Sofia had been waiting for this day for months. Today she would finally take her driver's license test. She woke up at six in the morning, even though her appointment was at ten. Her stomach was full of butterflies, and she could not eat breakfast. She had practiced driving with her instructor for the past three months. Her instructor, Mr. Weber, had always been patient and encouraging. He told her that she was ready and that she should believe in herself. Sofia reviewed the traffic rules one more time while drinking her coffee. She knew the rules by heart, but she wanted to be completely sure. Her mother came into the kitchen and noticed her nervousness. 'You will do great, sweetheart,' her mother said with a warm smile. 'I remember when I took my test many years ago.' 'Were you nervous too?' Sofia asked hopefully. 'Extremely nervous, but I passed on my first try,' her mother replied. Sofia smiled, feeling a little better after hearing this. At nine thirty, her father offered to drive her to the driving center. 'Thank you, Dad, but I think I need to walk to calm my nerves,' she said. The driving center was only a fifteen-minute walk from their house. As she walked, Sofia took deep breaths and tried to stay calm. She repeated the parking steps in her mind: signal, check mirrors, turn the wheel. When she arrived at the driving center, several other people were already waiting. Some looked as nervous as she felt, while others seemed completely relaxed. A young man with red hair sat next to her on the bench. 'Is this your first attempt?' he asked in a friendly voice. 'Yes, I hope I pass today,' Sofia replied. 'This is my third time,' he admitted with a slight laugh. 'Third time is the charm, they say,' Sofia said encouragingly. A woman in a blue uniform came out and called Sofia's name. Sofia's heart began to beat faster as she stood up. 'Good luck,' the red-haired man said with a thumbs up. The examiner introduced herself as Mrs. Keller and explained the test procedure. First, they would drive through the city center, then do some parking maneuvers. Sofia nodded and tried to remember everything Mr. Weber had taught her. They walked to a silver car in the parking lot. Sofia adjusted the seat and mirrors carefully before starting the engine. 'When you are ready, please drive out of the parking lot and turn left,' Mrs. Keller said. Sofia checked her blind spot and slowly released the handbrake. The car moved smoothly out of the parking space. Sofia felt a little more confident as they entered the main road. The traffic was moderate, and she maintained a steady speed. 'At the next intersection, please turn right,' Mrs. Keller instructed. Sofia signaled in advance and checked her mirrors twice. The turn was smooth, and she stayed in the correct lane. They drove through the busy shopping district where many pedestrians crossed the street. Sofia slowed down whenever she saw someone approach the crosswalk. Mrs. Keller made some notes on her clipboard but did not say anything. Sofia wondered if she was doing well or making mistakes. After twenty minutes of city driving, they arrived at a quieter residential area. 'Now we will do the parking maneuvers,' Mrs. Keller announced. 'Please park the car between those two vehicles using reverse parallel parking.' This was the part Sofia had been most worried about. She took a deep breath and positioned the car next to the front vehicle. She checked all her mirrors and turned the steering wheel sharply. Slowly, she reversed the car into the parking space. The car fit perfectly between the two vehicles with enough space on both sides. Sofia could not believe how well it had gone. 'Very good,' Mrs. Keller said with a slight nod. 'Now please do a three-point turn and return to the driving center.' Sofia completed the three-point turn without any problems. On the way back, she had to stop at a red light. When the light turned green, she looked both ways before proceeding. Finally, they arrived back at the driving center. Sofia parked the car in the same spot where they had started. She turned off the engine and waited anxiously for the results. Mrs. Keller reviewed her notes for a moment. 'Miss Rodriguez, I am pleased to tell you that you have passed your driving test.' Sofia's face lit up with joy. 'Really? I passed?' she asked, hardly able to believe it. 'Yes, you drove very well and followed all the traffic rules correctly,' Mrs. Keller confirmed. Sofia thanked her and almost ran back to the waiting area. The red-haired man was still waiting for his turn. 'I passed!' Sofia exclaimed happily. 'Congratulations!' he said with a genuine smile. Sofia immediately called her mother to share the good news. 'I knew you could do it!' her mother cried with pride in her voice. On her walk home, Sofia felt proud and independent. She could not wait to drive her own car for the first time.
English Story (B1)The Driver's License Test
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sofia nervously prepares for her driver's license test after months of practice. Despite her anxiety, she completes the city driving portion and parallel parking maneuvers successfully. When the examiner announces that she has passed on her first attempt, Sofia is overjoyed and immediately calls her mother to share the good news.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Sofia wake up at six in the morning even though her appointment was at ten?
2
How many times had the red-haired man attempted his driving test?
3
What parking maneuver did Mrs. Keller ask Sofia to perform?
4
What did Sofia do immediately after learning she passed the test?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
