It Turns Out "Academic Overachievers" Are More Likely to Fail Their Driver's Test the First Time

Pretty much every teen who told friends or family that they were going to take their driver's test was met with the same fear: what if I fail? If things didn't go your way, having to share the disappointing news that you need to retake the test before driving solo was a major embarrassment that many tried to avoid at all costs.

However, if you failed your test the first (or second) time around while your other friends easily passed, new research might make you feel differently about the situation. A survey from Privilege DriveXpert revealed that academic overachievers, who most likely take failing the hardest, are more likely to flunk their driver's test the first time compared to those who are more inclined to the arts or have less academic qualifications.

According to Good Housekeeping, the car insurance company studied 1,570 drivers and found that 59 percent of those who didn't have any qualifications or degrees passed on their first try. However, 48 percent of high school graduates and 47 percent of those with postgraduate degrees needed multiple attempts before passing. Company owners struggled the most with only 39 percent passing without having to retake the test.

This could be because those who study math and science may be more likely to overthink the questions compared to those who are more artistic and hands-on. "Passing first time isn't the be-all and end-all of driving ability as many of the main skills we need to equip ourselves for our driving careers are learned over the years as our experience on the roads builds," Charlotte Fielding, head of Privilege DriveXpert, told Daily Mail. "This research demonstrates a link with academic and professional success and passing the driving test."

It looks like those who had to do a walk of shame back to the DMV might actually have something to brag about!