This is an old article. DT1 has been updated several times, but the gist is still the same.
Someone found the site using the above search term – they were asking how a driving instructor gives route instructions to a pupil.
The short answer is: do it how the examiners do it, and refer to the DT1 Internal Guidance Document (this link is to a PDF file on the DSA website). Look under Annex 7; Page 243.
However, real-life is a little different. The pupil you are giving lessons to is not the same as the candidate you are submitting for their driving test for at least 80-90% of the time they spend with you.
For example, DT1 says:
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
Throughout the drive continue ahead, unless traffic signs direct you otherwise, and when I want you to turn left or right I will tell you in plenty of time. Move off when you are ready, please.
Would you pull up on the left at a convenient place, please.
or
Pull up along here, just before………..please.
Drive on when you are ready, please.
Take the next road on the left/right, please.
Will you take the second road on the left/right, please. (If necessary add this is the first.)
At the end of the road turn left/right, please.
At the roundabout.. turn left please (it is the first exit)
follow the road ahead (it is the second exit)
turn right please (it is the third exit).
(Additional information should be given if necessary to assist the driver to plan their route through the hazard. Examples are in brackets above).
Similar explanations are given for the examiner’s wording for all other parts of the test.
Now, this is all well and good, but if you want to build a friendly rapport with your pupil, behaving like an examiner all the time is a good way of failing miserably. This is especially true with new pupils who maybe haven’t driven before, and who are very nervous (even if they don’t show it).
Since I am teaching them – not examining them – I tend to say things like:
Take this next turn on the left (or right).
Take the second turn on the right (or left).
At the end of this road – at the T-junction (or crossroads) – turn left (or right).
At the roundabout we’re going left, 1st exit.
At the roundabout take the second exit.
At the roundabout we’re taking the 4th exit, it’s a right turn.
These are just examples – I mix and match as necessary. You’ve got to remember that early on, particularly at roundabouts, you really are teaching/instructing them and you have to add a lot more information until you can pull it back to the bare minimum. As they get closer to test standard you can give examiner-like instructions and still have a chat or add information as required.
It is important that they are familiar with the terms and approach the examiner is going to adopt, but they should be comfortable overall – not just fine tuned for the test, and only the test.
Note: The DT1 document I have linked to above is not intended to be anything other than educational. It isn’t a tool to help you challenge the result of your test (or for your instructor to do it). Examiners don’t have to use that wording exactly. They can deviate for all kinds of reasons.
If you can drive properly in the first place there should be no need to worry about challenging examiners over their interpretation of your poor performance o the day. If it wasn’t poor in the first place – you only have to be able to drive reasonably well, in any case – then there’d be no need.