[ORuss17]

Hi,

So I have been learning to drive since beginning of May, everything is going fine, I can drive confidently, do the manoeuvres to a acceptable standard not great but ok. Anyway I have my test booked for the 25th of this month which my instructor said will be ok to do, the only things I really have to brush up on are:

- Reversing round a corner could be a bit better
- Thinking ahead on the road (stuff like slowing down here & there, changing gear at the right times etc) nothing major
- Getting used to test roads/routes

The plan I thought of was to have maybe two 1.5 hour lessons a week up until a three days before my test and then have a lesson every day until my test. Up until now I have around 5 hours a week but I want to cut back a little to have some extra money for my car fund!

Do you think that would be the best way of doing stuff? considering the things I have highlighted that need a little improving? Will I not lose how far I have come because Im not doing the same hours I used too?

Cheers

Ollie

[wibletg]

(Original post by ORuss17)
Hi,

So I have been learning to drive since beginning of May, everything is going fine, I can drive confidently, do the manoeuvres to a acceptable standard not great but ok. Anyway I have my test booked for the 25th of this month which my instructor said will be ok to do, the only things I really have to brush up on are:

- Reversing round a corner could be a bit better
- Thinking ahead on the road (stuff like slowing down here & there, changing gear at the right times etc) nothing major
- Getting used to test roads/routes

The plan I thought of was to have maybe two 1.5 hour lessons a week up until a three days before my test and then have a lesson every day until my test. Up until now I have around 5 hours a week but I want to cut back a little to have some extra money for my car fund!

Do you think that would be the best way of doing stuff? considering the things I have highlighted that need a little improving? Will I not lose how far I have come because Im not doing the same hours I used too?

Cheers

Ollie

Personally, I'd spend as much money as possible brushing up to pass my test.

If you fail because you got a reverse around a corner and you messed up, you'll be p*ssed because it's at least another £100 to redo your test.

[Emma-Ashley]

(Original post by ORuss17)
Hi,

So I have been learning to drive since beginning of May, everything is going fine, I can drive confidently, do the manoeuvres to a acceptable standard not great but ok. Anyway I have my test booked for the 25th of this month which my instructor said will be ok to do, the only things I really have to brush up on are:

- Reversing round a corner could be a bit better
- Thinking ahead on the road (stuff like slowing down here & there, changing gear at the right times etc) nothing major
- Getting used to test roads/routes

The plan I thought of was to have maybe two 1.5 hour lessons a week up until a three days before my test and then have a lesson every day until my test. Up until now I have around 5 hours a week but I want to cut back a little to have some extra money for my car fund!

Do you think that would be the best way of doing stuff? considering the things I have highlighted that need a little improving? Will I not lose how far I have come because Im not doing the same hours I used too?

Cheers

Ollie

Hi Ollie,

If I was your instructor I wouldn't recommend what you are suggesting. Admittedly I'm not a money grabbing instructor which some people on this forum seem to think we all are but, on the basis of what you have written, I don't think you need that much. You are building up the test to be the be all and end all which is about the worst mental attitude to have when going for test. Many others here will testify that you need to treat the test just as another lesson with a different instructor so building it up to be a great event may not be the right way to go.

In respect of the issues you mention. It shoul only take one lesson to fix the left reverse. Why do you want to drive test routes? The point of lessons is that you can handle ANY road/traffic situation, not just the ones you have practiced. What are you going to do if you encounter a road that you haven't practiced? Fail or handle it?

The most worrying aspect that you need to fix is thinking ahead. If you don't do that you will not be able to handle the strange situations which crop up all the time as a driver. That could take 1 lesson or 10 - it depends on you. However, cramming (which is what you are planning to do) is the worst possible way to prepare for test. Do what you have done thus far - if you are good enough you will pass. If not, you won't (and shouldn't).

Good luck

Emma

[ROG.]

(Original post by Emma-Ashley)
Why do you want to drive test routes? The point of lessons is that you can handle ANY road/traffic situation, not just the ones you have practiced. What are you going to do if you encounter a road that you haven't practiced? Fail or handle it?

The most worrying aspect that you need to fix is thinking ahead. If you don't do that you will not be able to handle the strange situations which crop up all the time as a driver.

To add to what Emma said -

You could encounter strange situations on test routes which were not there when you previously did them so is doing them really that much help?

There is a good argument for the ADI to show you any particular tricky spots especially where locals have made up their own rules which they all seem to follow

One on the A47 uppingham road going into leicester where there is a 24 hour bus lane is a prime example ....

The bus lane in only on the inbound side with the usual SC allowing for one lane of traffic flow in each direction

What all the locals and police etc do if the outbound lane is blocked by a delivery vehicle is to use the bus lane if clear for a short period so the outbounders can use the inbound lane and keep the traffic flowing
without doing this the outbound lane backs up and causes massive problems at a major set of lights

It would be deemed unsafe if one car (perhaps on test) was to do the legal thing and stay in the inbound lane when everybody else is doing different

[ORuss17]

(Original post by Emma-Ashley)
Hi Ollie,

If I was your instructor I wouldn't recommend what you are suggesting. Admittedly I'm not a money grabbing instructor which some people on this forum seem to think we all are but, on the basis of what you have written, I don't think you need that much. You are building up the test to be the be all and end all which is about the worst mental attitude to have when going for test. Many others here will testify that you need to treat the test just as another lesson with a different instructor so building it up to be a great event may not be the right way to go.

In respect of the issues you mention. It shoul only take one lesson to fix the left reverse. Why do you want to drive test routes? The point of lessons is that you can handle ANY road/traffic situation, not just the ones you have practiced. What are you going to do if you encounter a road that you haven't practiced? Fail or handle it?

The most worrying aspect that you need to fix is thinking ahead. If you don't do that you will not be able to handle the strange situations which crop up all the time as a driver. That could take 1 lesson or 10 - it depends on you. However, cramming (which is what you are planning to do) is the worst possible way to prepare for test. Do what you have done thus far - if you are good enough you will pass. If not, you won't (and shouldn't).

Good luck

Emma

Hi Emma,

Thank you for your post.

Firstly, would you say that I should cut back on the amount of lessons I have? Most of the time I pay £85 for 5 hours every week, but now I have a lesson every four days for two hours/1.5 hours which I think is best for me, would you say I should have more or even cut back? At the moment my lessons just consist of going over a few manoeuvres, driving around and just brushing up really, they dont consist of much learning, the main objective is for him not to prompt me (i.e different gear, slow down etc)

The left reverse I can do its just a matter of me really focusing on it and paying attention, as my clutch control is really good IMO.

In terms of the thinking ahead its not major things its only silly things like, having a lower gear for a corner or giving it that bit more attention to the road ahead. Then again my lesson today went really well, possibly my best so far, he hardly prompted me, the parallel park went good, the bay park was good and my overall driving was good. He was even on his phone to his wife at one stage!

If Im being honest at this moment in time I think Im 70-30 to passing, just a few more lessons and I will be there.

Thanks

Ollie

[splodge88]

(Original post by ORuss17)
He was even on his phone to his wife at one stage!

I would be a bit worried about this! http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...vice/DG_188761 Sliiightly illegal.

But good luck for the test