Tip 1: Preparation is half the work.
It’s important that you’ve had enough lessons. You should not be looking up to your exam, it should just be a formality. When you have had enough lessons, you can take your exam with confidence.

Tip 2: Make sure you are well rested.
Try to relax the night before your exam. Go watch a movie, do some sports or do something else that relaxes you. It is important to go to bed on time, but don’t go to bed earlier than usual or you won’t sleep at all. When you are well rested you will be much more relaxed at your exam.

Tip 3: Don’t listen too much to other people’s stories.
Everyone experiences the exam differently, so don’t be fooled. People can lead you astray and make you worry even more. There is no need for this.

Tip 4: Even tips from family or friends are best ignored.
They all mean well, but they too have experienced their exams differently. It is not the intention that you suddenly start driving very differently from what you are used to because of their stories.

Tip 5: Don’t set the bar too high for yourself during your exam.
Nobody can drive without making mistakes. That’s just impossible. It is best to drive as you did during your lessons. You should not suddenly want to look better, drive faster or slower to do the best you can. Your driving instructor will not let you take the exam for nothing, this means that your skill level is high enough. Before the start of the exam, your instructor will say things like: ”Watch carefully” or ”Drive safely”, but be sure to don’t overdo this.

Tip 6: Making mistakes in traffic is very normal, everyone does it, so don’t be afraid to make them.
The most important thing is how to solve these mistakes. When you make a mistake, don’t think you have failed, but correct yourself. An examiner often considers this to be much more important than the mistake itself. Get over the mistake and concentrate on the rest of your ride. You will be judged on the basis of the whole ride, not on a small mistake.

Tip 7: Don’t worry about your speed all the time.
You have to adapt your speed to the circumstances. Of course, you shouldn’t drive too fast, but you don’t have to constantly check the speedometer to see if you’re driving 29.8 km/h for example. Just try to drive as smoothly as possible. The examiner considers it more important how you adapt your speed to (dangerous) situations.

Tip 8: It is important that you believe in yourself!
You have to stand behind the decisions you make and dare to drive. By showing initiative, you show that you can actively participate in traffic. This way, a small mistake is quickly forgiven/forgotten by the examiner.

Tip 9: You may have heard someone say: “You should eat a banana before your driving test”.
You may think that this is a myth. But nothing could be further from the truth: eating a banana before your driving exam really helps. Bananas contain substances that increase alertness, concentration and motivation. It is cheap, risk-free and it won’t do any harm.

Tip 10: Don’t be afraid of your examiner.
He or she is also just a human being and is not out to bring you down. He or she will treat you as they would treat any other person.

Want to read more tips about the practical exam? Then also read the 10 most common made mistakes during the exam.