It’s one of the most popular questions: What do I need to do to pass my driving test? But the answer isn’t as simple as the question. The simple fact is there’s no secret recipe to passing your practical test. Multiple skills are tested and you’ll need to display competence in all of these.

SO WHAT THINGS ARE ASSESSED?

•    Vehicle Preparation – How you start the car, locate controls and observe instruments.

•    Gear Changes (Manual Vehicles Only.) Choosing the right gear for the right speed and the smoothness of gear changes. Using the clutch to slow down and start after stopped.

•    Steering technique and correct steering timing around bends and corners.

•    Observation – checking blind spots over both shoulders, rear vision mirror and directly in front of the vehicle.

•    Following Distance – Does the driver maintain a safe distance between other vehicles on the road?

•    U Turn – Can the driver perform a safe and legal U turn manoeuvre?

•    Changing Lanes and Merging – Is the driver comfortable changing lanes including checking blind spots and judging gaps in traffic to confidently merge?

•    Giving Way at Intersections/Roundabouts – Does the driver follow the correct rules of indicating and giving right of way to other vehicles at intersections and roundabouts.

•    Reversing – Can the driver reverse safely in a straight line?

•    Reverse Parallel Park – Can the driver perform the correct manoeuvre of stopping alongside a car parked on the kerb, and reverse behind the car to be parallel to the kerb without leaving too much space between kerb and front tyre?

•    Hill Start – Can the driver start safely on a hill without rolling backyards with correct use of handbrake if needed?

•    Overtaking – Can the driver properly overtake safely? Or wait until it is safe to do so?

•    Perceiving Hazards – Does the driver respond to potential hazards by slowing down, indicating to move around the obstacle and taking other hazard reduction measures?

Note: Not all things will always be assessed in all tests, depending on the testing area and the traffic conditions on the road that day. Some things however such as reverse parking and following road rules correctly will always be tested.

MOST COMMON REASONS PEOPLE FAIL:

Breaking the rules of the road constitutes an instant fail. These might be seemingly minor infractions such as not coming to a total stop at a stop sign, or going over the speed limit by a kilometre or two, but are grounds for an automatic fail. If a driving assessor needs to intervene at any time it also means an instant fail.

HOW CAN I PASS FIRST TIME?

We’re not saying you’re parents aren’t good instructors we’re just saying as professional driving instructors, we are better!

We know EXACTLY what assessors will be looking for, and in a test where every point counts, our driving instructors here at A Grade DRIVING SCHOOL can replicate the Q-SAFE driving test to give you a real feel of what the test will feel like under exam conditions.

If there’s even been a time book driving lessons, it’s before you sit the practical driving test in Brisbane. Give Michael on 1300 885 585 and get that A Grade on your Queensland driving test.

Click Here to Book Your Test

with A Grade Driving School

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Think getting your driver’s license is difficult here in Brisbane? Spare a thought for many other countries where getting your driver’s license is not only a long process, but also extremely costly. Even with the recent announcement that driving tests in Queensland are set to get tougher, going for your license in the countries below is a whole different kettle of fish. We bring to you the 5 toughest jurisdictions in the world to pass the driving test.

1.     Finland

Finland has some of the strictest driving regulations in the world. Everyone must go to a driving training centre to get their license. Safety is given a huge focus, and students also learn how to maintain their vehicles and how to drive in slippery and icy conditions. Learners also must take 2 different tests one in summer and one in winter. Additionally with all this the government requires 20 theory lessons and 30 hours practical instruction, making getting a license a very costly exercise.

2.     Montreal, Canada

 Practical driving courses are compulsory for all people wanting to get a Quebec Driver’s license and the city of Montreal has one of the highest fail rates of all cities in Canada with only 61 per cent of people passing the test on the first try. This pass rate decreases to only 47 per cent for learner drivers who have had no professional lessons, making the busy city a challenging place to pass the test.

3.     Germany

Like Finland getting your driver’s license requires professional lessons with a driving school and taking a written theory test. Up to a third fail the written exam on the first try. In Germany narrow roads and ‘priority roads’ mean that you have to give way to cars exiting from smaller side streets where you would typically be given right of way in other countries. However one perk new drivers in Germany receive after the long process of mandatory lessons is being able to drive without speed limits on the country’s impressive Autobahn network.

4.     Singapore

People who can afford to do so in Singapore undertake a formal driving training program which involves many hours of practical driving to help them pass the test and even though they would pass in other locations, the pass rate is still an average of around 60 per cent – quite low considering it costs a couple of thousand dollars to enrol in the program. The pass rate without the formal driving program is only 33 per cent. Some believe the test is made intentionally difficult to limit the number of cars of the road in the very densely populated country.

5.     South Africa

There’s a whole range of things that constitute being marked down when taking the K53 driving test in South Africa that do not apply in other regions of the world. Drivers can lose points for not checking leaks beneath the car, and not engaging the handbrake silently. Even if the car rolls back less than an inch the candidate will automatically fail.

Here in Australia while rules for learner drivers have no doubt become stricter in recent years, the practical driving test can still be passed with flying colours if you practice. Professional lessons have been proven to increase first time pass rates, so get an A Grade on your driving test and call Michael Milos and A Grade Driving School today.

The post Where is the most difficult driving test in the world? appeared first on A Grade Driving School.

Here at A Grade Driving School we are committed to equipping learner drivers with all the necessary skills to ensure they go into their practical driving exam with the best possible chance of success. While some of the tips below may seem obvious these can often be forgotten under the intense pressure of the driving test. Here are some top tips to help ensure you pass your driving test with flying colours.

Keep calm and try to relax

While the driving test can be a highly stressful experience the more calm candidates are able to stay, the more focused they will be on the test and the road. Learners should aim to drive as if they normally would with their parents or driving instructor.

– Familiarise yourself with the relevant resources provided by the Department of Transport including road rules, structure of the practical test and which manoeuvres you will need to correctly perform.

- Know what the assessor is looking for.

This includes signaling, perceiving hazards, steering and staying centred in the road, and smooth movement of the vehicle. Know specifically what constitutes an automatic fail so you know to focus on NOT doing these.

– Check blind spots when turning corners, changing lanes or pulling over to the kerbside. Do this as often as possible as it indicates good driving habits and examiners are likely to award extra marks.

Practice Under Exam Conditions Before the Test

At the end of the day, the old adage ‘practice makes perfect’ could not be truer when taking the practical driving test. The more practice that you have had the more comfortable you will feel and the better you will be able to perform. Practice from a professional driving instructor helps to best identify where to improve and gives specific advice that is tailored to you. This gives you the best chance of getting your license the first time round and with it – ultimate freedom!

To book a driving lesson with one of our professional team give us a call today on 1300 885 585.

The post Tips to Remember Before Taking the Practical Driving Test in Brisbane appeared first on A Grade Driving School.