How to pass your driving test first time using your computer

Despite being one of the shortest exams you’ll ever take, your driving test will always be the most nervewracking assessment you’ll ever put yourself through.

Perhaps it’s the added fear of death, the one-onone aspect or the simple fact that it costs £50 each time you try that makes it so feared – or perhaps it’s just that in today’s busy lifestyle, there’s not always time for a comfortable level of planning and preparation. Your PC can help you organise and revise for both your theory and practical tests, though.

The first thing you’ll want to do is fi nd yourself a driving instructor. A personal recommendation is often the best way, but if you’re short on suggestions, type ‘driving schools’ into reviews site ciao and you’ll get nearly 500 reviews written by pupils all over the country.

You could use Office Excel to create a quick table of possible tutors using the information you’ve found before calling them up to book your first lesson.

Practice, practice, practice

The theory test has changed recently, and it’s more involved now: there are 50 multiple-choice questions, and you’ll need to get over 85 per cent to pass.

The test is taken on a computer, so using your PC is the best way to practise: you can sign up for a few free tests on the DSA’s site, but for a more substantial aid, Focus Multimedia’s Driving Test Success software is hard to beat. The new All Tests edition includes the new theory test format, as well as a mock hazard perception test. The software even comes with audio questions and answers, which can be downloaded to your MP3 player or mobile and used to revise on the move.

The only other questions you’ll have to answer are on car maintenance, and these are asked at the start of your test. Most of them are a bit silly – ‘Show me how you would check that the horn is functioning’ is answered by pressing the horn – but others are trickier.

It’s worth revising these; if you don’t know the answers you’ll have disadvantaged yourself before you even get in the car. You can find the answers in the Focus software, or in many places online, such as the AA’s site.

Remember, there’s often a six-week wait for your practical test. You can book online, so fire up Internet Explorer and go to the DSA website. Click ‘book your test online’ to open the booking system. It’s worth entering the time and date into Windows Calendar, just in case you lose the confirmation letter.

Finally, good luck! Remember that should none of the above work, there’s always hypnotherapy.

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