After you come to that important decision, I want to learn to drive. You must think, very seriously and equally as important: where and how do I choose my school, what should be the most important factors that help you decide where to learn. Could it be the price ? recommendation ? reputation ? safety ? or quality. As the old saying goes, the cheapest could end up the most expensive. So what to look for ? Firstly check out the school reputation perhaps through friends, than check out the school’s pass rate and the reviews. Is the company offering good quality vehicles, comfortable to learn in, and very very important are YOU !!! the pupil actually insured !!!!

This is a question that is nearly always asked. And the simple answer is that each person learns differently from one to the other. One of the most important things to know is that , you need to be safe and feel safe when driving. The other is that you have to feel confident while you are driving. Only than can you say you are ready for a test, Fasttrack Driving tuition instructors try to push our pupils to learn, but we tend to tailor each lesson to each individual needs. All our instructors do their best for all the pupils and when they feel their pupils are ready they will normally recommend a mock test to check their abilities.

The first thing to remember is: Nerves are not necessarily a bad thing For the theory and practical tests a bit of nervousness can help your performance. Any actor or performer, or anyone in a high-stress job, will tell you that some amount of adrenaline helps them achieve good results.

Being too laid-back could mean you miss mistakes in the driving theory test, and in the practical driving test you may appear to be over-confident, and this will not impress the examiner. Too much nervousness, however, will lead to the “fright or flight” reaction, a known physiological reaction, a legacy that reminds us humans are also animals. This can lead to among other things, sweaty palms, increased heart-rate, loss of concentration, physical discomfort and a host of other symptoms. These are not helpful. So: how can you keep your nerves at a controllable level?

The THEORY Test, Be prepared: This means not just “know your stuff”, but also, think about how you are going to deal with any nerves. Cast your mind back to other written exams, the ones you failed, and the ones you passed. How did you control/fail to control your nerves on those occasions? If you haven’t taken any written exams, think of other stressful situations and how you dealt with them. Try deep breathing Concentrating on the simple action of breathing in and out not only increases the oxygen to your brain, but also helps you think about something else other than the “ordeal” ahead. Be careful not to hyperventilate! Incidentally, having a cigarette will only increase your heart rate the “calmness” that smokers claim they feel is more to do with the action of smoking, not the nicotine. Make sure you know where the theory test centre is and plan your route. You don’t want to be stuck in traffic, on the wrong bus or dealing with road works, particularly if the test is at 9.00am. Visualize success some people find that imagining a successful result will make this a reality. Try not to let thought of failure slip in even if you’ve had a nightmare. Thinking it so won’t always make it so, but it goes a very long way.

Medication: There are many herbal and prescription drugs to deal with “nerves”. These are not to be recommended, especially if you have never used them before. And anyway, the lessons you learn about how to control nerves the “natural” way are good practice for the practical examination you will be taking later. And remember, you can always talk to us at Fast Track Driving Tuition we are very experienced and have lots of sympathy!

The PRACTICAL Test: Remember the practical driving test is not a job interview or personality test. Follow the advice for the theory test, with the following extras: Be prepared: Make sure you are confident enough to take the test and have had enough lessons. Your Britannia instructor will advise you of this. Arrange to take a mock driving test as near to the test date as you can. Fast Track driving instructors understand and can tell the difference between silly mistakes made under stress and genuine problems that need to be solved and will tackle both. If you’ve booked a test date and something else more stressful crops up in your life, change it. Yes, learning to drive is important and a wonderful achievement, but if another part of your life has gone topsy-turvy, the chances are you won’t be able to concentrate. Wear comfortable clothes: Look smart and neat, but do wear something comfortable. You don’t want to be distracted by shoes that pinch or a jacket with tight underarms. If you are going to sweat, try wearing cooler clothes for the time of year and not too much make-up! Don’t be put off by the serious looks of an examiner: He or she is concentrating on the job in hand. Not responding to your attempts at conversation (and if you’re nervous, it’ll probably only be meaningless babble anyway) is not unfriendliness, its professionalism. Adopt a similar professional attitude and you’ll get on fine. Examiners are human, even when they’re testing you! Try not to be put off by a mistake: Many people have made a minor error in the stress of the moment. If the driving examiner can see this for what it is, and you correct it immediately, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed. Take a breath and continue.

Medication and other drugs: Alcohol: We all know the drink-driving rules but, if you are a drinker, don’t be tempted to have a few to help you sleep the night before. Not only could you still be over the limit, but if the driving examiner smells the slightest whiff of alcohol on your breath (or from your pores), the chances are you won’t be allowed to sit the test. If you have even a slight hangover, you’re hardly going to perform at your best, and it’s probably better to cancel the test anyway.

Prescription medication: If you take medication prescribed by a doctor, it might be an idea to check with Transport Malta that it is permissible to drive with this. As above, herbal or other remedies are not a good idea if you’ve never used them before, and the “natural” way is best. You don’t want to have to take something to calm your nerves every time you drive! And remember the old clichés: You can only do your best! Think positive. Fast Track driving instructors are always ready to help with any problem don’t be afraid to ask for our expert advice.