Once a candidate has completed their theory test and has completed most of their driving lesson, it won’t take long before the candidate gives their final stem of examination – the driving test! Though this test lasts only about an hour, it can put even the best learners on edge. To prevent the candidate from feeling too overwhelmed, driving instructors often recommend students opt for Mock driving tests in Watford. This way the student can deal with their nervousness and increase their driving confidence before taking the actual driving test. 

In this blog, we are going to explore the various aspects of taking a mock driving test and understand why and how it is beneficial before the actual driving exam. 

What is a Mock Driving Tests in Watford?

 When a candidate has completed most of their driving course and the instructor has determined that they have surpassed the test standards, give the candidate a run-through of the driving test. However, instead of talking about the driver’s test in detail, it is better to go for a mock driving test. It closely follows the same pattern as a regular driving test and gives the candidate a more practical idea of what to expect on the actual test day.

The driving instructor would usually provide their candidate with a mock driving test a few weeks before their actual test date. It is essential to leave a little gap between the mock test and the actual driving test. This would provide the candidate enough time to make up for any gaps in their learning or practice as pointed out by the mock driving test. This also implies that if the mock test goes bad, the candidate would have sufficient time to gain their confidence back before going for the real thing.

After the instructor has decided to give the candidate a mock driving test, it would most likely be held near the designated test center. This means that the candidate would get a chance to practice on a route that might be similar to the one on which the practical driving test would be held. This can be highly beneficial for the candidate, adding another feather to their cap before the test.

Reasons to Take Mock Driving Tests in Watford

The goal of enrolling in a driving course or even for individual driving lessons is to advance from a beginner who struggles with the clutch to an intermediate who can execute advanced manoeuvres blindfolded (Not to be attempted otherwise!). Even if a candidate has memorized all their lessons and feels confident about their skills, it does not necessarily mean that they are ready for the driving test. It won’t be possible for a candidate to know exactly how a driving test is structured without having a look at the test format.

Opting for a mock driving test is the perfect means to get a hand’s idea of what would take place on the day of the driving test. The mock test would usually be everything from the ‘eyesight test’ to ‘show me, tell me’ questions, in addition to the independent driving session. Being well aware of the structure of the test not only offers an advantage in passing it but also helps deal with those pre-test butterflies. Feeling nervous on the day of the test is one of the primary reasons why candidates mess up. Once they know what to expect, dealing with nerves gets easier.

Even though a driving instructor is not the same individual as the driving examiner, they still possess ample knowledge and experience on how to crack the driving test. Hence, they can render the mock test as practical as possible, imitating the circumstances of the actual driving test. It gets easier to crack a test that one has already given once before.

What Happens During a Mock Driving Test?

The structure followed during a mock driving test closely resembles that of the real thing. However, this may be subject to variations depending on the driving instructor. Some driving instructors might go the whole-nine-yards including printing the DL25 feedback sheet and asking the candidate to take them through each step of the examination process, including the eyesight test. Other instructors may simply walk the candidate through what is expected of them and provide certain tips to help them overcome pre-test jitters.

A standard driving test would usually last about 40 minutes. In the case of mock driving tests, the instructor might choose to extend the time and make it even more challenging for the candidate by testing them on different on-road features. Having a feedback sheet in hand helps give a fully authentic vibe of an actual mock driving test. The instructor can make a note of any minor or major fault that might occur and point them out to the candidate, enabling them to improve before the big day!  

Structure of a Mock Driving Test

Here is the structure in which most mock driving tests in Watford are conducted;

The Eyesight Test

After the driving test commences, the candidate would be asked to complete a mandatory eyesight before they enter the car. This involves them being able to read a car’s license plate from about 20 to 20.5 meters away or from a distance of 4 car lengths. If the candidate relies on their glasses or contact lenses, they should carry them with them on the day of the mock driving test. The instructor may or may not choose to include this in the test.

Asking ‘Show me, Tell me Questions 

This is the most common portion of any driving test. The questions asked during the ‘show me, tell me’ section of the driving test is to assess the candidate’s basic understanding of the vehicle. All “tell me” questions would be asked by the examiner before the driving starts and all “show me” questions when the driving starts.

Examples of tell-me questions include “How to check if the brakes are working before starting the journey” and show-me questions usually include “Show me how to switch on your dipped headlights”.

Even though any mistakes during the ‘show me, tell me’ round is recorded as minor driving mistakes, it is better to save those minor strikes by preparing well for this part of the test. The candidate should ensure that their multitasking skills are on point during this round. The instructor may even make the test a bit more challenging to make sure the candidate has indeed mastered this section.

Driving Ability Assessment 

Just like in the actual driving test, the instructor would take the candidate on the route chosen by the test center which the candidate should be well aware of by now. The instructor would make sure to incorporate a variety of road features and types, which can include dual carriageways to multilane roundabouts. The instructor will also make it a point to take the candidate to both urban areas and quiet residential areas to test their hazard perception skills and speed awareness under different traffic conditions.

In the course of this 20-minute drive section of the test, the instructor would imitate the actions of an actual examiner, asking the candidate to pull over often to test their ability to park and move off safely, even by demonstrating a hill start. The candidate’s ability to control the vehicle in terms of steering and road positioning will be monitored closely by the instructor. They will also keep an eye out if the candidate is doing their check around’s and observations.

Independent Driving Assessment 

Just as the name suggests, the candidate would be asked to drive independently following the sat nav directions or drive posts, and reach a pre-determined set of destinations chosen by the instructor. The majority of candidates use sat nav to give them directions while the rest opt for road signs. It is up to the instructor to decide which approach the candidate would use. Usually, they choose the one the candidate is least comfortable with, to help them get some practice and improve. During the actual driving test, this section would only last for about 20 minutes. It is okay if the candidate is going the wrong way as long as they are following safe directions while driving.

Manoeuvring Ability 

The candidate, during their driving test, is expected to demonstrate at least one of three manoeuvres:

• Pulling up on the right.
• Bay Parking.
• Parallel Parking.

The location where the candidate would demonstrate the manoeuvres depends on the manoeuvre itself. For instance, to demonstrate ‘pull up on the right’ or a ‘parallel parking’ the instructor would probably choose an isolated road so that there is no time wasted in finding a spot. For bay parking manoeuvres, the test centre car park would serve as the ideal location.

In some cases, the instructor might ask the candidate to demonstrate all three manoeuvres if they feel like the candidate requires more practice. Generally, one out of every three learner drivers is asked to execute an emergency stop during their mock driving test.

Conclusion 

Driving candidates can overcome their nervousness about the actual driving test by familiarizing themselves with the format and routes involved in the test. With help from the right instructor or the best Driving school in St Albans, learning how to crack the driving test on the first attempt is sure to become way smoother!