TP TEST TIPS YOU MIGHT OVERLOOK 🎀🩷✨
Just passed my TP test with 16 pts on my second attempt! I genuinely didn’t think this day would come because I’ve always been adamant about being a passenger princess for the rest of my life. 🥹😭
For context: I took 3A. I was from CDC - Tampines outpost and I started my practical lessons back in ~April 2025 so about 11 months worth of lessons. This might sound quite long to some people, that’s because I did take months of breaks in between (to the point where my CDC membership even expired at one point and I had to pay extra to renew it 😝). Took me 38 lessons in total (this is inclusive of normal practical lessons + extra PEP lessons). Total spent maybe about $3k-$4k++ 💸
FYI: my first TP test slot was at 2pm, and my second TP test slot was at 10am.
🎀 SOME TP TEST REMINDERS (that’s quite niche and different from most posts I’ve seen so far that you might overlook!) 🎀
- After your warm up ends, try to stay around at the waiting area as much as possible. If you need to go to the washroom, go quickly then come back straight to the waiting area. For my first TP, the tester called me up 30 minutes ahead of my scheduled time so that caught me abit off guard 🤯 There were also instances where testers were calling out their students’ names and they were not present at the waiting area. And when the students finally arrived, some of these testers were visibly annoyed and asked why they were not at the waiting area. So I think it’s good to be early in case this happens. Would be best to avoid making testers wait for you and start things off in a “bad” note IMO.
- REMEMBER YOUR CAR NUMBER AND WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED AFTER WARM UP. For my first TP test, I was so in my head that I drifted off to another car LOL.. it was so embarrassing. At this point I think my tester already lost confidence in me HAHA 😞👎🏼
- Make sure you start the car properly. Sometimes it may appear like it has started when it’s not. I know this cause I had issues moving off at the start of my test (my car started rolling back even though it was in D!!) until the tester advised me to check if I had started my car properly or not (maybe I never press properly or what 😔). When this happens, chill out, just remember to turn off your engine and restart it again
- Right after failing my first TP test, I immediately booked for the next test and managed to get a slot in exactly a month’s time. While waiting for my 2nd test, I booked some PEP lessons - iirc you can book 3 lessons max a month. I thought this was more helpful than my usual pracs because they are essentially 50-minute sessions that’s dedicated to prepping you for the TP test. Especially coming from outpost where I was mainly on public roads and had less exposure to circuit, this helped me familiarise myself better with the circuit.
- I don’t have any notes to share because I felt like it’s personally better for me not to overstimulate myself with any notes and just practise with KEY steps that I can remember in my head + trust my instincts and muscle memory. My take is that my nerves/anxiety can easily override whatever I know so I wanted to just adopt that mindset of “letting it go” and just react to whatever situation I encounter accordingly. But of course to each their own! There are so many posts out here with driving notes which are very helpful.
- If you’re like me who’s had multiple driving instructors, I’d suggest you take some of the tips/feedback you receive with a grain of salt. E.g. as close as 2 days before my TP test, I was suddenly learning new techniques that I wasn’t thought of before from another new instructor. They were great tips but I just didn’t wanna overwhelm myself more with new knowledge esp so close to the test hahaha so I filtered some of them out of my brain and just focused/stuck to what I knew worked for myself.
- If it helps, only one person knew about my test dates and I didn’t tell anybody else about it as I didn’t want any of that unnecessary added pressure. You might want to consider doing the same if you think that would help make you feel less anxious :)
⚠️ You only fail when you STOP TRYING. Don’t be disheartened after failing and most certainly don’t give up!! Learn from your mistakes, don’t repeat them, and try your best again for the upcoming one. Remember: you are one step closer to getting that license!! You likely spent so much on this already… might as well make it worth it and get that license. 😭😭😭 You’ll definitely get it, it’s just a matter of WHEN you’ll get it 🍀
Lastly, all the best and believe in yourself!! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or want me to go through anything in-depth. Happy to help 🩷
Having just passed the TP test after many months of preparation, I’d like to share some personal insights that could help future test takers succeed with less stress. One thing that stood out to me was how crucial it is to mentally prepare for the unexpected. For example, my tester called me 30 minutes earlier than expected, which really caught me off guard. Staying close to the waiting area after warm-up helped me avoid missing that call. It’s a good reminder to be flexible and alert because timing can shift without much notice. Another piece of advice is to remember your car number and exactly where it's parked after warm-up. I lost track of my vehicle during my first test, which definitely made a bad impression. It may seem minor, but these details can affect how confident and prepared you appear to the tester. Starting the car properly is something I initially overlooked. I experienced my car rolling backward despite being in drive because I hadn’t fully started the engine. It’s important to take a calm moment to double-check, especially if you feel something’s off. Don’t let this trip you up—if it happens, safely restart and proceed. Booking your next test promptly after a failure is key to maintaining momentum. I secured mine within a month and booked specialist PEP lessons focused on the test circuit, which helped me adapt to the course layout – something my usual lessons didn’t emphasize enough. If your driving school offers similar targeted lessons, they can make a real difference. I found overloading my brain with driving notes counterproductive. Instead, I trusted my instincts and muscle memory, especially to manage nerves on the test day. Everyone’s approach differs, but don’t underestimate the power of staying calm and reacting naturally. One unique challenge was juggling advice from multiple instructors. Close to my test, I received new techniques that weren’t part of my prior lessons. While helpful, I chose to stick to what I’d practiced thoroughly to avoid confusion. Filtering advice to what suits your style is very important. Finally, I kept my test dates mostly to myself, sharing only with one person to reduce external pressure and anxiety. If you feel that helps you stay focused, it’s worth considering. Remember, persistence is everything. No matter how many points you have or how many times you’ve tried, the key is continuous effort. Failing only happens when you give up. Keep practicing, learn from mistakes, and you’ll get that license. Good luck!
Congratulations on passing your driving test!!!