[Ribosometronome]

Hey guys and girls. I have my first ever driving test tomorrow morning at 8:20, and I'm feeling pretty nervous about it. Any last miute advice, warnings, tips and hints that any of you can give me?

[chikane]

take some rescue remedy to calm you and good luck

[Sammy95]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
Hey guys and girls. I have my first ever driving test tomorrow morning at 8:20, and I'm feeling pretty nervous about it. Any last miute advice, warnings, tips and hints that any of you can give me?

i'm still too young to drive and i've never done it before but i say get a good night's sleep, wake up early and refreshed, and think to yourself 'i can do this'. take a deep breath and go out for an early morning walk if you need to. don't forget breakfast, and keep going over the important stuff in your head, like 'this sign means that, i do this at that time', blablabla. good luck!

[Silver Aurora]

Remain calm, act confident and depending on your person; I'd say see if you can strike up conversation! Good luck!

[Ribosometronome]

(Original post by Silver Aurora)
Remain calm, act confident and depending on your person; I'd say see if you can strike up conversation! Good luck!

I've heard mixed information regarding how much you should talk to your examiner. I understand that humour probably isn't a good idea (they seem to me to be a pretty grumpy lot haha) but is it really a good idea to just babble about the weather and stuff to them? I'm concerned that they will think I'm distracted, and therefore more likely to make mistakes.

[Acqua]

I passed my test a while ago. Obviously you're going to be pretty nervous but just try to act as if you're driving with your instructor. Having a chat with him/her might help but it could distract you as well, see how you feel. If you make a mistake DON'T PANICK! I slightly touched the curb on two occasions but I just acted like it was nothing, hoping that the examiner didn't notice. He did notice but only gave me a minor :P Good luck!

[Chuck Norris]

Ask the tester if it's alright for you to take the test in reverse. It really impresses them and shows that you have initiative.

[KJane]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
Hey guys and girls. I have my first ever driving test tomorrow morning at 8:20, and I'm feeling pretty nervous about it. Any last miute advice, warnings, tips and hints that any of you can give me?

Don't treat it like a test, just imagine you're driving along the road with your normal driving instructor beside you, I found this helpful in mine as it really calmed me down.

If you make a mistake, don't panic over it and just keep on. I convinced myself I'd failed when I bumped into the curb when on my second attempt at reversing around a corner. I'm sure I had a face like thunder for the remaining time, but ended up passing. You'll do fine, just remain calm and treat it like any other drive, be confident in your driving.

[Ribosometronome]

(Original post by Chuck Norris)
Ask the tester if it's alright for you to take the test in reverse. It really impresses them and shows that you have initiative.

Haha, knowing what the examiners are like at my test centre, they'll take me up on that offer, and then I'd be in trouble! XD

[Entangled]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
I've heard mixed information regarding how much you should talk to your examiner. I understand that humour probably isn't a good idea (they seem to me to be a pretty grumpy lot haha) but is it really a good idea to just babble about the weather and stuff to them? I'm concerned that they will think I'm distracted, and therefore more likely to make mistakes.

My examiner and I spent a significant minority of time complaining about the state of the roads (that was after a little game of 'dodge the pothole' down the road from the centre). Obviously, don't make that your top priority on the day, but if there's an opportunity for a tiny bit of banter, and that sort of thing calms you down, go for it.

All of that said, I found that it was best to treat it like any other exam - try, in a perverse way, to enjoy it. Enjoy the exam; enjoy the feeling of passing the exam. Employ a few general measures too: the best night's sleep you can get, try to keep the time around the test free (to stop yourself getting distracted by things before or after the exam), I'd personally stick away from the herbal relaxation type stuff (but it's your call).

[ser00]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
I've heard mixed information regarding how much you should talk to your examiner. I understand that humour probably isn't a good idea (they seem to me to be a pretty grumpy lot haha) but is it really a good idea to just babble about the weather and stuff to them? I'm concerned that they will think I'm distracted, and therefore more likely to make mistakes.

