It is natural for some pupils to have self-doubt. They might have completed a BIG TOM intensive course and have a test date lined up for say, two weeks later, but have this nagging sense of doubt in the back of their minds. It is natural and to be expected.
Sometimes, pupils will think that if they have that two week gap they will forget everything that they have learnt and surely fail the driving test. Again, this is not uncommon.
It affects us all in different amounts. But if one considers what has happened on the training course, remembers all of the goals that were achieved and recognises the standard of driving that was accomplished, then this is making the positive thoughts outnumber the negative ones. And those goals will be very real:
Having driven to and in a number of towns/cities
Have felt nervous on a number of occasions but managed to get settled in within a few minutes of driving
Practised driving on a variety of dual-carriageways and even a motorway
Have got to a stage with the manoeuvres where they happen like clockwork – almost automatically without too much thought needed
Repeatedly shown an ability to understand what happens in certain situations and why a chain of events occur
Have driven in the dark, and rain, and at different times of day
Have driven many hours with parents accompanying them, and been praised for the standard of driving
Have been given the green light to go to test by the driving instructor who they have worked with for many hours
Able to spot the ‘limit point’ on country road bends and never take the bends too quickly
Find it easy to navigate around a McDonalds car park and park up without any great dramas
Have visited a number of driving test centres, and seen how they differ and have a very good understanding of how the test is conducted, and how an examiner assesses
Able to identify how little assistance is now needed from the driving instructor when driving in busy situations where there is a lot of traffic around
Having spoken to friends about what they have covered in their driving training, recognise how thorough the BIG TOM course has been
All of us can get consumed in negative thoughts about anything. There is nothing quite like an upcoming driving test to start worrying about and before you know it, every minute of the day is spent telling yourself how much of a rubbish driver you are and failing the driving test is a guarantee, and questioning why you even think you can pass a driving test.
BIG TOM supports pupils with a range of resources including our Help Centre which helps people to become more self-aware. Having provided driving training for 16 years, and paying attention to what happens, that is experience that we can then convert into practical guidance for our customers.
Before you know it, you will have passed your driving test comfortably, normally with 3 or less driving errors committed – and you are then in possession of your full driver’s licence.
