Having been a DSA approved driving teacher for many years I am more than familiar with taking tense pupils up to the driving test centre to take their very first practical driving exam. Even the most capable of pupils turn up at the test centre feeling uneasy or tense.

This is a typical feeling amongst the huge number of candidates taking their practical test for the initially time. In actual fact pondering back at my own occurence opproximately 15 years previous, I can remember going through a similar set of emotions on the journey when accompanied by my instructor.

If I could revert back in time, which guidance would I have offered myself in the nights and weeks approaching up to my practical driving test? I would first of all have to break down my reasons for why I was basically so tense?

I started taking driving lessons soon after my memorable 17^th birthday. The joy of getting into the driving chair of a car for the first time was sufficient to lead me astray from my intended purpose of really passing my test. I would have one lesson a week with my instructor who additionally happened to be my neighbour. My father would pick up the invoice for my driving lessons so I was not overly bothered regarding how many lessons it took me to achieve the expected level in order to pass the practical check.

Every lesson I would get into the driving chair of my instructors vehicle and just couldn’t hold out to experience the feeling of driving. I discovered that I really loved driving but didn’t take pleasure in studying to drive corresponding to the high standards set out by the DSA. <A bad outlook is therefore the first reason I was inadequately ready and thus nervous for my initial driving test. 

Once taking classes with my teacher I remember there being a loose structured programme but commonly I was allowed to drive without well essential supervision and guidance. In hind sight I may not have cared how many lesson I took to pass and from a financial point of view neither did my instructor. <The second reason that I was anxious was that I had chosen a poor rated driving instructor who neither increased my self-assurance as a driver nor criticized me for my failings. I know it is simple for every pupil to fault their instructor for a poor end result when in fact the trouble lies within themselves. In my case it was a bit of both. So I must have discovered a driving teacher who furnished the proper degree of supervision which would be delivered in a fully structured programme that included briefings and debriefs.

Although I usually requested that a member of household take me out for non paid lessons, my father was far too chaotic and would offer me the odd lesson right here and there.  These classes were basically very important to my performance as I later learnt. When you are in a car with a pal or spouse with out use of duel controls you are inclined to be considerably more alert. If not to impress them then simply because you fully grasp that one false move may threaten both your lives. You are put in a position where you have to take serious management of the car and not be in passenger mode as I like to refer to it. <So comes the 3rd mistake that was inadequate quantity of hrs of private practice.

A lot of pupils are satisfied to bin their Highway Code manual immediately after they have passed their driving theory exam. It is nevertheless crucial to be capable to transfer your know-how to the practical portion of the test. You may feel that the Highway Code is just a unexciting set of guidelines and laws but its far than that and must turn into a thing you conform to the rest of your driving career. <This was my forth mistake, totally separating my theory test knowledge from my practical driving exam.>

 My fifth and last mistake was in all probability the most critical of them all. It is certainly basic to the end result of your first driving exam or any exam for that matter, to realize what is truly expected and expected of you for the duration of the check. I had turned up to the test centre like a massive number of candidates with definitely no notion of what capabilities the examiner expected from me and how I was intended to demonstrate those abilities. No shock then, I was unsuccessful at my first attempt. So ahead of even thinking about booking your driving exam, steer clear of my <fifth mistake and ensure you are totally knowledgeable in what is anticipated of you on the day of your driving test. The form DL25C (Driving Test Report) is readily accessible from your teacher or from the internet. Cautiously browse though the evaluation sheet long just before your exam date and make sure you fully recognize how your test is marked.

A brilliant minded driving teacher once advised me that “<some students need to fail that first test, just to get them through the nerves of the second test” Having now been a driving instructorfor quite a few years I know that there is a clear distinction in between becoming anxious because your uneasy about the exam and being tense simply because you are absolutely unprepared for your driving test. 

<Which class do you chose to fall into?

For those individuals whose first language is Bengali and are preparing for either the driving theory test or the practical driving test please visit www.Successfuldriver.com.

Here you will find a wide range of high quality Bengali translations including the following:

Interactive Driving Theory Test Bengali Translation Latest 2010-2011 Edition

The Latest Highway Code Bengali Translation Including Road Signs

 A Full Range of Practical Driving Test Video Clips With Bengali Voice Over