High school is full of important milestones, and one of the most exciting of these is receiving your driver’s license. Taking your driver’s test for the first time can be intimidating, so I’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you pass with ease.

Location

Where you take your driver’s license is almost as important as the preparation for the test itself. Many students have recommended taking your driver’s test at the DMV in either St. Peters or St. Charles on account of their pleasant examiners.

“I definitely recommend the St. Peters DMV for your [driver’s] test. Everyone there was really nice, so it made me feel less nervous about driving,” junior Joey Berra said.

Study

If you have already taken the permit test, then you know there are a few rules of the road you need to follow. The driving inspector is likely to ask you questions about various road signs such as “pedestrian crossing” and “do not enter.” Also, be sure to study all of your car’s controls and know where they are located.

“I would definitely recommend studying all the buttons inside your car. I remember needing to know about my hazard lights, window defrosters and my headlights settings,” senior Allison Herbert said.

Practice

Although studying is helpful in passing your driver’s test, practice is just as important. The best way to get better at driving is to buckle up and hit the roads with an instructor.

“Every time my parents needed to pick up my brothers or go to places like the grocery store, I would always volunteer to drive there with my mom or dad but it was mostly my dad who taught me and encouraged me to drive,” senior Kennedy Jones said.

Parallel parking is another skill you will be tested on and one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the test for many people. While it may seem tricky at first, several students encourage new drivers to practice until you get it right.

“I practiced parallel parking a lot with my grandpa. We would go to parking lots, and he would set up cones for me to practice with. He would also look up videos with tips and have me watch them. He taught every granddaughter how to parallel park, so it was very special to learn from him,” senior Abby Obert said.

Hopefully these tips will help you pass your driver’s test with flying colors. My final piece of advice for new drivers taking the test is to take a deep breath and relax. And remember: if you don’t pass on your first try, there’s always next time!