Test Tips and Advice Bobby Dunphy School of Motoring

Test Tips

• On the day of your test: Check the time and date of your test (you’d be surprised the number of people who get it wrong).
• Arrive early
• Preferably, have a driving lesson in the hour before your test. It will get you in the right frame of mind and will allow your instructor to brief you on what to expect.
• Check that you have your licence/permit. You or your instructor should have checked early on that all your necessary documents are correct and in date. The day of your test is too late to discover any problems. Remember too that your permit must be at least six months old.
• Check you have full size L plates displayed.
• Check you have sufficient petrol.
• Check indicators, brake lights and headlights.
• Check that no warning lights remain on when your engine is running. The test will not be conducted if any warning lights are showing and they include Air Bag and Engine Management lights.
• Check that your tyres are correctly inflated and in good condition.

The Test

The test begins with the examiner checking your licence, asking you to sign a form confirming that the car is roadworthy and insured for you to drive and checking your knowledge of the rules of the road.

Remember to always give an answer to a question. If in doubt, try to put the question into the context of your driving. For example, if you are asked “what does a yellow box mean” well imagine yourself driving up to a yellow box. What would you not do? You wouldn't stop in it. There’s part of your answer. Click here to see sample test questions.
 
Following the question the examiner will accompany you to your car. Most likely, you will be asked to open the bonnet and identify and say how you would check oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and screen washer. Questions can also be asked about tyres and reflectors. The examiner will then check that your brake lights and indicators are working.

Once in the car the examiner will request you to switch on the engine and demonstrate some of the controls. Don’t forget the checks you, yourself, must make before switching on.
 
Shortly now, you're on your way.

Remember to drive as you normally would, making progress whenever possible. You may start nervously, but as you drive along you will settle into the drive. The examiner is there simply to observe your driving. He will not interfere in any way and he will definitely not set out to intimidate you in any way.

If you make a mistake, put it out of your head. Dwelling on a mistake only leads to another mistake.

If you see the examiner marking the test sheet, ignore it. The test is designed to allow for minor faults and up to eight serious faults. So, there is plenty of room to be human. Click here to see sample test sheet, front and back.