PASSED THE G AT NEWMARKET

Second attempt. Failing is expensive, not in the $$ but in the time between tests which is usually a month, not 10 days. Also aim to finish your G asap before your G2 expires; getting your G2 does not reset the expiry date unless you got it 1 year before it expires. If your G2 is about to expire, you can get one more try regardless, and if it does expire and you reapply in the first 3 years any wait times (8-12mo after G1, 12mo after G2) you have served are waived.

This is the route, also known as the "most common route" or "business before highway" which I dub "route 1":

Leave the drive test center and turn LEFT at Harry Walker. - Traffic on the left is far enough if they are beyond the traffic light sign - Traffic on the right is far enough if they are behind the fire hydrant

Turn LEFT to Gorham (this one is easy).

Turn RIGHT to Leslie (the light is usually always red; this one is harder).

Turn RIGHT on Davis (this one is the hardest. Look out for pedestrains on your side if the light is green)

Enter 404 North.

Leave at Green lane, and turn LEFT. You want to be @ the center lane.

Enter 404 South.

Leave at Davis, turn RIGHT. Be at the centre lane unless told otherwise

Turn LEFT to Harry Walker (this is the only "hard" left turn, and don't rely on the advance left because you're unlikely to get it) Make it back to the drive test center, where you will be asked to forward park.

I got 4 errors (second right turn brake, first left lane change not @ center, highway traffic check not every 5s both directions -- try to be perfect because random errors like these can occur).

Here are some tips I can provide:

  • Make sure you are aware of what you can be penalized for and how much. Avoid misconceptions whenever possible. For most errors, you either get penalized once or you auto-fail (the latter being quite rare). There are no "major" errors unlike the G2 test.
  • You can make up to and including 15 errors before you fail due to "too many driving errors". That gives you a bit of wiggle room, but still aim to practice everything.
  • The best time to schedule your test is from 9AM to 12PM (a bit over is fine). Do not schedule during rush hour, which is 2PM onwards.
  • "Inadequate skill to complete test" is caused by not following instructions, so follow them.
  • In the drive test center, you should back in as far west into the lot as possible (lot number 30+), since there are barely any cars there and it will make pulling out trivial.
  • You'll only be asked to make a lane change once and back. It may be on Leslie, it may be on Davis. If it is on one, it will not be on the other. I was asked to change lanes on Davis right before Harry Walker. Most cars take the 404 south ramp on Davis, so you have plenty of room to make your lane change back to the right as it will most likely be clear. (If they ask you to lane change and back on Leslie after the first intersection god help you)
    • If there is a slow moving vehicle ahead of the lane you want to change to (such as a bus), just pass it. If it's ~7km/h below, then you can slow down to change behind them.
    • DO NOT LANE CHANGE AT AN INTERSECTION!!!
  • Highway conditions were perfect for me, so merging in is really easy. Focus on getting your speed up to 110 km/h BEFORE trying to change lanes (Unless the lane you are changing to has a 100km/h moving vehicle ahead of you; if that vehicle is too slow, pass it). Signal as the yellow line turns white on the ramp. The acceleration lane for 404 north from Davis is 500m, which is way above the typical 300m acceleration lane, so you have plenty of time.
  • Treat all turns as crossing an intersection: look left-right ONCE before entering it (but not too early).
  • Your "blind spot" when making left and right turns are for pedestrians
  • On the ramp before the highway, ideally you should be at 40 km/h. The yellow 30 km/h sign is mainly for trucks; move at that speed only if there is a truck or slow-moving vehicle ahead of you, and if that is the case move slowly to give yourself more room to accelerate. If you are too close to a slow moving vehicle once the ramp ends, it's over (though you can only get at most ONE error from this, or very unlikely an autofail)
  • The "no traffic check every 5 seconds" error on highways is very hard to avoid (be prepared to tank these)
  • For highways, you will either be asked to lane change left and right back before you enter the highway or right as you enter it. Aim to do that ASAP as the highway stretch is very short.
  • Green Lane's southbound acceleration lane does not end. You do not need to merge in unless asked to merge to the far left. In this case, wait until you are told to change lanes.
  • Do not slow down on the highway until you've entered the fork in the exit, or if there is a car ahead of you that justifies so.
  • If you are already on the exit lane when you are told to exit the highway, you do not need to signal.
  • The "S"-turn manouver is allowed (creeping out when making a left-turn so you can see oncoming traffic). Just keep your wheels straight after doing that, even if it means having to reactivate your signal.
    • Yes, KEEP YOUR WHEELS STRAIGHT WHEN WAITING WHILST DOING A LEFT TURN. Also one car in the intersection at a time per turning direction.
  • When making right turns on red, if the lights on the passing traffic turns yellow, once you see the cars slow down, make your right turn ASAP before the opposite side gets an advance left (especially important for Gorham -> Leslie, 99% of the time you will end up there on a red).
  • If you are taking the same route as I am, on the exit for 404 to Davis, stay in the center lane (if your examiner does not tell you to move right). This makes it easier to make it to the left-turning lane @ Davis to Harry Walker.
  • PARKING IS NOT TESTED!! When you return to the drive test center, you will always be asked to forward park. My examiner just said to forward park any spot on the left. Since there are no error boxes for parking, unless you cause a conflict your parking can be as sloppy as it is. i.e. if you drove well after you make your left turn to harry walker you've pretty much passed and nothing can stop you (mostly)

There is another route, which is effectively the reverse of the route I stated. That route has two "hard" left turns; on the left turn at Davis to Leslie, remember to switch to the right after turning (this is the only time you have to do this); you will be expected to do this without being asked to. Beware the segment of paved concrete on the right when you are turning right from Harry Walker to Davis; that is NOT a barrier. You may touch the bike lanes when you are turning right but clear it ASAP.

Oh and there is a very rarely used 3rd route which makes you go 404 south to wellington and back, but they only use this if Davis is literally unusable. In this case, both acceleration lanes are shorter (300m), but you have way more time to make your lane changes.

If you are lucky with the traffic conditions, Newmarket is typically a lot easier than Toronto Metro East and Downsview; Newmarket's acceleration lanes are very long to infinite and the highways there are way more likely to be empty. If your 404 north went perfectly (i.e. no one was there) then you can be fairly confident you passed.

I was quite nervous coming into the test (my head was strained and I was shaking a bit, given that was my 2nd last attempt before my license expires) but once I passed, all of that stopped

oh and hope you don't get examiner no. 336. Good thing I didn't this time. also hope that you get perfect RnG on the traffic conditions