Any final tips? Driving test.

[PaulMacC]

I have my first driving test at the end of this week. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me to take in. I'm some-what confident in my driving and if I fail it'll be a silly thing or me mucking up a manoeuvre. But yeah any advice?

[You]

Just try not to be nervous. Drive to please the examiner and then drive how you want once you've got the licence! Only that 40minutes you need to drive like a granda

[FlyingJesus]

Don't drive into things

But yeah just controlling the nerves is the big thing. You know how to drive obv or you wouldn't be taking the test, so don't worry about it

[Aidenn]

Dont drive slowly... (many people drive slowly hoping that they wont make any mistakes)

by that i mean attempt to reach the speed limits if/when you can if conditions allow you to, if you drive too slowly youll be marked down on 'progression'

[danzooo]

Get into the car, and drive where the examiner tells you to. If they tell you to do a three point turn, do a three point turn.

hiya :)


Edited by Catz (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not make pointless posts

[PaulMacC]

It's costing me £80 to rent out my instructors car + a less beforehand. Isn't that a tad expensive compared to some lol?

[Johno]

It's costing me £80 to rent out my instructors car + a less beforehand. Isn't that a tad expensive compared to some lol?

I would have thought so, I just need to pay for the two hours (as in, a lesson before hand and then the hour of the test) which is £44.

[PaulMacC]

Thanks. Any other tips?

[Fifteen]

Over exaggerated observation skills, and revise the "under the bonnet" stuff before your test.

[The Don]

Imagine it's your instructor next to you in the car, also, don't beat yourself up over every little mistake, i thought i had failed my second test but i only ended up having 3 minors. Good luck, let us know how it goes :)!

[Technologic]

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS ALL THE BLEEDING TIME. and dont forget your left one. also, dont rush to get off at lights, just go at your own pace.

[Camy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVVsDIv98TA&feature=grec_index

Seriously though, I would say just treat it like another driving lesson. Definetly helped calmed my nerves a bit.

[PaulMacC]

Failed. 1 Minor (lol failed the show me, tell me). 1 Major. Absolutely disgusted. The major was for letting handbreak down on a red light, rolled over the line just a small bit. Mind went blank didn't know what the **** I was doing. Really annoyed. Rebooking.

[buttons]

wow that sucks Paul :S I take it everything else went okay if you only got 1 minor? What was your show me tell me question? do you not get 2? I didn't tell anyone when my test was just incase I failed muhahaha

[PaulMacC]

Yeah, the minor was for the show me tell me questions. It was about the ABS breaking and I completely went blank until I turned on the engine and went "ah **** it's that red light on the dashboard". I got the 3 point turn so I was lucky. It's my best manoeuvre. Rebooked for 4th August. Hopefully someone will cancel in time. Really annoyed as I'm ensure if I'll be able to emulate that run again.

[PaulMacC]

Got a re-book for next week. It's at a test center 20 minutes away from the other one and I've never been there. Hope I'll be alright though. I should be? right haha?

[Recursion]

Yeah you should be fine. The first time pass rate is less than 40%, let alone the overall passrate which is what? 45%? I failed my first one, retook it a month later and passed.

[Aidenn]

No worries, i passed 2nd time also mate,

Failed first, time, passed second time with 1 minor.

[PaulMacC]

Still gutted that I failed on such a small thing, otherwise a perfect drive :(

[danzooo]

They fail you for the most ridiculous **** ever! I passed first time with 2 minors, one for not coming back in quickly enough after overtaking a parked car and the second for not being close enough to the kerb when turning left to approach a junction! You'll get it next time though!

[You]

Unlucky buddy. You'll be alright next time. My mate did his 2 week ago and failed for taking the wrong lane in a roundabout!

[PaulMacC]

Hope so. I'm just annoyed as I don't know if I'll be able to emulate that run again plus I'm at a different test centre which I know little about the surroundings. I only booked it there as otherwise I'd be waiting another 5 weeks. I'm pretty **** at the other manoeuvres too and got the best one possible today :(

[Recursion]

You'll be fine, you need to be able to drive in unfamiliar areas anyway :P

[You]

As Recursion said, you need to drive in unfamiliar areas anyway.

[PaulMacC]

Went up the test route with my instructor today and he gave me the lesson for free as he thought it was an unfair fail. Was alright, pretty heavy with traffic to be honest. Did two reverse around corners, downhill and on flat as he said that is where they usually ask. My only problem is with bay parking in this test centre they ask you to do it to the right instead of left. Hm, I'll practise it tomorrow. Also does anyone know about how often they ask people to parallel park in tests? I'm going to brush up on it but my instructor said it's very rare to ask and it's far easier for the examiner to do a turn in the road or reverse around corner.

[Recursion]

Went up the test route with my instructor today and he gave me the lesson for free as he thought it was an unfair fail. Was alright, pretty heavy with traffic to be honest. Did two reverse around corners, downhill and on flat as he said that is where they usually ask. My only problem is with bay parking in this test centre they ask you to do it to the right instead of left. Hm, I'll practise it tomorrow. Also does anyone know about how often they ask people to parallel park in tests? I'm going to brush up on it but my instructor said it's very rare to ask and it's far easier for the examiner to do a turn in the road or reverse around corner.

