How to pass a driving test without lessons

No, she probably needs at least one practice with an instructor. She needs to drive to a much higher standard than a normal driver: signalling at just the right distance, stopping at just the right distance, being confident driving at speed, changing lanes, various turning and parking manoeuvres within a limit of X no of moves (eg parallel parking within 3 moves). She needs to be able to follow a sat nav and/or instructions on the fly. She needs to be able to answer theory questions and questions about the car on the fly (eg. where are fog lights switch, what gear to use in snow, how to reduce petrol use in a queue, car tax and insurance questions, drink limits etc). Some of this is easier if she chooses to be tested in her own car. I passed my test a few years ago.

My grandson drove everywhere with his parents and passed his test 2 months after his 17th birthday.

I recently passed my test first time, having had only two lessons. A relative showed me the basics, then I just drove my elderly parents everywhere for a few months. The lessons were to identify any bad habits etc but the instructor told me I was test-ready, and he was right.

My ExH learnt with his dad. He failed first time because his dad had taught him to do some things that were actually illegal.

so - look up what’s on the test - manoeuvres etc. the way you drive is almost certainly full of bad habits and sloppy. If she drives like a carbon copy of you (or any other long time driver) she’ll fail.

I passed my test last year, so relatively recently. I think it would be things like safely checks that driving instructors drill into you she would be most likely to fail on.
for example MSM (mirror signal manouvere in that order) every time you indicate and being able to successfully answer the safety questions. Can she do all the current manoeuvres as they changed last year? If so, also making sure she does all the blind spot checks at the correct time when carrying them out. Not necessarily things you will do every time as an experienced driver, but need to be done on the test.
also if she’s not already - YouTube revision allowed me to pass my test with minimal lessons. Clearview driving is a good one. Also most test routes are now also on YouTube, get her to familiarise herself with it.

I’d buy the Highway Code, do loads of hazard perception practice and also buy one of the driving instructor guide books on Amazon. That might give you a guide as to what skills she needs.

has she been driving lots of different routes or just to/from her dads?

have you taken her round the test routes so she’s familiar with them?

I believe the guide is 40 hours lessons plus 25hrs practice for an average, but obviously some learn much faster or slower!

also remember that you have probably picked up bad habits over the years - everyone does! So what you think is a good driver possibly isn’t to pass a test.

Practice reversing into a space, around a corner and emergency stop. She needs to know the show me tell me questions too and be able to independently follow a sat nav

I would also do lots of driving around the test centre area, just to and from one place all the time won't necessarily translate the skill to busier junctions etc

Why? A couple of my friends passed with no lessons. They just drove everywhere with parents for a year then took a test. Passed first time.

If you've passed the theory test then you should know the "rules of the road" and the rest comes with plenty of driving experience. I'm assuming the OP is a competent driver so has been giving their DD pointers.

Just make sure she can do all the manoeuvres correctly. Plenty of YouTube videos telling you what examiners are checking for.

The issue you will have is doing all the things they expect on a test that you as a long term driver don't do / wont have taught her.

Is she checking her mirror (clearly so it can be seen) every few seconds.
Does she know what the specific manoeuvres they ask you to do on a test are and has she practiced those (I am out of date so may have changed but previously, bay park, parallel park, reverse round a corner, emergency stop, may have been others)

Those are the things a few lessons with an instructor will be very valuable for.

I know a few people my age and older who passed their driving test having been taught in this way but I suspect its become a lot harder to do that now!

Things that jump to mind would be signalling and road position.

I don't know how possible it would be tbh.

There are some good youtube channels but with how hard it is to book a test I’d find some lessons somehow to not waste the opportunity

Have you been going through manoeuvres with her?

I wouldn’t recommend it tbh…it’s just asking for disaster imo

Is this theory or practical in two months time? Can you book her onto one of those intensive driving courses where she does a week of loads of lessons and driving practise? A lot more expensive than traditional lessons but there may be more availability.