What to do when your driving licence test day approach

The weeks approaching the test date

Once you have the client’s test date you will need to time things very accurately. By test day everything should have been taken care of. First of all, eyes need to be rechecked because, if they have deteriorated, you will need to give the client time to visit an optician. You will need to make sure that all the manoeuvres are working correctly, that the tell-and-show response is fluent and any that other problems have been ironed out.

To help with this, you will find a form via the free downloads page on the Driving School Pro website (see Appendix 1). Print this form off and place it in the client’s notes. As the test date approaches, cross off the weeks on the form and tick off the boxes as your client proves they can cope with the driving disciplines. The driving lesson numbers mentioned in the boxes are those you will find in the Driving School Pro logbook.

In the four to six weeks run-up to their test day, you should be giving your client several mock tests in realistic conditions. You need to get them away from the sense of security they will have become used to during normal driving lessons. Deliberately change your role to that of a rather reticent individual who is marking their driving faults on a test sheet and, at the same time, giving them no technical help or moral support. Slightly change your tone of voice to make it a little less friendly, and be very formal when issuing instructions. Make sure you use the terminology employed by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) examiners (see Appendix 3). You will hear this when sitting in on occasional tests. This change in your delivery will most likely make your client both anxious and nervous just like they will be on the actual test.

Giving your clients mock tests

When you first start mock tests you may be surprised by how much your client is affected. Their reaction will give you a valuable insight into how they might respond to the pressure on test day.

Just before you set off on a mock test (no sooner or they will just start worrying even more), warn your client that they may find it a bit of an ordeal and as a result, they may make more mistakes than normal. Reassure them that things usually improve markedly during subsequent mock tests.

Using a test route on a mock test

Use one of the actual test routes. Information about these is available on the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) website. Due to parking problems you may not be able to start from the test centre, but warn your client that as you drive past the centre, you will inform them that ‘the mock test has now commenced’. Make a note of the time so you can tell them at the end how long they were driving for. You can use a copy of the actual driving test sheet DL 25 available from driving school suppliers, such as RCM Marketing. Your client will probably make errors during the drive they do not usually make.

Giving valued feedback at the end of the mock test

At the end of the mock test, have your client drive past the test centre and then inform them that the mock test is now over (making a note of the time) and that they are now going to drive to an area where you can discuss how well they did it. Choose somewhere quiet or the prearranged rendezvous point with your fellow instructor (see below) where there should be few distractions. Before you make your comments, ask your client how they thought it had gone. If they do recognise that they have made mistakes, ask them to elaborate. This will help you judge how realistic the client is about their efforts. Asking them for a self-assessment may also soften the blow when you start pointing out where other things went wrong. By all means do let them know where things did go wrong but do it in a kindly way. They may be quite upset to discover that they have not got it all sewn up after all.

Reassure them again that the first mock test usually returns a disappointing result. Do not just dwell on things that went wrong also praise them for where things went right, especially if they had to dig themselves out of a tricky situation. Your client’s more usual standard should gradually return during subsequent mock tests.

Who gives mock tests to your clients?

Mutually beneficial arrangements can be made with other instructors whom you know and respect. The mock test can be carried out on a ‘swap’ basis where you exchange cars and clients. Clients (and instructors) will both benefit from this type of arrangement. This can take a bit of arranging, but it is well worth the effort.

Why give mock tests?

The first time your client experiences ‘the swap’ and has a mock test with another instructor, the anxiety level will rise again and more errors will probably be apparent. This swap mock test will do even more to illuminate the client’s weak points while driving under pressure and will demonstrate the likelihood of these faults being made on the actual test.

Debriefing your client after a mock test

At the conclusion of the mock test the instructor should hand over the mock test score sheet and give a full debrief. You may consider writing out a more descriptive report to expand on the marks on the test sheet. Having discussed the mock test results at the end of the driving lesson, clients should be very aware of their faults and weaknesses at that time. The instructor and client should focus on these problems during the next few driving lessons and certainly before the next mock test, aiming to eradicate these errors.

Who benefits from mock tests?

Our clients usually receive two or three mock tests one with their usual Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and one or two with other ADIs. You will be surprised how these really sharpen the client in preparation for test. As a result, pass rates improve enormously. You will then gain more new clients, recommended by your successful former clients and their families.

Remember also that you can learn from your colleagues. Away from the client, discuss the errors they have marked on the test sheet. Listen to each other’s debriefing at the end of the mock tests.