i have just booked my driving test?

Question

and I am scared to death, my worst fear is that ill have a horrible driving examiner is there a way of meeting them first and choosing your own maybe, I know if I have a horrible person I will fail because I am the type of person that needs confidence boosting continuosly on my lessons other wise ill crack.

believe me im ready I have had 2 hour lessons every week practically for 2 years, I just dont cope well with people that are horrible.

Answer 1

Firstly don't listen to all of the urban myths people have about examiners.

There are no quotas, you will be assessed fairly & objectively & if you deserve to pass you will.

The examiner does not expect you to be perfect & will know you are nervous & should try & make an effort to have a chat with you (we call this hairdresser talk ,what you do normally, weather, holidays that sort of stuff). If you don't feel like talking thats cool as well, your examiner can judge what is suitable for each person.

Just drive the way you do when you are on a lesson & don't change your driving because of what you think the examiner wants to see. All they want to see is that you can drive like a "normal" person & that you are safe.

If you want to create a good impression with the examiner :

Don't turn up looking like you've just been dragged through a hedge! Make an effort, if you have got BO & bad breath you won't be particularly pleasant to sit next to!

be on time, lateness is really irritating as the time for tests is very limited (if you are more than 5 minutes late your test normally won't go ahead)

have all your documents ready in the waiting room

know your answers to the show me tell me questions.

if using your own car you need L plates & stick on interior mirror for the examiner. If you don't have them tell the examiner in the waiting room, not after you have walked 5 minutes to the car!

Again if using your own car make sure its clean both inside & out. No one like a soap dodger!

Be polite & don't ask impertinant questions e.g. How many people have you failed today? Do you enjoy failing people? These sort of questions will do you no favours believe me!

If the examiner tries to talk to you answer the questions sensibly. Being monosyllabic or grunting does not create a rapport!

If you want to you can also have some music on during the test, just keep the volume sensible so you wont have to shout at each other!

The vast majority of examiners are very nice people, most of them have good a good sense of humour & are good fun to be around. Okay there are a few miserable ones but even if you get a miserable one so what? Are you going to let them stand in the way of you getting your license? I hope not. Examiners are normal people just like you & they are nothing to be afraid of. They are just lowly paid civil servants who do an unusual & somtimes scary job.

Answer 2

The most important thing is NOT TO WORRY.

Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before and if possible, can your instructor let you drive to the centre on the day of the test, to give you a wee confidence boost.

If not, then try not to think about anything other than the examiner's instructions.

The confidence boosting is not due to your driving, it's a self-esteem issue. You may need counselling or some hypnotherapy to help you overcome it.

Self-help is a great approach. Believe that you can pass your test and keep reinforcing that to yourself.

And most of all, don't worry, it's not the end of the world if you don't pass. You can look back on it as practise for the next time.

A far smaller percentage of people pass first time so don't go in with the burden of having to pass it first time because all your family did or your friends did or anything else.

Better that you pass when you are ready to pass.

Ask your instructor if they know someone who can help you relax a bit more (unless they can tell you how to do it themselves).

Good Luck! I still remember mine and I've been driving 20 years now... I took my test at 21 and didn't even have a car until 5 years after it...

Answer 3

First thing you need to know - NO examiner will boost your confidence or give you a pep talk or anything like that. You can expect them to be polite and pleasant and nothing else.

No, you wont be allowed to meet them or choose your own. That would kind of make it look like you would get preferential treatment, don't you think?

Expect them to be quiet in the car, apart from giving you instructions. If you make a mistake, they wont say anything, but nor will they reassure you or say "It's OK". Be prepared to be nervous, but don't expect the examiner to "counsel" you. They shouldn't make you feel worse, and they will give some margin for error to compensate for your nerves - but at the end of the day, they are there to ensure you can drive safely, not to be a friend.

If you fail, it will be nothing to do with the "horrible" instructor. It is down to your ability to drive and that's all. Stay calm, remember what you've learnt and do your best.

Answer 4

Just consider you can do it again. I had to take my exam in the US after 10 years and thousands of miles of being a safe driver elsewhere. I got an *** of an examiner and he failed me for all these questionable details (such as putting reverse gear before looking backwards, even when my foot was solid on the brakes), he really managed to piss me off.

It's also important to be familiar with the car you're performing the test on, make sure to practice the previous week in the same car, and if you can discover the area where they run the test and make yourself familiar with it, even better. Just try to act as if you've done it all your life.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Relax, for every evil git there is a nice guy. My Examiner was a top fella. You have just as much chance of drawing one as the other. And anyway, you have no control over it so worrying is a waste of energy. The examiner is not there for a chat.
When you go in, be calm, you know your stuff or you wouldnt be there. Just let your driving do the talking and you will be fine

Answer 6

During the test you feel that the examiner is judging you, rather than testing your ability to drive.

Be honest with them, explain to them if you feel nervous, and try to stay relaxed.

Ensure you have your seat properly positioned, and your mirrors are correctly adjusted so you have good all round vision.
Then just go for it and do your best.

Don't try to impress the examiner, just show him/her that you are a good and safe driver.

Have confidence in yourself, and say, "I can do this"

Stay cool, keep your eye on the road, and ensure your mobile phone is switched off.

All the best, and good luck.

Answer 7

i know the feeling i really do. What my mum used to say was imagine your examiner in their underwear (helps if they are ugly or over weight) they dont seem oh so scary then. Usually the examier will make you feel quite relaxed, some talk to you some dont. Another thing is to think of all those really dumb, stupid people that manage to get driving licenses (it cant be that hard)! Then look at yourself...you can do it!

Answer 8

Just know you can always take it again. It is hard to relax when you feel so much is at stake. Practice the course and stay cool. If you have the C D, "I Can't Drive 55", put it in and crank it up. All instructors love that song.

Answer 9

oh boy i went through the same thing! first of all make sure you are confident enough to drive on the road especially with a stranger there marking you- knowing that would make u even more nervous-- just practise some more driving with a family member and that way it can help build your confidence on the road-- i used to be scared and now i love driving! imagine the freedom! goodluck! i know you cannot pick your driving instructor who will mark you but just be nice to them and may be they will treat you the same

Answer 10

I don't know if you can choose your examiner. I think you can choose your testing centre but even then not sure. Only have 1 in my area! Just remember and do your best you'll be fine and Good Luck.