What the examiner is actually assessing
Candidates often believe the examiner is looking for perfect driving. They are not. They are checking that you are safe to drive unsupervised.
The five things being watched constantly
| SKILL | WHAT IT MEANS |
|---|---|
| Observation | Do you look, and does your driving show that you saw? |
| Anticipation | Do you plan ahead, or react late? |
| Control | Smooth clutch, steering, gears, and braking |
| Positioning | Correct lane, correct road position, safe distances |
| Judgement | Are your gaps, speeds, and decisions appropriate? |
Mirrors — the single largest source of faults
Mirror, signal, manoeuvre is not a phrase to recite; it is a sequence the examiner watches for.
Check mirrors before: signalling · changing speed · changing direction · changing lanes · opening a door · moving off · turning · overtaking · slowing for a hazard.
Make the check visible. A brief, deliberate glance is seen; an eye-flick is not. Examiners cannot mark an observation they did not see you make.
Blind spot checks
Required before moving off, before changing lanes, and before turning where a cyclist could be alongside. Missing a blind spot check when a hazard is present is a serious fault.
Speed
Being too slow is marked as well as too fast, because undue hesitation and driving significantly below the limit without reason obstruct traffic and show poor judgement. Drive to the conditions, at the limit where safe.
Independence
The examiner will not prompt you. If you miss a turning, that is not a fault — carry on safely and follow the new route. The fault would be braking sharply or swerving to correct it.
What is not being tested
Elegance, sporty driving, or knowing the local area. Stalling once and recovering calmly is a driving fault at most; panicking afterwards causes the real problems.