November 11, 2022
Exam season is almost upon us. Don’t stress about the annual assessment, instead use these five top tips to help you pass first time and with ease.
1. Get it done well before the deadline
The deadline for the annual assessment is 31st March; however, the DVSA prefer it to be completed well before the deadline. Many VEs will raise non-completion as an issue on their site visit report if they observe the assessment is still outstanding in January.
Our research shows that testers completing their assessment well before the deadline do so with less stress and anxiety compared to those leaving it until March. Taking the exam early typically results in fewer failed attempts, a faster pass time and a higher pass mark.
We advise clients to complete their annual training and exam during December, since the MOT bays tend to be quieter at this time while the public prioritises Christmas over vehicle maintenance.
2. Undertake annual training throughout the year
There is no requirement to complete your three hours of annual training before your assessment; however, doing them in that order makes sense. The training covers all the topics included in the exam, so reviewing training content first is a great way to prepare. Where testers take the assessment first and complete the training after, the exam failure rate is much higher.
We highly recommend completing all three compulsory hours of annual training before you take your exam.
See annual training and CPD solutions
3. Take advice from colleagues and other industry professionals
The annual assessment is an open-book exam. You can access documents and resources to help you during the exam. It is encouraged to hold discussions with colleagues ahead of the exam to gain clarity on any areas in which you lack confidence. However, you may not have anyone else take the exam for you, and the DVSA will pursue disciplinary action against anyone who does.
4. Use technology to support you during the assessment
With the exam being open-book, the best resources to reference are the MOT Testing Guide and Inspection Manuals. MOT Juice provides exam-friendly versions of both documents with fast search features that help you quickly locate the information you need. They also come with a dyslexic-friendly font option which may benefit those who struggle with this condition.
5. Prepare by taking a free mock exam
The MOT Juice Mock Exam is available to all MOT Testers and is entirely free. The mock exam mimics the actual assessment, helping testers prepare by familiarising themselves with the style of questions, the timer, and the pass mark. With unlimited attempts, you can take the mock exam as many times as you need before taking the final assessment.
Our research shows that testers who use our Mock Exam go into their annual assessment with improved confidence and reduced stress and anxiety. The statistics show that it dramatically improves first-time pass rates.
Take an MOT Juice ‘Mock exam’ now
Conclusion
Over the years, MOT Juice has observed that testers who use one or more of these top tips pass their annual assessment with greater ease. They tend to secure better pass marks, with less stress and reduced anxiety. Leave us a comment to let us know if you’ve found any of these solutions particularly useful.
