The Most Common Reasons Students Fail the G2 (and How to Avoid Them)

The G2 test is easier than most people think — but thousands of students fail every year because of avoidable mistakes.
The problem isn’t skill.
It’s habits.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common reasons students fail the G2 in Ontario, and exactly how to avoid them so you can pass confidently.

Not Shoulder Checking Enough

This is the #1 reason students fail.

Examiners want to see that you’re aware of your surroundings. Even if you think you checked your blind spot, if they didn’t see it, it didn’t happen.

How to avoid this

• Shoulder check before every lane change
• Shoulder check before every turn
• Shoulder check before merging or pulling away from the curb
• Make it obvious — turn your head enough for the examiner to see it

If you build this habit early, you’ll pass easily.

Rolling Stops

A “rolling stop” means slowing down but never fully stopping at a stop sign.
Examiners fail students for this instantly.

How to avoid this

• Stop fully for at least 1 full second
• Count “one-one-thousand”
• THEN look left → right → left again
• Proceed only when safe

Quick pause = major difference.

Speed Control (Going Too Slow or Too Fast)

Going too fast is dangerous.
Going too slow is also a fail.

Examiners want to see you moving with traffic confidently.

How to avoid this

• Stay within +/- 5 km/h of the limit
• Don’t drop to 30 in a 50 zone unless there’s a reason
• In school zones, slow down only when the sign is active

Confidence → consistency → pass.

Turning Into the Wrong Lane

On both left and right turns, students often drift into the wrong lane.
This shows lack of control and awareness.

How to avoid this

• Right turns → turn into the rightmost lane
• Left turns → turn into the leftmost lane unless signs say otherwise
• Straighten the wheel before accelerating

Small fix, huge impact.

Hesitating Too Much

Nervous drivers often:

• Wait too long at intersections
• Miss safe gaps
• Stop when they don’t need to
• Freeze at left turns

Examiners interpret this as not being ready for independent driving.

How to avoid this

• Practice judging gaps in traffic
• Ask your instructor for hesitation drills
• Remember: safe ≠ slow. Safe = decisive.

Controlled confidence wins.

Poor Observation at Intersections

Even with a green light, you must scan the intersection.

Students fail for:

• Not checking left/right
• Not scanning for pedestrians
• Not checking crosswalks

How to avoid this

At every intersection:

1. Look left → right → straight → left again
2. Check for pedestrians and cyclists
3. Proceed smoothly

This takes 1 second but prevents a fail.

Weak Parking Skills

Parallel parking, roadside stops, and 3-point turns are all fair game on the G2.

Students fail for:

• Parking too far from the curb
• Hitting the curb
• Forgetting to shoulder check while reversing
• Not controlling speed

How to avoid this

• Practice slowly
• Aim for 20–30 cm from the curb
• Check around you before AND during parking
• Use tiny steering adjustments

Slow is smooth, smooth is passed.

Not Checking Mirrors Enough

Examiners watch for mirror checks constantly.

How to avoid this

Check:

• Every 5–8 seconds
• Before braking
• Before turning
• Before lane changes
• While approaching intersections

Mirror discipline shows maturity behind the wheel.

Forgetting to Signal (or Signaling Too Late)

Students often:

• Signal halfway through a lane change
• Signal too late before a turn
• Forget to cancel their signal

How to avoid this

• Signal 3 seconds before turning
• Signal before shoulder checking
• Cancel your signal instantly after completing the maneuver

Simple but crucial.

Final Tip: Drive Like You’ve Already Passed

Examiners don’t want perfection.
They want safe, predictable, confident driving.

If you avoid the mistakes above, you’re already 95% of the way to passing your G2.

Good habits = easy pass.

Need Help Perfecting These Skills?

Golden Key Driving School offers:

• G2 mock tests
• Real test-route practice
• Fix-your-habits sessions
• One-on-one training with certified instructors

We’ll help you avoid the common mistakes and feel fully confident for your G2 test.