I didn't get it on either of my tests, but then again I didn't get bay parking either!

[PaulMacC]

I didn't get it on either of my tests, but then again I didn't get bay parking either!
I'm fine with turn in the road, bay parking and reversing around a corner. I just mess up parallel parking a lot. Anyway I've an hour and a half lesson booked before my test so I will get that fixed up and hopefully be good to go.

[Recursion]

As far as I know they'll only ask you to do a bay park in the test centre car park, so if it's busy then I think it's safe to assume you wont be doing it :P

[PaulMacC]

As far as I know they'll only ask you to do a bay park in the test centre car park, so if it's busy then I think it's safe to assume you wont be doing it :P
For the test centre I'm at next they ask you to do bay parking on the way back in. There are spaces reserved for bay parking as it is the biggest centre in Northern Ireland.

[PaulMacC]

Failed again. Had the biggest **** of an examiner ever. Gave me 6 minors for breaking too hard as he used to have a supposed neck injury yet I breaked the exact same as I did in the previous test and the examiner said nothing about it. Gave me 4 majors for steering, observation, breaking and signalling. Complete grumpy old ****. Got 11 minors and 4 majors and really dont see how as I thought this test went better than my last one. So demotivated to book another test. Furthermore he instructed me too late on indepedent driving and I said so what do I do and he said what do you think you should do? I said I'm allowed to ask for clarification if I am correct and he said well clarification won't be there on the roads when youre on you own. In addition he refused to clarify specifically for me and just told me to go back to the centre which I had to ask for instruction for as I don't live there. So pissed right now, want to kill someone. I don't see how I can go from 0 minors, 1 major to 13 minors, 4 majors. It's so demotivating. I don't even want to drive if I have to go through this again. I can drive so why do I get marked so harshly. 95% of what I got marked down on what complete ********.

Steering - Apparently I was about to hit a car. But I didn't and I knew I wasn't going to hit it so it was either hold up traffic or turn into a narrow road.
Observation - Not checking around me when moving off, ********. I did everytime
Indicating - Not indicating when turning into the test centre for the final time. Again, why when there was nothing behind me? Also why is this a major?
Then I got 6 minors for breaking too harshly which is ******** as the previous test I took the examiner said nothing about my breaking.
4 minors = major

[Hayleigh]

Tbh I can understand the signalling thing but yeah 3rd time lucky, took my sister 3 times too and shes an amazing driver so don't be demotivated, the guy probably passed very few people in his life (; Good Luck :D

[PaulMacC]

Really don't know where I went wrong. I feel I drove better today than I did the first time yet got a worse score.
30th June: Test 1 - 1M, 1D
5th July: Test 2 - 13M, 4S
Really don't see how I accumulated all of that.
Examiner was a grumpy old ******* who examined me super harshly.

[MissAlice]

Really don't know where I went wrong. I feel I drove better today than I did the first time yet got a worse score.
30th June: Test 1 - 1M, 1D
5th July: Test 2 - 13M, 4S
Really don't see how I accumulated all of that.
Examiner was a grumpy old ******* who examined me super harshly.

I failed my first test, but did pass the second time a few weeks later.

Have you and your instructor been driving the test routes?

My instructor told me to book my test for 8.30ish when the roads are at their busiest, (test centre was in town) so the examiner would be forced to avoid such areas. Sure enough that's what happened for me, and I did my test in an area I regularly practised in.

I know it's very disappointing when you fail, but don't give up :)

[PaulMacC]

I failed my first test, but did pass the second time a few weeks later.

Have you and your instructor been driving the test routes?

My instructor told me to book my test for 8.30ish when the roads are at their busiest, (test centre was in town) so the examiner would be forced to avoid such areas. Sure enough that's what happened for me, and I did my test in an area I regularly practised in.

I know it's very disappointing when you fail, but don't give up :)

This actual test was conducted at a different centre that I'd rarely been around. It was probably due to lack of awareness and a grumpy examiner. He was just looking to fail me at any opportunity.

[MissAlice]

This actual test was conducted at a different centre that I'd rarely been around. It was probably due to lack of awareness and a grumpy examiner. He was just looking to fail me at any opportunity.

Well it might be worth considering what I suggested. I had 1 major and a few minors. Second time just 2 or 3 minors. I knew the route really well lol. Worth bearing in mind :)

[PaulMacC]

Well it might be worth considering what I suggested. I had 1 major and a few minors. Second time just 2 or 3 minors. I knew the route really well lol. Worth bearing in mind :)
I personally think regardless of the route I was extremely hard done by. I deserved to fail, yes. But it's extremely discouraging to rack up that amount of minors and majors.

[Recursion]

This is why I suggest taking your instructor with you, he can identify where you went wrong, and if needed, dispute the test in your favour to get your money back and retake with a different examiner.