Tips to help me PASS my driving test?

[TakeABreakAt12]

I failed before I left the test centre last week I had to do the reverse park into a bay. Came a bit too close to the wall, examiner put the break on and it was over. Fail.

To my shock I then completed the rest of the test with just 2 minors!

Can anyone give me some good advice? The nerves are horrendous. I really tried to tell myself to calm down and just imagine you're driving a friend somewhere, it didn't work. I was in flight mode 24/7.

One of the biggest things I wondered was is there a good time of day to take the test? I took it at 11am and it was a nice time, I'd say.

Next test is booked for 8am on a Tuesday morning.

Thank you for any tips/advice!

Forgot to add that I'm naturally quite rubbish at bay parking etc, but I can do a parallel park with my eyes closed! For me it's the easiest one

Mars for energy and 2 paracetamol to keep your temp down if you get stressed! 8am will be spent in traffic imo so practice hill starts, handbreak on and pulling away etc. Remember hand on wheel even in traffic /braked. Beware of more Cfers rushing to work!

Windy Wow! Great tip - I could feel my ears and head steaming when waiting in the little room for the examiner. 2 paracetamol is a great idea so thank you so much

Also what is a hill start? I'm an automatic driver so I hope that doesn't apply to me and I haven't just missed it

God I've got mine on Sat! Definitely more than happy with my driving but the reverse bay park has got me in a right flap. I have got it down in any car park but the test centre, I'm always out. There is one strip of bays against a wall, opposite the building, so isn't space to get my long car at the angle I usually use. I'm having to try and do it using reference points and it's just not how I usually do it (mirrors) so it's off every time! Heading back there today for more practice. So stressful. Good luck for your next test OP.

My friend said that she purposely booked her test at rush hour, it meant the majority of her test was stopping and starting so pretty easy if you're ok with traffic

No hill starts for auto. I'm auto too so it's one less thing to worry about!

People swear by eating a banana before hand. Not sure why or how but it can't hurt if you like them and aren't allergic.

Shadows Good luck! Mine is 1st October now. Luckily for me the reverse park is only ever carried out in the test centre car park, so you'd be okay here

Very envious that you have Saturday slots at your local test centre. Mine is just Monday to Friday! An 8am start on a Saturday would've been lovely - Most are still in bed!

Peps The bad thing about 8am slots, I assume, is meeting lots of oncoming traffic and traffic at roundabouts etc. Also, on roads you give way on, there are some right idiots in the morning around this test area (Luton), which I'm sure will add to failure rates

How much practice do you get? Can someone take you out to practise near the test centre at the same time of day?

I used beta blockers in the end.

First test was a disaster, I was so nervous and shook so much that I kept stalling the car.

Second test with beta blockers, didn't even have any minors.

Not for everyone I understand and please check with your gp if you decide to use them.

I chose the 11 am slot for mine as most people pass at this time. I think it’s basically due to the fact there’s a lot less traffic on the road. Some people prefer doing it at rush hour so they waste a lot of the test in traffic. I would have found that far more stressful personally so preferred doing it when the roads were quieter.

Automatic is pretty easy tbh, not having to do hill starts is a massive relief. I did manual but mostly drive automatic now because the clutch control and constant gear changing always pissed me off.

I was a nervous wreck, before I took my test I started taking Kalms , lots of them , probably more than I should have . I had two bananas before I left and a paracetamol. I passed with 2 minors . I had my test at 10.30 in the morning during the week, it was quite relaxed as not much traffic .