Many Tologs can’t wait to get their driving licenses, especially since they see their fellow upperclassmen friends drive themselves to school every day. However, the process of getting a driver’s license is something that cannot be rushed, which is why it is crucial to be aware of the following 10 exam tips before scheduling a driving test. 

1. Make your appointment in the morning. When is the perfect time to take your driving test? My driving school instructor advised me to take my driving test in the morning. He told me there is less traffic which means the instructors will be less likely to let their stressful emotions influence their final decision. By listening to this advice, I had better focus because I did not feel the overwhelming stress that I would have felt if there had been a traffic jam during my exam. Furthermore, according to my driving instructor, his students who took the exam in the morning passed more than those who took the exam later in the day.                                                                                                                                                                         
2.  Surpass the minimum requirement of driving classes. Take more classes than required! I know, the six-hour driving requirement sounds draining, but in my experience, getting in even more hours of practice is completely worth it. I logged nine hours behind the wheel, and it made me more confident in my driving abilities. In my opinion, attending VIVA driving school lessons felt like driving around in an easy-to-drive Mario Kart with the bonus of listening to the funny driving school instructors share helpful tips and their students’ DMV horror stories.
3. Ensure your car passes all the inspections. Don’t underestimate the strictness of DMV instructors! For example, Rene, the Pasadena DMV instructor with a reputation for failing most students, refused to let me start the exam because my car had one bald tire which, according to him, made my car unsuitable for the exam. Because of that minor problem, I had to reschedule my exam, which meant I had to wait another three weeks to get my license. I recommend that before your exam you double-check that your vehicle can pass an inspection. In this way, you’ll avoid finding yourself in my situation.
4. Exaggerate checking your mirrors. Be dramatic! In my experience, wearing a ponytail and exaggerating my head movements not only boosted my confidence but made it easy for my instructor to know that I was repeatedly checking my mirrors. The thing is, your driving instructor can not tell that you are checking traffic if you are just looking at the mirrors with your eyes. Checking traffic is more noticeable when you exaggerate and literally move your head to look at each mirror. In my case, after my exam finished, my instructor told me that one of the reasons I passed was because I was continuously checking for traffic. I’m sure glad I wore a ponytail that day!
5. Practice driving around the route. Scope out the scene! Many DMVs have used the same routes for years, which is why I would recommend asking your licensed friends or family members what routes they had for their exams. For example, in my case, before my exam, my sister, who had taken her exam at the Pasadena DMV, told me the route she took. This came in handy because, as luck would have it, I was given the same exact route. This gave me an extra sense of security and confidence that helped me pass my exam on the first try.
6. Watch YouTube videos beforehand. Since I had taken my behind-the-wheel test 11 months after I studied for my permit, I forgot the basic driving rules that are crucial to know to pass your exam. Luckily, watching the “Zutobi Drivers Ed” YouTube channel the night before my exam helped me remember these small but important rules that can risk your chance of passing. Zutobi Drivers Ed is a channel made by a driver instructor who shares useful exam tips, do’s, and don’ts that let me know what to expect on the day of my test.
7. Stay calm. It’s normal to be nervous, but do your best to stay calm. This may seem obvious, but thousands of Americans have failed their driving tests over the years because of nervousness. For this reason, if you feel yourself getting worked up, remind yourself that the instructor is only there to test your driving abilities and wants you to pass as much as you do. If that doesn’t work, remember the advice a family member gave me: imagine that you are a cautious Uber driver casually driving someone to their destination.
8. Follow the speed limit. Check your speed! Going too fast or too slow is a major reason people fail their driving tests! Ensure you always drive at the street’s right speed because the instructor may mark you down for going 5 mph above or under the speed limit. Some may even mark you down for going one mph below the posted speed limit. When I took the exam, my instructor marked me down 2 points because I was going 20 mph on a 25 mph street.
9. Practice parking. Practice parking at the end of-the-test DMV parking lot and also practice pulling over to park on any street without hitting the curb. Parking is only a short part of the exam, but messing this part up can prevent you from passing. For example, my family friend failed her exam three times in a row because she kept hitting the curb when it came to pulling over to park on the street. Remember that you are not only being tested on your driving ability but also your parking ability, which is why hitting the curb is considered an automatic fail for most instructors.
10. Remember, your test does not end until you park. Always be cautious, even when it seems unnecessary. When I was waiting in line to take my exam, the person in front of me told me the reason for failing his exam two weeks earlier was that he failed to check for traffic and pedestrians inside the DMV parking lot when his exam was practically over. By forgetting to check his mirrors, he failed to see a pedestrian crossing in front of him, which scared the instructor, who decided that was an automatic fail. Remind yourself to continue checking for traffic and pedestrians that may be passing inside the DMV parking lot and to follow the required parking lot speed limit.