To residents of Canada, learning to drive is essential to most successful careers. The written test and road tests are barriers everyone needs to conquer. No matter how many years of driving experience you have, it is not wise to take the tests too lightly.

Of course, the written test is relatively easy to pass, but adequate vehicle control abilities and familiarity with the traffic laws are needed to pass the road tests. Fully preparing yourself in advance is the basis for passing all examinations.

Preparation for Written Test

Before the written examination, you are required to buy a manual which introduces you to traffic regulations (available at most bookstores). Memorize all of the signs, signals, road markings and specifications.

Bring your government-issued ID and original documents that can prove your birth date such as:

• Passports
• Landing permits
• Driver's license from your original place of residence (test centers require English translation and notary for documents in foreign languages)

If you have poor vision, remember to bring your corrective glasses.

At the examination center, fill in all required forms before taking the test. The entire examination process includes vision test and multiple choice traffic rules test, with options for answering on a computer or on paper. Test questions are very simple, and Chinese questions are also available.

If you did not pass the first test, you may try again the next day for $10 administrative fee.

If you successfully passed both the vision and theory tests, you will receive your TEMPORARY G1 driver's license on the spot, with the official license being mailed to you in a few weeks. You may then use this temporary license to begin your driving lessons.

Chinese driver's licenses can be used in Canada for 2 months after landing, while international driver's licenses can be used for 3 months. After these expiration dates, you will need to take the road test to obtain an Ontario driver's license.

After you obtain a G1 driver's license, you may:

• Drive accompanied by someone with at least 4 years of G license experience

However, you may NOT:

• Drink and drive

• Have any passengers in your car not properly wearing safety belts

• Drive between 12:00AM and 5:00AM

• Drive on roads with posted speed limits of 80km/h or higher

Violation of any of the above would result in a 30-day license suspension.

After sufficient learning and training, you may book a road test.

Thorough preparation before your road test is extremely important. You must first know the specific requirements for the road test and the key items being tested, for example:

• Recognition of various signs and the responses they demand from the driver
• Rules regulating signalized intersections
• Turning speed
• Appropriate control of turning angles
• Selection and control of speed
• Right-of-way judgement
• Communication and cooperation with other users of the road (i.e. other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.)
• Presenting a sense of safety for whoever is riding in your car, make the passenger(s) feel safe when you are in control of the vehicle

The road test exams place less emphasis on more technical manoeuvres, such as:

• Parallel parking
• Three-point turn
• Parking on a hill
• 90 degree parking

As long as you make no major mistakes with these manoeuvres, they should present no risk to your success at the road test.

After you are familiar with the contents of the road test, what should you do before the test?

First of all, get a good night’s sleep and relax. Do not over-stress yourself with the contents of the exam. No matter how much you practice, specific road conditions could vary during a road test. What you really need is heightened situational awareness and reaction speed. These skills are developed by enforcing good habitual behaviour during your practice sessions. In special cases, good improvising skills would also be handy, but should not be depended upon as people often make mistakes when improvising.

Do not lie to yourself and exaggerate the actual value of the road test. Yes, your road test is an important matter that should not be taken lightly, but the sun will still rise even if you do not pass. Students taking final examinations for high school (especially in China), university or graduate school surely face much more stress.

Treat your road test as simply another practice session. The more relaxed you are, the more likely it is for you to release your full potential.

If you pass, then you have our congratulations from our staff at Toronto Central Driving School.
If do not pass, you have our encouragement from our staff at Toronto Central Driving School.

Not succeeding on a road test is nothing new. Examiners have no ties with you, so there is be no reason for them to make your life difficult. If you did not pass, it would mean that you still have problems with your driving.
If you do not learn and correct your mistakes, it means much more than simply not passing a test. It is irresponsibility towards the safety of yourself, your family and all other users of the road. If you were then allowed to pass, the accident you create the next day would be much more costly than the cost of obtaining more driving experience and retaking the test.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking multiple tests, getting extra help, extra practice. You should look farther down the road, and firmly grasp the basics. Make them into solid habits.

Aside from mental preparations, you must also bring all items necessary to the test:

• Driver’s license (temporary or permanent, whichever is effective at the time of the test)
• Beginner Driver Education Course Certificate (if your test date is less than 1 year away from your written test date)
• Corrective glasses (especially for myopia and presbyopia) or sunglasses (if necessary)
• Cash, debit card or credit card to pay for your test and car rental fees (MTO charges $40/test for G2 exams and $75/test for G exams)

Make sure you double check the above listed items before departing for your exam. Missing any of the key items would render you unable to take the test upon arrival at the exam centre.

Depending on your examination centre, you might be able to practice on the exam route before your actual exam. However, do note that MOST exam centres FORBID PRACTISING within proximity of the exam centre, and HEAVY FINES are in place.

If you are allowed to practice, make the best use of this time. Pinpoint your weaknesses and try to correct all errors. Do not give up if you find mistakes during this time, as most mistakes that appear during pre-exam practice do not actually re-appear during the exams themselves.

Check-in at the exam centre no later than 30min before your scheduled exam time. Take note of your car’s parking spot number and your license plate number. Normally you could choose your own parking spot, so you could pick your favourite or lucky number. Of course, this has no actual influence over your examination, but it does provide good mental support for those who feel the need. Whenever possible, do try to find a location that is not surrounded by cars, so as to provide you the most space and thus a slight advantage. Normally our instructors will aid you in your check-in process, so if you do not know the process there is no need to worry.

After you check-in, there should be approximately 20min left until your exam. Take advantage of this time to go to the washroom, wash your face if necessary, and fix your hair/makeup. Make sure you look good and feel good before meeting your examiner. Do arrive at your car and wait inside as soon as possible, because examiners often arrive early.

While you wait, you could clear your window of any frost/ice/snow if driving in such weather conditions. Adjust your car interior temperature to comfortable ranges (now is not the time to save a few cents on gas!). Relax yourself by either listening to music or have a quick chat with your instructor, but do not talk about the exam at this point. Your focus is on entering your exam refreshed and relaxed.