Exam and study tips to pass Singapore’s Practical Driving Test Exam

Here is my first article on getting your Driving Licence In Singapore At BBDC (Review, Cost Savings Tips, Guide)

I will split the study tips into three sections.

Circuit ( Please see details below)
Basic Theory
Final Theory

Checking

1: rear mirror

2: side mirror

3: blind spot

4: side mirror

5: look in front

Moving off

Adjust mirror
Fasten seatbelt
Release handbrake
Select correct gear
Apply brake when shifting to D or R
Ensure gear is in P before starting engine
Dont delay in moving off
Sufficient and smooth acceleration
Start car within 5 mins
Move off when 2 lanes are cleared
Move off when the car pass your shoulder
At the slope, pull up handbrake before releasing footbrake

Check mirror

Check blindspot correctly
Before moving off
Before slowing down
Before stopping
Before turning
Before changing lane
Before overtaking
Rear mirror 5-10s

Check blind spot

Before turning
Before changing lanes
Before moving left or right

Look out for traffic

Side road
Junction

Traffic light

Brake on third arrow
Check rear mirror before driving off
Cover brake from 2nd to first arrow before traffic light.
After the third arrow, then speed up
Remove leg from accelerator on the 3rd arrow
Intermittent braking is not needed for good weather. Don’t do it at traffic light
Hold braking from second to first arrow at traffic light

Steering wheel

Do not turn it while stationary
Accelerate and gently steer towards next lane gradually
Steer a little and accelerate to change lane. If not tester thinks you cannot control the steering wheel
Turn steering wheel back with hands. Do not let it rotate back on its own

Speed

Hump school zone , speed is 20

Braking

Smooth braking
Do not apply brake when car is stationary
Move steering wheel abit when changing lane
Cover the brake pedal when slowing down at zebra crossing, approaching traffic light etc
Brake: start with more pressure initially then gradually reducing as approaching the stop

Lane

Be on the left lane

Keep within lane. Dont drift off.
Right turn + right lane
Left lane if 2 lanes are going right
Don’t brake when lane change

Parking

Do not obstruct people from parking

Changing lane

MSSB for each lane change. Rmb to cancel signal
If car is at the top of the mirror, it is safe to change lane.
If car is at the bottom of the mirror, it might not be too safe.
Do not change lane abruptly
Do not change lane near junction or side road or bend or u turn or near pedestrian or near signalized junction or near bus bay
Check before changing lane
When shifting to the left lane, signal and do a change after junction
MSSB for each lane change. Finally, cancel signal
Wait until both lanes are cleared then drive out
You can change lane if car is right behind u
Change lane, lane by lane
Turn 45 degree if front car is near u
Area to avoid when changing lane

Near junction or side road or bend or u turn or near pedestrian or near signalized junction or near bus bay
You need to finish changing lane by third arrow if not too near the junction

Lane(special)

Special. Depending on arrow on ground
When instructor says go straight, maybe go centre or right lane
Bukit Gombak has yellow box, go to the right lane
Near bukit gombak mrt. Signal right to go right lane as the left lane is to turn left

Right turn

Right turn + right lane
Pocket if any
You have to be on the EXTREME right lane, then you can make the right turn
- Even if the lane is big, you will have to signal right to move it more towards your right
Check blind spot not too fast. About 2 seconds/ one car length before turning
Check if you are on major or minor road
When turning right, give way to car with the right way
When going to the right lane, complete MSSB 1 car length before turning
If you are on minor road, wait for those to finish their turn on the major road then you proceed. Turn after they are at your shoulder
Right turning car: stop near pedestrian crossing but dont cross to the other lane
Left running car: stop behind pedestrian crossing line
Position car 0.5-1 lane before the lane i am turning in
MSSB to move towards the right side
Before right turn, MSSB

Slow down

Slow down when approaching road hazard
Speed is not too slow
Slow down when see pedestrian or cyclist
Do not exceed speed limit
At bend, junction, hump, zebra crossing

Passing obstacles

Moving vehicles/ stationary car/ fixed obstacles
Do not ride/stop beside motorcyclist or cyclist
Keep at least 1/1.5m away from road users

Stopping

Must stop at stop line even if there is no car
Do not stop unnecessarily
Do not cause other vehicles to slow down or evade
Do not stop on the pedestrian crossing
When there is a traffic light in front, the horizontal line is not a stop line.