I had a really nice examiner - he was really friendly at the beginning and that really calmed me down, but I didn't talk much when we were driving.

I found that although I was REALLY nervous at the start (my voice was shaking when I was reading the number plate haha), I relaxed when I started driving, and it actually wasn't that bad.

Don't take any risks - you'll only get a minor for hesitation (and you have to REALLY hesitate), but pulling out to quickly can easily get you a major. Also, I drove SO slowly the whole time. Unless there's loads of other cars around, go about 5mph under the limit. Oh, and don't act overly confident cos they don't like that!! Good luck!!

[Ribosometronome]

(Original post by Entangled)
try to keep the time around the test free (to stop yourself getting distracted by things before or after the exam)

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I have to have a 1 hour lesson with my instructor before my test (Getting up at 7:00am, oh joy!) so by that time I'll either be 1) Really chilled from driving around already, or 2) Really wound up because I've had a bad drive.

Either way, I guess that all I can do now is wait and see.

[Silver Aurora]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
I've heard mixed information regarding how much you should talk to your examiner. I understand that humour probably isn't a good idea (they seem to me to be a pretty grumpy lot haha) but is it really a good idea to just babble about the weather and stuff to them? I'm concerned that they will think I'm distracted, and therefore more likely to make mistakes.

Again, act confident and talk when chat if you can, when the car is stuck in traffic and such Just remember, you're good enough to pass and this examiner has to 'try' to fault you... don't make any silly mistake

[Dreamweaver]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
I've heard mixed information regarding how much you should talk to your examiner. I understand that humour probably isn't a good idea (they seem to me to be a pretty grumpy lot haha) but is it really a good idea to just babble about the weather and stuff to them? I'm concerned that they will think I'm distracted, and therefore more likely to make mistakes.

I would say don't talk too much and concentrare on driving but if they do ask you something, engage in a short conversation. Try to come across as polite and friendly. I had a really nice examiner and i remember talking to him about football or something.

[Entangled]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I have to have a 1 hour lesson with my instructor before my test (Getting up at 7:00am, oh joy!) so by that time I'll either be 1) Really chilled from driving around already, or 2) Really wound up because I've had a bad drive.

Either way, I guess that all I can do now is wait and see.

Well, take a good lesson as another string in your bow and take any minor setbacks as getting it out of your system. Don't read too much into it, but it's interesting that you've got an early morning timeslot.

[rainbow.panda]

Keep calm and carry on!

[Ribosometronome]

(Original post by Entangled)
Well, take a good lesson as another string in your bow and take any minor setbacks as getting it out of your system. Don't read too much into it, but it's interesting that you've got an early morning timeslot.

How so?

[tdkr]

trust me, have your driving instructer present in the test because it will calm you down and make the test seem MORE like a usual driving lesson. act confident but not cocky (that's where i messed up first time). take this advice right here. Good luck

ps. do not strike a convo with the examiner, just concentrate on what you're doing, and if you're in the wrong lane, just tell him/her that you're gonna carry on ahead (DO NOT CUT LANES coming off a junction approaching a roundabout (a major!) when you know you're in the wrong lane; just carry on ahead in the lane you're in as the examiner will be happy with that)

[Entangled]

(Original post by Ribosometronome)
How so?

Well, as I said, don't read too much into it. Some people think about what they're likely to face at certain times throughout the day: if you've got an earlier slot, you may get snagged up in morning rush hour traffic (if that's applicable to your area). Some people think that this means there'll be more cars around so things may get a bit hairy; some people think that more cars being around means you'll travel slower on average (and therefore a shorter distance) during the test and so you have less time to run into problems.

But don't think about it like that. It frames the whole thing as a negative experience - as I said before, enjoy the test and enjoy the feeling of passing the test.

[MrHayden]

When doing big junctions, for god's sake keep your eyes on lane markings. I've failed 2 consecutive tests for inappropriately changing lanes on exactly the same place at exactly the same junction. Pretty upsetting.