Centre where she and I were now waiting! He got to the centre with minutes to spare! Needless to say, it was a fruitless exercise as she failed dismally - but couldn't understand why the examiner was soooo against her!
  

Motto: Fail to Prepare - Prepare to Fail
For more advice on how to pass your theory and practical driving tests, please go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net