An examiner told me that test nerves can knock a driving test candidate’s performance down by up to 20%. Logic dictates that if you go into your test when you’re at least 20% above test standard, then you’ll have a very high chance of passing it. Passing your test easily and well demonstrates that you’re off to a very good start as a good, safe, skilful and decisive driver.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready for a test yet then well meaning family and friends may say ‘why don’t you just give it a go, what have you got to lose?’ Well for a start your confidence. A test fail can send your driving decisiveness into reverse and some learner drivers find it hard to recover from that. Secondly you could hurt yourself or someone else on your test. As much as test examiners will try to avert collisions they’re not perfect and can occasionally get it wrong. Injuries and even occasional deaths are not unheard of on driving tests. If you’re found to be legally at fault then you could also be prosecuted, fined and get points on your licence.

So how will you know when you’re ready for your test? You’ll probably know if you’re honest with yourself and can drive without any help apart from advice on planning. Please do take your driving instructor’s advice on your test readiness. If your driving instructor keeps putting test candidates forward who are not ready the DVSA will want a little chat with them.

Many people say ‘first you pass your test, then you learn how to drive’ and there is a certain amount of truth to it. It’s experience. So the best I can do for a learner is to try to give them as many different driving experiences as possible while they’re with me. This means not just going around in circles practicing the test routes like a robot, that doesn’t make a good driver. Time permitting I’ll ask my pupils at least once to drive to and through Central London. After that a local test doesn’t seem so daunting!