The 25 most common exam mistakes
Plus a checklist for exam day
Learn from others' mistakes
Most candidates don't fail at parking but at observation and right of way. Examiners see the following 25 mistakes again and again. Go through the list with your instructor and ask honestly: which of these do I still make? Those are exactly what you practise in your last lessons.
Observation (1–7)
- 1. Forgot the shoulder check when pulling away
- 2. No shoulder check when changing lanes
- 3. Missed a cyclist when turning right
- 4. No interior mirror check before braking
- 5. Didn't look properly into junctions
- 6. Missed traffic signs, e.g. speed limit or one-way street
- 7. Noticed pedestrians at a zebra crossing too late
Right of way and rules (8–13)
- 8. Ignored right-before-left in a 30 zone
- 9. No full stop at a stop sign
- 10. Entered the junction on red
- 11. Didn't let oncoming traffic pass when turning left
- 12. Used the green arrow without stopping at the stop line
- 13. Roundabout: indicated on entry or didn't signal the exit
Speed and position (14–19)
- 14. More than 5 km/h over the limit in town
- 15. Drove too slowly and held others up
- 16. Following distance too short – half the speedometer
- 17. Overtook a cyclist without enough lateral distance
- 18. Wrong lane position for turning left
- 19. Didn't adapt speed near schools, buses and narrow sections
Operation and manoeuvres (20–25)
- 20. Mounted the curb while parking
- 21. More than two corrections when parking
- 22. Emergency stop too timid
- 23. Indicated too late or left the indicator on
- 24. Stalled, then moved off hastily without looking around
- 25. Stopped at the end of the acceleration lane instead of merging
Avoid mistake no. 17
Overtake a tractor and a cyclist on a country road – with enough visibility and at least 2 m lateral distance.
This specific scenario is not implemented in the web edition yet. drive_overtaking
What to bring
- Valid ID card or passport
- Glasses or contact lenses, if required by the eye test
- Training certificate – usually brought by the instructor
- Any existing licence for other classes, e.g. AM
- Passed theory test – no more than 12 months old
- Exam fee paid in advance, usually via the driving school
- Flat shoes with thin soles
No ID – no exam
Without a valid official photo ID the examiner may not test you – the appointment is then usually lost. Check the expiry date of your ID the evening before. And: no alcohol, no medication that makes you drowsy – your fitness to drive must be unrestricted.
Exam day checklist
- Sleep well, eat a light breakfast, drink enough.
- Take a warm-up lesson in the exam car beforehand.
- Arrive 15 minutes early, ID at hand.
- Adjust seat, steering wheel and mirrors calmly.
- Phone on silent and out of reach.
- Wait for instructions, ask if unclear.
- Made a mistake? Let it go and drive on focused.
Turn nerves into energy
Nerves are normal – and keep you alert. Before starting, breathe in for 4 seconds and out for 6 seconds, several times. Drive as in your lessons, not “extra well”. The examiner expects not perfection but safe, anticipatory driving. A small mistake does not automatically mean failing.
Dress rehearsal
Drive the complete mock exam – the assessment shows which of the 25 mistakes you still make.
This specific scenario is not implemented in the web edition yet. exam_drive
What must you bring to the practical exam yourself?
- A valid ID card or passport
- Your birth certificate
- Your glasses, if the eye test requires them
Check answer
A valid ID card or passport
Your glasses, if the eye test requires them
The examiner must verify your identity with a valid photo ID. If the eye test requires vision aids, you must wear them in the exam. A birth certificate is not needed.