The thought of facing your driver’s test is a daunting experience for most. We’ve all seen the backlash faced by our friends and family members who failed their test one or more times, not to mention the annoyance at having to face the queues (if you don’t book online) and fees of having to reschedule, only to face it all over again. The PA driving test is undoubtedly something you can never be too prepared for, especially if you don’t know what to expect.
Thankfully, it is something you can prepare for, which is why we’ve collected the best pieces of advice from experienced and licensed drivers to help you experience a hassle-free road test.
1. Learn How Your Car Works
Your examiner might feel the need to test your knowledge once they’ve ensured the safety standards of your car, and you need to be prepared to handle that. Knowing your tire pressure and tread, the difference between high and low beams (and when to use them), and how to check that your blinkers are working are all requirements for qualifying as a licensed driver. While your examiner might not feel the need to ask specific questions, they are well within their rights to do so, and you don’t want to give them the impression that you don’t know what you’re doing.
2. Put in the Hours
In Pennsylvania, students must log at least 65 hours of practice (including 10 at night and 5 in bad weather) before they’re allowed to take their test, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop there. Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell said it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill, which makes it highly unlikely that you have the chance to do so in only 65. We’re not suggesting that you spend 10,000 hours driving before taking your test; we simply mean that you should dedicate the amount of time it takes for you to become comfortable.
Aside from the lessons you have to complete, spend as much time as possible (every day if you can manage it) driving. Get your learner’s permit and ask your parents if you can drive them wherever they need to go, even if it’s just down the road to the 7-Eleven. Those small sessions every day will quickly add up to a respectful number of hours.
3. Get Comfortable With One Car
Every car feels slightly different from the next and can trip up even the most experienced drivers. Stalling isn’t a train smash for a licensed driver pulling out of their driveway, but it could cause you to lose enough points to fail your test. Aside from that, the uncertainty of driving a car that you aren’t comfortable in if you aren’t an experienced driver could make you distracted and dangerous.
Pick a car that’s easy to drive and dedicate the majority of your driving practice to it wherever possible until you’ve passed your test.
4. Practice in Different Conditions
It’s a quick fall from comfort to complacency, and if you only practice what you know yourself to be good at, you’re going to inhibit your growth dramatically. If you only practice driving in sunny weather and on quiet roads, your progress will plateau. You need to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to maximize your growth, within reason.
This doesn’t mean advancing from an empty parking lot to a blizzard (please don’t drive in a blizzard) in a few days; it means having the foresight to see your weaknesses and tackle them at a reasonable pace. When the empty parking lot becomes too boring, drive in a quiet neighborhood with limited traffic, do it during rainy conditions, then at night, and tackle busier streets during all weather conditions. Keep pushing at the edges of your comfort zone, and it will expand along with your knowledge.
5. Learn All the Standard and Emergency Driving Procedures
The PA driver’s exam will test all the possible situations you might find yourself in, and you’ll need to master them all beforehand. This includes all the difficult parking maneuvres. If you want to know how to pass the parallel parking test in PA, as well as all the other complicated and specific maneuvres, you need to learn and understand the procedure and practice it again and again until it becomes muscle memory.
Aside from the basic rules of the road and what the road signs all mean, you’ll need to know how to carry out the emergency procedures such as hand signals and emergency stops, so dedicate some time to practicing them.
6. Come Prepared
Preparing for your PA driver’s exam doesn’t just mean building up the practical knowledge and knowing where to take your road test; it also means knowing what to bring with you. Aside from all the documents you need to schedule your driver’s test in PA, remember to bring the following things with you:
- Valid learner’s permit
- If you are under 18, your Parent or Guardian Certification Form (DL-180C)
- Proof of vehicle registration and insurance
- Accompanying driver’s valid driver’s license
Some Final Advice: Don’t Take the Test Until You Are Ready
The pressure of getting your driver’s license as soon as possible can be enough to sway you into taking the test before you are ready, especially if you are born later in the year than some of your friends who had already gotten their licenses before you were eligible to take the exam. Following this route is a surefire way to fail your test and waste money and effort. There is no quick and easy way to pass your driving test, you have to put in the work.
Though it may be difficult, have the foresight to understand that people learn skills at different rates. Don’t let peer pressure convince you to register for the PA driver’s test before you’re ready. Be patient and follow our 6 steps to pass your driver’s test until you know that there’s no chance you won’t pass.
Driven2Drive is a premier driving school and the leader in Driver’s Education. From our dedicated team of instructors to our innovative state-of-the-art Driving & License Testing Centers, we are committed to instilling safe driving habits for life in a fun and interactive atmosphere.
