This is it: you're ready to take the test for your learner's permit. While you're aware that up to 35% of applicants don't pass the test on their first try, you want to be one of the ones who come home with your permit in hand. To help improve your chances of success, don't forget these important tips, and make sure to use your state's DMV official handbook as a supplement to an online course.
Don't Skip The Alcohol Section Of The Study Guide
When you're studying for your permit test, it can be tempting to skim right over the top of this information. More critical is information on things like when you should turn on your lights, how to pass correctly, and traffic rules and regulations that you'd never paid attention to before. You'll notice that this section takes up a large portion of your study guide. As you've learned from school, that means that it may take up an equally large portion of your test--so be prepared!
Commit Specific Numbers To Memory
If there are specific numbers attached to a statistic--for example, the acceptable level of alcohol in your blood--you could potentially need to know those specific numbers for your permit test. Take a moment to commit those numbers to memory. Also, remember that the well-meaning friend who told you that you could drive five miles per hour over the speed limit before you got pulled over might have been right about practical application, but when it comes to the written test, the acceptable answer is that if you're going over the speed limit by even one mile per hour, you're going too fast. These might be small details in your mind, but they're details that are on your permit test, and you'll need to know them in order to pass.
Take Practice Tests Until You Can Pass Them Easily
If you naturally retain information quickly and typically test high, you might think that the practice tests are a waste of your time. Taking the practice test, however, will give you a good idea of how prepared you are for the real test. When you can pass the practice test easily, you'll have equally good odds of successfully passing the real test. As you're taking practice tests, however, make sure that they're specific to your state. While most major traffic laws are the same between states, there are regional differences, particularly concerning issues like drug and alcohol use. Also, keep in mind that no matter how good the practice test is, you can't guarantee that you'll see the same questions that will be on your actual learner's permit test. The test database contains hundreds of potential questions, but the actual test will only have around twenty.
Don't Be Afraid To Enlist Help
Do you have a friend close to your age who is also studying for their learner's permit test? Take advantage of the opportunity to study together. Quiz one another and share study guides and outlines. If you don't have a friend to study with, ask for help from your family members. You wouldn't hesitate to ask for help to study for a school test, so why not ask for help on a test that's even more important?
Don't Rush Into The Test
If you aren't sure that you're ready for the test, it's better to postpone it than to take it and simply hope that you pass. First, waiting at the DMV is a time-consuming process, and convincing your parents to take you at a different time will go better if you're honest with them upfront. Second, keep your focus on the real reason for this test. It's not just to make you memorize the rules of the road. The purpose of the learner's permit test is to ensure that you'll be safer and more prepared when you get behind the wheel.
Taking your learner's permit test is a huge milestone. By preparing carefully, you can make sure that you're one of the successful applicants and that you come home with your permit in hand. If you are unsuccessful, remember: you can always try again! Check out your state's regulations to find out how long you have to wait before you can make a second attempt. Using your state's DMV official handbook in conjunction with online courses and practice tests will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the material, increasing your chances of passing the test and becoming a safe, responsible driver.