The benefits of a mock driving test
This article concerns itself with explaining the advantages of performing a mock driving test
Some pupils have never heard of a mock driving test or have heard of them but do not see the point. This article will explain for you why mock driving tests have value and what
both the pupil and the instructor get from the process
Understanding why your instructor wishes to carry out a mock driving test, and often a second mock test, will help you to understand better any faults that there may be within your driving style, and appreciate for yourself that they are correct when your instructor tells you to put in for your practical driving test.
I have often thought that the mock test process is under explained by instructors, myself included, on the basis that time is money and that because of this driving lesson time is better spent in other ways. I still think that it is, which is why this article exists.
From the pupils point of view I can understand the argument, misinformed though it is, that mock tests are a waste of money because they are not actually being taught anything during the lesson.
It is true that you will not be instructed an awful lot apart from the necessary directions and manoeuvre commands but if the mock test is followed up by a good quality debrief then you should be able to learn a lot about your driving style and many ways, subtle though they may be, that it needs adjusting.
Why conduct a mock driving test, what exactly is the point?
The most obvious reason for conducting a mock driving test is to see how a pupil will perform under driving test conditions. A practical driving test is not the same as a driving lesson.
Instructors wish that their pupils could treat it as one and drive for the examiner the way that they normally drive for us but usually this does not happen. Nerves have an effect on the performance of even the most confident pupil. They have been taken out of their familiar pupil instructor driving scenario and their familiar instructor has been replaced with an unknown stranger who for the most part just sits there and observes. Making the decisions which determine whether or not you get a driving licence.
The second reason is to see how the pupil performs without any input from the instructor. Previously confident pupils suffer when the instructor goes completely quiet.
The reason for this is that you are used to receiving input from us. You will be totally accustomed to your instructor asking you questions on approach to a junction. They will point out any inacuracies in your response, commenting on the performance throughout the junction as they see fit and after you have completed the junction successfully you will receive either positive reinforcement that you did a good job and if not that then you would expect that any mistakes togeter with analysis and future remedial action be given to you straight away.
All of this communication is for one junction and you probably take it for granted, and so you should. You are after all is said and done the intended beneficiary of the knowledge.
The start of a mock driving test
At the beginning of a mock driving test your instructor will explain to you the procedure by which the mock test is going to be conducted. Once the mock test begins they are going to role play the examiner and no longer be your regular driving instructor. Questions from yourself will no longer be answered as normal because a real examiner is not there to answer your questions. They are there to judge your performance. Your driving instructor may wish to include the show me/tell me aspect of the driving test for added realism at the start.
Once your instructor has started role playing the driving test examiner,
they will explain the following
The length of the driving test is going to be appoximately thirty eight to forty minutes and that for the duration of the mock test you should follow the road ahead at all times unless told to do otherwise by road signs or the test examiner. While on test you must expect to be asked to perform two of the core manoeuvres with the vehicle plus possibly an emergency stop. If an emergency stop is required you will be pulled into the kerb and briefed first.
The information above will be given to you by the examiner on your real practical driving test. Different examiners vary the wording slightly but the same information is always present.
Your approach to a mock driving test matters if you wish to gain the most from it
If you are aware that your driving instructor intends to conduct a mock driving test on your next lesson it would be useful to them if you would try and treat the mock driving test like a real one.
It should be important to you because it is a positive step towards taking your real practical driving test. If you can impress your instructor on this occasion then they may tell you that now is the time.
If you approach this lesson with less than a committed attitude you are unlikely to give your best possible drive and your instructor will be left with the impression that there is more work to be done.
How your driving instructor is viewing your performance
All instructors know that there is more to teaching people to drive than teaching them how to operate the controls of a vehicle correctly and how to drive when out in the traffic. It is true that most of the time your instructor is talking about implementing the correct procedures in good time, effective observations and of course being in the correct position at all times gets mentioned a little too often for most pupils comfort as well. There is however another side of things that you see nothing of.
As well as monitoring what you are physically doing with the car your instructor is picking up signals from your body language which can quite accurately give away how confident you may or may not be when performing your procedures.
For example: - when emerging at a junction or moving onto a roundabout they are looking for you to make the right decidion as to when to go and then, and just as importantly, have enough faith in your own decision to go without any further support from them.
Often a pupil will quite correctly spot a suitable opening in the traffic to join a roundabout then hesitate because they do not quite trust themselves yet.
This type of thing screams to an instructor that though the pupil in question may be reasonably good they are not ready yet.
Other instructors that I have asked agree with me that the split is about seventy percent to thirty percent. Seventy percent of good driving is as a result of knowing what to do and the final thirty percent is having the confidence to do it properly.
Generally speaking the seventy percent builds first with the confidence coming along later in the course. The reason for this is that confidence increases in line with competence. As you progress through the course you become aware that you are getting better at driving and therefore feel more confident about making decisions.
It does not matter how many times an instructor tells the pupil that they are getting better. Although gratifying they will not feel their confidence increase until they feel it themselves.
During the mock test your instructor is assessing your confidence as well as your driving technique. It is only on a mock test really that your instructor can sit quietly and leave you to it; so to speak. We learn a lot about your readiness for a practical test by studying how comfortable you are with driving as much as how well you are actually driving the car.
For you to get the most benefit possible from a mock driving test the debrief is vital
The debrief at the end of the mock test is by far the most important part for you. Your instructor may have been making brief notes as you went around so that they can debrief you as thoroughly as possible at the end. This is your payback.
Your instructor has now seen you drive in a test situation and can make a properly balanced judgement as to whether or not you are ready for the practical test. The most important part of the debrief however is not the answer to that question.
You will now receive a detailed breakdown of exactly what they would like to see done slightly better and what remedial work they are going to do with you on the next lesson to correct any deficiences that did show up.
Why is it usual for more than one full mock driving test to be conducted?
One of the things that a mock driving test is certain to do is show up any inconsistancies in your driving. After your first mock test it is usual to have a remedial lesson or two tidying up these errors. Further mock testing is then required to make certain that the remedial work has been fully effective.
The benefit in terms of experience cannot be fully appreciated until you have actually completed a mock test. A practical driving test is totally different to a standard driving lesson. Mock driving tests will halp you to better manage the practical test experience.
Mock driving tests. In summary: -
Now that you understand what the benefits of a mock test you are better equipped to reap the benefits. When your instructor tells you that it is time to begin mock testing you must realise that your instructor is about ready to put you in for the practical test. You are most certainly in the final phase of learning to drive.
Do yourself a favour, work hard on your mock driving test.
