Ask your driving instructor to sit in on your test
Before you go for your driving test, make sure you’ve told your driving instructor whether or not you’d like them to sit in the back of the car during the test.
But why is it a good idea to have your driving instructor with you in the car? To answer that, we need to explain what happens at the end of the test.
You will not get detailed feedback at the end of your test
When you get your test result:
- your driving examiner has a short amount of time to explain any mistakes you made
- your test result email will only tell you how many faults you made and what they were about – it will not tell you where you were when you made them
- you’ll probably struggle take in and the remember the feedback – either because you’re excited to have passed or disappointment to have failed
Because of this, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) encourages you to ask your driving instructor to sit in the back of the car during your driving test.
Benefits of your instructor sitting in
If you take your driving instructor with you, they’ll be able to:
- see how you do during the test (but they cannot give you any help)
- make notes during the test, such as where you were when you made a mistake
- help you remember the feedback the driving examiner gives you
- help you improve your skills – whether you pass or fail
Some people also find they’re calmer when they have someone they know with them.
Talk to your driving instructor before your test and let them know you’d like them to sit in.
Ask your instructor to listen to the feedback
Your driving instructor can also listen to the feedback your driving examiner gives you at the end of your test if you want them to.
They can still do this even if they did not sit in the car during the test.
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Not feeling completely prepared?
Only take your driving test if you’re feeling completely prepared.
You can move your driving test back if you’re not feeling quite ready yet.
It’s free to change your appointment time, as long as you do it at least 3 full working days (Mondays to Saturdays) before your test.