How to Stay Calm and Pass Your Driving Test in Australia

Hey Siri, play ‘Shut Up And Drive’ by Rihanna 

Who can forget how nerve-racking it is to learn how to drive?

Learning to drive, getting your license and your first car are massive milestones in anyone’s life that can seem super daunting at first.

Driving tests in Australia are known for being difficult with WA having the lowest pass rate at just 35% with the Australian average success rate being 62%.

Regardless of average pass rates, passing your driving test comes down to two main factors – experience and controlling your nerves.

So, whether you’re sitting your driving test soon or you’re still planning on when you’re going to take it, we’ve got some tips that can hopefully help you stay calm and collected while taking your test.

Make sure you’re prepared.

A big reason why drivers fail is because they’re simply not experienced enough or have a lack of required driving hours. It’s important to log as many practice hours as you can and not book the first available test slot right away without being fully ready.

Book a few lessons first with a qualified instructor and make sure you’ve done a few practice tests with an instructor, parent or guardian so you know what to work on.

If you don’t feel like it’s a good fit with the instructor you booked, that’s okay. It’s important to make sure you learn to drive with someone you feel comfortable and safe with.

Parents and learners themselves can overestimate their driving ability, leading them to take the test before they’re fully prepared. You might be super calm in a lesson or driving with an instructor, but you will very likely make a mistake due to nerves in the test.

Practice in the test area.

This one is pretty obvious but make sure you practice driving around where you plan on taking your test. We’ve all heard the rumours that “doing the test in the country is so much easier” which could be true but your chances of actually getting a test in a country town are very slim.

Taking the driving test in an unfamiliar location will just add to the stress and difficulty of the assessment.

Make sure you don’t book your test until you feel confident in your driving skills. Remember, it will be your assessor’s first time driving with you in the test so they’re going to be strict.

Take note of your breathing.

Nerves get the best of all of us. Take a deep breath before the test and try the ‘box breathing method’ to stay calm.

Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds and breathe out for four seconds.

Just try not to let all the counting distract you from getting your license!

Understand the test requirements.

Like we mentioned above, check out the test scoring sheet that your state uses for driving tests so you know exactly what they’re looking for.

Make your head checks obvious and make sure you’re checking all the necessary mirrors when changing lanes or reversing. Be highly aware of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

Also, make sure you use a car that you know how to drive. It sounds obvious but you could get an instant fail in your test if you don’t know how to use the lights and wipers when needed.

Trust us when we say that driving tests are difficult, stressful and they can be super frustrating. While it might seem like every assessor is out to get you, it’s important to remember that driving is also a huge responsibility. 

Listen to the examiner carefully, be patient and don’t feel bad if it takes you a few goes to get it (we’ve all been there). Stay calm and focused and always ask for clarification if you feel confused.

Good luck, stay safe and don’t worry if you make fail - you can always try again.