Learning to drive is an important life skill, but the practical driving test (PDT) in Singapore can be a scary and daunting rite of passage to getting your licence. I remember how jittery I was on the day of my PDT. While I can’t take that feeling away from every learner out there, I can give you some tips that really helped me with my PDT. 💙
Tip 1: Know what’s in your circuit test
This advice pretty much applies to any test — you need to know what you’re being tested on so you won’t be caught off guard by any unexpected components.
The first part of your PDT will be the traffic circuit. It contains these 8 stations (not necessarily in this order):
- Crank course
- S course
- Directional change
- Slope
- Ramp
- Vertical parking
- Parallel parking
- Emergency brake
Pay special attention to the emergency brake — some people forget it, and your instructor can spring it on you anytime. Be prepared to jam the brakes at the right time.
Tip 2: Know your driving route
Once you exit the circuit, that’s half the battle won! 🥳
Next, you’ll be hitting the open road. You may be tempted to memorise your potential driving routes. But there are many possible routes, and it’s up to your tester to decide which one you’ll take. So, instead of frantically mugging up the roads, it’s better to familiarise yourself with other important things, such as:
- U-turn points
- Any ongoing roadworks to look out for
- Speed limits on the roads
Tip 3: Cultivate proper driving habits regularly
There are many seemingly small, yet important, actions that you have to take while driving, like checking your blind spots, signalling, and conducting safety checks. Sometimes, even the most experienced drivers may forget to do these things. But during your PDT, forgetting such things can earn you demerit points.
To avoid this, make sure you cultivate the proper driving habits during your practice. Even if your instructor doesn’t correct you every time, take the initiative to be conscious of your actions and habits. It’ll help ensure that you won’t make mistakes on the test day.
Tip 4: Practice, practice, and more practice!
This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but make sure you’ve got enough practice before your PDT. If you find the circuit to be harder than driving on the open road (I’m one of those people 😞), ask your instructor for more time at the circuit.
Oh, and try to ask for a warm-up session on the day of your PDT, just before your actual test. It does wonders for your self-confidence! 🌟
Tip 5: Be aware of your common mistakes
As you practise, take note of any common mistakes you may make repeatedly so you can improve on them and avoid incurring demerit points on your test day. One mistake I kept repeating was forgetting to readjust my side mirrors after parking. During my PDT, I had to scream in my head to remember it — and I managed to do it, yay! 😎
Tip 6: Keep a level head
Before my PDT, my friend told me that the test was actually easier than people thought. At first, I thought she was just flexing, but it turned out to be true. Feeling anxious creates a psychological hurdle that affects your ability to think clearly and drive well — it can even happen if you’re an excellent driver.
My advice is to use whatever method that works for you to keep your head on. For me, humming my favourite song during my test helped me stay focused and calm. When my rear wheel kissed the kerb during parallel parking and gave me a whopping 10 demerit points, the humming stopped me from panicking and helped me pass my test.
Tip 7: Get a good night’s sleep
Lastly, make sure you get your beauty sleep the night before. While the jitters may not let you fall asleep easily, sleep deprivation can impair your cognitive function, which can make your test day feel scarier than it already is. Try to go to bed earlier, put on some relaxing music, and let it serenade you into a restful night.
I hope you found these tips helpful!
All the best, bestie!
Amanda 💙
(Featured photo: ComfortDelGro Driving Centre)
