Preparing for the PDA WA: Setting Yourself Up for Success
- Cameron Haughey
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Boa tarde (good afternoon)! I’m writing this blog from the lively foreshore of Itupiranga, Pará, Brazil. Over the past few weeks, many of my students have attempted their Practical Driving Assessments (PDA) in Western Australia—some successfully, some not. Each time, I reflect on ways to help those who didn’t pass feel more prepared. So I’ve put together some thoughts about how to approach the PDA, and hopefully put you in a stronger position to succeed.
Why Every Minute Matters
The PDA lasts just 35 minutes, but every one of those minutes counts. Recently I’ve seen students make mistakes such as running a red light, nearly colliding during a reverse park, speeding in a roadworks zone, or crossing a solid white line. These are all instant fails—and they happened in only a few seconds.
You could be driving perfectly for 34 minutes, but one slip in the final 30 seconds could be the reason you don’t pass. That’s why staying sharp for the full 35 minutes is the real challenge when preparing for the PDA WA.
Think of It Like Playing Music
Imagine your PDA as a musical performance:
Control – Strumming and finger positioning: accelerating, braking, steering.
Rules – The time signature and rhythm: knowing the road rules and procedures.
Awareness – Reading sheet music: observing the road and your surroundings.
Execution – Playing the song: bringing it all together to pass the PDA.
If you try to play a song without first mastering chords, rhythm, and reading music, the performance won’t go well. The same goes for the PDA—you can’t expect to pass if you haven’t built solid skills step by step.
Practise With Purpose When Preparing for the PDA WA
Simply racking up hours in your logbook isn’t enough. If you treat your drives as casual practice, it’ll be difficult to suddenly “perform” under test conditions. Instead, approach each drive as though you’re rehearsing for the PDA.
💡 Want a shortcut?
At GOAT Driving we’ve put together a free Top 20 PDA Checklist with the most common things students forget on test day. You can grab it instantly by joining our mailing list—it’s the perfect way to check if you’re really ready.
Put a little pressure on yourself while you practise—hold yourself accountable for focus and precision. That way, when you arrive at your PDA, the pressure won’t feel new or overwhelming.
Small Mistakes Are Okay
Here’s the good news: no one expects perfection. A wrong note in music is forgivable, but playing the wrong chord can derail the whole song. In the same way, a few minor mistakes in your PDA are fine, as long as you don’t make major errors.
Think of your practice sessions as preparation for a performance. Aim to reduce those “wrong chords” and accept that a few “bum notes” are normal. By the end of the 35 minutes, your assessor may well be saying, “Congratulations, today you’ve met the standard required.”
Get the Right Support
At GOATDriving.com we give you all the tools you need when preparing for the PDA WA. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been driving overseas for years and are converting to a WA licence, we have the information to guide you.
You can:
Sign up for a free one-week trial and explore everything we offer before committing.
Or, join our mailing list and receive a free GOAT Driving Top 20 Checklist—a must-have guide for PDA success.
For official information about licensing, visit the Department of Transport WA.
Final Thought
Stay safe out there, and remember: driving isn’t hard—you just need the right information and purposeful practice. Don’t forget to grab your checklist when it pops up—it’s a handy tool during your final prep.
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