Factors that can affect driving test pass rates
If you’ve got a driving test coming up, then you might feel a little bit apprehensive. Ideally, you want to come away with a pass – or at least, to understand where things went wrong, so that you can correct it the next time.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors which influence your chance of success, and see how you might influence them.
Common Mistakes
In the mid-19th century, Italian polymath Vilfredo Pareto noted that around 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the people. This phenomenon has since been observed just about everywhere, from epidemic control to online marketing. It’s called the Pareto Principle: most outcomes come from a small number of common causes.
Most driving test failures, too, are caused by the same few mistakes. A candidate might fail to check their mirrors, or stop appropriately at a junction. They might struggle with certain manoeuvres, like parallel parking.
There’s only one solution here: practice, practice, practice. Take out some temporary learner’s insurance, and practice outside of your lessons. It’s worth focussing your practice time on the most likely areas of failure for everyone, as well as your personal weaknesses.
Conditions
There are certain times of day when it’s more difficult to pass a driving test. While the differences might be marginal, they’re still measurable. It’s better to take the test when the roads are less busy. Driving, after all, would be easy if it weren’t for the presence of other motorists with their own unpredictable driving agendas.
Similarly, you’ll want to pay attention to the on-road conditions. If visibility is poor, or the roads are wet or icy, then you’ll be more likely to fail.
Region
Where you drive matters, too. If you’re out in the countryside, then you’ll be faced with quieter roads. In the middle of the city, where there’s traffic everywhere, things are more difficult. For most candidates, this is something that can’t be controlled. If you do have the ability to take the test in the countryside, however, it’s worth taking advantage of it.
Number of attempts
Finally, we should say that the more attempts you make, the more difficult you’ll find it to pass. This is something that drops off very gradually, from around 50% the first time to closer to 40% the sixth time. Pass rates tend to be highest the second time around, when candidates benefit from an uptick in confidence. Note that even if you’ve repeatedly failed, 40% is a pretty high pass rate – so keep trying!
