will 3 minor faults in a category result in a failure?

I searched widely in google and found very different results. I am really confused now.

Some posts said if you committed more than 3 minor faults in a particular category, then this accrues to to a serious habitual one. This means you are only allowed to make up to 3 minor ones in a category. Any number >=4 will result in a failure.

Some posts said 3 minor faults in a category have already resulted in a failure. So here the number is >=3.

I checked the official DSA website, and could not find any information about the number of minor faults in a category. It only says, to get a pass, you can only make up to 15 minor ones without making a serious or dangerous fault. I got a BSM book (2008) which also only mentions about the 15 minor faults without saying anything about the 3 minor ones in a category.

Can any help to clarify? Really appreciate it...

It's 4 =D

I got 3 for "unnecessary deliberation" (or whatever it is when you don't pull out straight away because you are too scared of the examiner thinking you rush too much, whereas if they weren't in the car you really would have gone!)

Folks, any more ideas to be shared? Shall we just discard or respect something like 3 minors in a category?

its called undue hesitation, i failed my 1st test for that reason. It was because i was stopped at a junction giving way to a 50mph+ moving van and thought it'd be suicidal for me to even attempt going yet examiner disagreed and failed me even though i save both are lives. I passed on 2nd test 2 weeks later with 7 minors and a new examiner, insurance a bitch for my age group though (19 yrs

Ah yeah, that's what it's called!

I think it's the harshest thing, because in your test of course you're going to be extra cautious because it's your test!!
Luckily I still passed, but she said she was giving me the benefit of the doubt in not giving me a fourth one and therefore turning it into a major.

Ah yeah, that's what it's called!

I think it's the harshest thing, because in your test of course you're going to be extra cautious because it's your test!!
Luckily I still passed, but she said she was giving me the benefit of the doubt in not giving me a fourth one and therefore turning it into a major.

Folks, any more ideas to be shared? Shall we just discard or respect something like 3 minors in a category?

Unfortunately there is no hard and fast rule. It might be 3, it might be 4, it might even be 5 (I had one with 7 before the examiner stopped counting - this is another story ) The issue is that it is considered to be a habitual fault.

The problem is that some categories on the form are quite wide and cover a number of scenarios, even though the minor fault is classed as the same. I suspect they also take into account the number of times you could have committed the fault. For example, 4 minor faults on mirrors will be less than 4% of the total mirror checks; however, 4 positioning errors on junctions will be 15% or more. This is because you do many more mirror checks than junctions. The former may well not be a habitual fault, the latter will be.

Sorry that there isn't a clearer more precise answer but I guess driving isn't always that clear and precise.

Just listen to the driving instructor; it is probably the best answer so I don't know why you're asking for more speculation from people who are less knowledgable on the subject...

I searched widely in google and found very different results. I am really confused now.

Some posts said if you committed more than 3 minor faults in a particular category, then this accrues to to a serious habitual one. This means you are only allowed to make up to 3 minor ones in a category. Any number >=4 will result in a failure.

Some posts said 3 minor faults in a category have already resulted in a failure. So here the number is >=3.

I checked the official DSA website, and could not find any information about the number of minor faults in a category. It only says, to get a pass, you can only make up to 15 minor ones without making a serious or dangerous fault. I got a BSM book (2008) which also only mentions about the 15 minor faults without saying anything about the 3 minor ones in a category.

Can any help to clarify? Really appreciate it...