A driving instructor with more than 40,000 followers on TikTok has shared a simple piece of advice for those looking to pass their driving test first time, and it's all about changing your mindset.
Taking your driving test for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience. Whether learning to drive feels like a distant memory or you are currently in the midst of getting to grips with it, the mere thought of sitting your driving test for the first time is enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most confident people. It is perfectly natural to feel anxious when sitting beside a stern-faced examiner, hoping your three-point turns and mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine are up to scratch.
Few feelings, however, can match the elation of acing the exam, whether you nail it on your first attempt or after several tries. Now, one driving instructor has let slip the secret to breezing through first time.
The Instructor's Advice
Ashley, who boasts more than 40,000 followers on TikTok under the name testready, regularly shares invaluable advice on passing your driving test. He said: "Do you wanna pass your driving test on your very first try even if your anxiety is through the roof? Then listen up.
"I'm Ashley, and passing first time when you're a nervous driver is totally possible if you do this one thing. You need to stop focusing on the idea of passing or failing.
"When you put that much pressure on the outcome your brain goes into overdrive, and that's when the silly mistakes happen. Instead, I want you to focus entirely on the process.
"Break the test down into tiny chunks. Focus on the next junction, the next roundabout, the next mirror check.
"Take it one minute at a time, and if you feel the panic rising, narrate what you're doing out loud. Say things like 'mirror, signal, manoeuvre'.
"It actually forces your brain to stay in the present moment. Instead of worrying about what the examiner's writing on their iPad, you're just going for a drive, you're showing someone that you're safe on the roads. You got this."
Reactions from Learners
People shared their own experiences in the comments, reports the Mirror. One said: "Just failed my fourth test. I definitely wasn't ready for the first three, but yesterday I think I just hadn't defeated anxiety yet. I had four minors and my one major was stalling at the traffic lights because my car was in third gear - something I would have fixed in a normal lesson but I was too in my head.
"Now I genuinely feel confident and am looking at it as a skill that I just need to get quality checked rather than a personality trait or sign of adulthood. All the pressures of feeling 'less than' cause I still have a green licence were adding to my nerves."
Another wrote: "I did pass it first time... you don't need any fancy theories. Just try not to think about it, especially the night before. Go into it with an air of confidence of your own ability and most importantly just drive it like you would drive normally in a lesson for example. Treat that examiner like your instructor and be friendly."
Someone else wrote: "My son passed his driving test today, after hearing your advice." And a different user said: "Thank you for sharing these tips for new drivers, I wish they existed when I passed my test, would have been so helpful."
