Observation at junctions - Ineffective or bad observation and judgment. Reverse parking - Ineffective observation and/or lack of accuracy. Use of mirrors - Not checking often enough, and/or not acting on the information. Reversing around a corner - Ineffective observation and/or lack of accuracy. Incorrect use of signals - Giving misleading signals, or forgetting to [...]

True. Younger candidates do find the test easier to pass. In 2004-06 the pass rate for 17 year old boys was 51%, whilst for girls it was 48%. Ten years later, at 27 the pass rates are 43% and 36% respectively, then at 47 it's 35% and 25%. However, older people do get through. In [...]

False. It would be easy to blame a 'personality clash' for failure, but again, driving examiners are professionals. Personal feelings or prejudices are irrelevant. An examiner whose work record showed an inclination to fail, for example women or a particular ethnic group, would soon be spotted. We would all like to blame someone else for [...]

False. Examiners are professionals: their personal feelings do not enter into their assessment of you. Also, they have their bosses to report to - an unusual or inexplicable number of passes or failures would be looked into. It's easier for an examiner to give good news rather than bad, and a pass means less paperwork [...]

False. The DSA state that all examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard and that they don't have pass or fail quotas. Every examiner does have to be within 5% of their centre pass rate and 10% of the national pass rate or they are likely to be investigated. So [...]

False. Take no notice of this old tale. Examiners are trained to spot the small eye movements we make when checking our mirrors and exaggerating them by 'theatrical looking' will only take your mind off driving properly.

False. As long as you don't stall in a dangerous situation, such as on a roundabout, and as long as you handle it properly this needn't count as a major fault and you can still pass your test.

True. "Yes, it is!" says Eddie Barnaville, general manager of the Driving Instructors Association. "When I was teaching back in the late 1960s it was possible to get most people through in about 10 or 15 lessons. These days that target would be ridiculous. The roads are far busier which means standards have to be [...]

True. According to a 2004 study by the Department for Transport men take 36.2 lessons on average before passing whilst women take 51.9. And when it comes to passing the test men take 1.8 attempts whilst for women it's 2.1. However men let themselves down badly once they've passed - they're responsible for 97% of [...]

False. It is not in any school's best interests to have lots of learners taking lesson after lesson with no end result. I would like to see my pupils to spread the word about their success! I will give you advice, and if you want an independent rough guide: you are ready to take your [...]