Common Test Fails: What Trips Up Most Learners

If you’ve booked a driving test, you’ve probably wondered what could go wrong. The good news is most failures come from a handful of repeat mistakes. Knowing these ahead of time lets you focus your practice and walk into the test centre with confidence.

Major Faults That Mean Immediate Fail

A major fault is any error that endangers safety or shows a lack of basic control. One of these and the examiner will stop the test.

• Serious observation lapses – not checking mirrors, blind spots, or the road ahead before a manoeuvre.
• Loss of control – stalling the engine, grinding gears, or skidding off the line.
• Dangerous positioning – pulling into a lane too close to the kerb, or crossing the centre line during a turn.
• Failure to obey traffic signs – running a stop sign, ignoring a give‑way, or missing a speed limit.
• Improper use of the handbrake – releasing it too early on a hill start or leaving it on while moving.

Each of these can be avoided with focused practice. Spend time on each skill in a quiet parking lot before you hit busy roads. Ask your instructor to simulate the exact scenario you’ll face in the test.

Minor Mistakes You Can Recover From

Minor faults don’t stop the test, but too many add up and can tip you over the pass mark. Common ones include:

• Rolling stops at junctions.
• Hesitation when starting a reverse manoeuvre.
• Incorrect use of signals – forgetting to cancel them.
• Not fully checking the rear tyre when changing gears.
• Minor speeding – a few kilometres over the limit.

The examiner will note these, but you can still pass if the total stays under the allowed limit. The trick is to turn each minor slip into a quick correction. If you roll through a stop, pause, look around and then complete the stop. That shows the examiner you can self‑correct.

Another useful habit is a pre‑maneuvre checklist: mirrors, signal, blind spot, speed, gear. Run through it out loud while you’re practising. It becomes second nature and reduces the chance of a missed step.

Finally, keep your nerves in check. Anxiety often leads to the very faults you’re trying to avoid – missed observations, rushed decisions, or clutch stalling. Arrive early, do a few deep breaths, and remember the test is just another driving session, not a life‑or‑death moment.

By focusing on the big‑picture major faults and tidying up the small details, you’ll greatly improve your odds of passing. Review this list before each practice drive, ask your instructor to flag any of these behaviours, and you’ll walk into the test centre ready to succeed.