Stopping distance

Stop behind a car: see their tyre

Kerb

Check rear mirror at least 5 seconds before slowing down or stopping
Signal at least 3 seconds before moving off, stopping and turning
Check blind spot in about 1 second
Stopping at kerb side: 0.2-0.4m away from kerb
Check blind spot even if it is stopping near kerb, moving off from kerb
Signal when moving towards the kerb
Signal when moving off from kerb
Turn steering wheel abit when moving off from kerb

Give way

Give way to pedestrians at the pedestrian crossing
Give way to traffic with right of way
Give way line on the road
Give way line on bus

Others

Do not drive across the centre line
Obey sign

Driver’s signal (general)

Make sure there is signal
Cancel signal
Signal 3 seconds before action
Cancel signal
Give correct signal
When you want to filter the lanes: Dont signal first when 2-3 cars are approaching you
Filter right: alot of cars on your right so you cannot go out. Slow down and signal. Or slow down, wait for them to pass you and signal.
From the right lane to left. Signal first

Signal

Before moving off
Cancel signal when done
Changing lane
Before movement
When see hazard

Traffic signal

Do not proceed on amber light, blinking green arrow, red light
If you cannot stop in time as light change from amber to red, just go
Remove leg from accelerator on the 3rd arrow
Cover brake from 2nd to first arrow before traffic light.
After the third arrow, then speed up
After passing the third arrow, if it is amber. Just go

Junction

Correct positioning
Do not cause inconvenience to cross traffic
Proper turning for wide turn and sharp turn
Correct lane
Stop at stop line
Form up correctly
Dont change lane
At junction, stay behind motorbike. Do not accelerate when it is beside me

Accelerate

Accelerate only after the wheels return

Kerb

Do not strike or mount the kerb

Turn

Dont make wide turn
Slow down before turn
Do not use left lane to turn right because you need to turn to the right lane cus it is a right turn
Dont make a sharp turn
Dont make wide turn
Half turn vs full turn vs all the way lock
Stop at centre, wait then turn
Stop nearer to kerb, wait then turn
Do not stop halfway when turning
You can only start right turn ½ - 1 lane away (can use arrow on the floor as gauge)
Use arrow or kerb as a gauge, reference to your side mirror
Make ½ turn if road is wide then adjust accordingly
Your car needs to stop at the first pedestrian line with reference to the mirror if traffic light is not green
Complete checking blindspot about 2 seconds before turning
Cancel signal after turn

Bend

Slow down at bend
Follow the curb and turn for gentle bend.
Dunid to move when shoulder is at kerb if bend is wide

U turn (signal right, signal left to be back on left lane)

Can make U turn after the sign
Form up in extreme right lane
Full lock right when shoulder at the the area between 2 pedestrian crossings or side mirror at kerb or shoulder passes kerb
U turn when shoulder pass kerb (full lock right)
Change back to left lane as soon as it is safe to do so
Always turn into the nearest lane which the running radius allow
Start turning steering wheel when the car is almost straight
Once you turn, dont brake
Follow the arrow on the ground, on where to turn

Wide divider u turn

Signal right. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot. Move towards right side (right lane)
Check mirror and blind spot before turning
Wide turn: follow and turn
Position, straighten the wheel, perpendicular to the giveaway line. 1m from kerb.
Signal and be on the left lane

Narrow divider u turn

Signal right. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot. Move towards right side (right lane)
Check mirror and blind spot before turning
Sighting point: when shoulder passes the kerb, turn steering wheel towards centre lane
Position: car is slanted, havent cross the give way line
Signal and be on the left lane

Yellow box

Check for Yellow box on the ground
Take note of 3 yellow boxes in circuit
Dont step into it if no space
Take not of yellow box near petrol station and bus stop
Check if there is space for u. Otherwise, don’t go into yellow box. Take not of yellow box near petrol station and bus stop
Stop behind the yellow box if front space is taken during red traffic light

Hazard on the road

Signal x2 then check safety (Signal right to bypass hazard, signal left to go back)
Slow down
Numbers on the left side of circuit: turn after the number
Right side: turn before the number
Reduce speed when passing by junction
Roadwork
Parked vehicles
Stationary vehicles move suddenly
Entrance and exit of car park
Reduce speed when bypassing bus
Check traffic condition after spotting hazard
Signal right. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot
Accelerate and steer gently towards the other lane.
Signal left. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot
To go left lane
Cancel signal
Can stop behind bus if not troublesome to go back to left lane

Reacting to road hazard

pedestrians/ cyclist (keep 1.5m or 1m away)
Traffic signal may change
Bus may turn right into my path
Lorry turning out from slip road may move into the right lane
Bend: slip road
Parked vehicle obstructing my path

Check traffic condition after spotting hazard
Signal right. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot
Accelerate and steer gently towards the other lane.
Signal left. Rear mirror. Side mirror. Blind spot
To go left lane
Cancel signal

Turning

No traffic light: turn after you are one lane away
Do not use left lane to turn right
Do not use left lane to turn right because you need to turn to the right lane cus it is a right turn
Dont make a sharp turn
Right turn should be done before the number sign

Bus stop

Slow down
Stop behind bus at give way line
If bus is around and there is no bus lane, there is room for one car before the yellow line

Petrol station

Yellow box

Side road

Yellow box
Slow down

Filter lane

Check blind spot before entering and after exiting filter lane

Reversing

Turn and look at the rear windscreen when reversing
Check rear view mirror
Signal
Reduce speed
Check surroundings
Change gear

Merging lane

Merging lane : indicated on the ground or lane reduced by one
Merge: alternate vehicles take turn. Signal left/ right. Check blindspot

Downslope

Press button and move gear to S
Move up to D without touching button

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