At the beginning of your driving test, your examiner will ask whether you would like your examiner to sit in the back of your driving test. There is no right or wrong answer; it really is down to what you feel comfortable with. If you decide that you do not want your instructor in the back of the test, then the examiner will ask you if you would like your instructor present during the debrief at the end of the test. A debrief will occur regardless of whether you pass or fail.
What is a debrief at the end of the driving test?
During a debrief, the examiner will go over any concerns they have seen during the test; this is conducted regardless of whether you pass or fail.
If you pass, it’s usually quite brief, and if you fail, it will be a bit longer.
If you have passed, the examiner will elaborate on some of the driving faults that concerned them but were not enough to fail you on. For example, they could say something along the lines of:
“Congratulations, you have passed your driving test. You received 5 driving faults, would you like me to go over some of them for you? There were a few occasions, John, where you moved away from the side of the road but you didn’t look fully over your right shoulder. If someone was there, this could have been serious.”
Or, if you’ve failed:
“Unfortunately, you haven’t passed today. You have accumulated 12 driving faults, of which 1 was dangerous. Would you like me to go through some of the more serious issues with you?
When you approached a roundabout on the A421 towards Buckingham, I had to intervene and dual control the car. If I didn’t intervene, we could have had an accident with the car coming round on our right.”
Why does it help to have your instructor in the back of your car during your test?
For many learners, it could just be moral support. However, assuming the worst that you fail, your instructor would have seen the faults you have made during the test and would, therefore, be in a better position to help you pass the next one, working on those areas in your driving lessons.
Looking at a marking sheet or listening to a small debrief at the end is better than nothing, but ultimately sitting in the back means they have witnessed the lot – how you cope with the pressure, have you changed under test conditions and have you coped, or forgotten things that have been covered in lessons?
Pressure really does affect everyone differently. Having your instructor in the back may make you feel more comfortable and assuming the worst, that you fail, it will help you prepare better for the next attempt.
True story: pupil was so nervous, his leg was going like a machine gun on the manoeuvres
One time, I was helping someone prepare for the driving test, taking their driving lessons in Northampton. He was a great little driver; however, he had failed 5 times with a national company.
I decided to sit in with him on his test and, unfortunately, he failed. While he was manoeuvring the car, I could see how bad his nerves were. His leg would go up and down on the clutch, like a machine gun rapidly firing bullets! He couldn’t stabilise the clutch so the car would judder and stall.
After seeing this, I could understand the issue fully and knew what to do. I went through several teaching techniques to help him improve this. 6 lessons later; he passed with 2 minor faults!
