The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
For discussion relating to any and all aspects of learning to drive from finding an instructor to passing the test. Get advice, tips and support from other fellow learners.
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Well done! I had a similarly non chatty examiner! Pulling out of the test centre (which is located right next to a police station, and the road out is a single lane..) I said 'whose idea was it to build a test centre next to a police station?!'(Original post by Ribosometronome)
I took my test this morning and passed!
I had 4 minors - 2 for cocking up my reverse park (I ended up waaaaay too far away from the kerb, and had to ask if I could tighten it up a little). 1 for undue hesitation (A lorry driver flashed his lights at me to give way, and I was unsure whether I should go for it, because they tell you not to assume what other road users are meaning) and 1 for control.
My instructor told me afterwards that the guy who took me was one of the harshest people at the test centre, so I'd done really well. The examiner really didn't want me talking to him though! We set off and I made a comment about how empty the test centre was, expecting him to reply by saying something more than "Yes, it is." and after that, I spent the whole time in silence because he was not a chatty guy.
To which he replied 'that was the only land that was available, probably'.
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
I passed first time yesterday with 3 minors!
And had to parallel park (which was the manoeuvre I wanted, thankfully).
I was so nervous, and aware that at one point I was sat in traffic with the indicator going, and my heart was beating about twice for every indicator tick aha. -
Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Threadnow please don't take this the wrong way... But the DMV test is a joke compared to the UK one. I stayed in California for a month or so in the summer to see family, and my cousin had his test, he'd had 4 lessons aswell! it lasted about 20 minutes and he wasn't even directed onto a main highway for the entire test!(Original post by strikingeyes)
you can drive at age fifteen in US and get your license at sixteen, i passed with perfect score...do most people not drive in the UK?
Bar Germany, the UK test is rated as the hardest place to pass your driving test. -
Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
Managed to pass on Wednesday with 5 minors. I was overjoyed as it was my third test when I was unlucky not to pass the first time and I rushed into the second one too quickly.
Got the parallel parking which I was dreading as it was my weakest manoeuvre and I hadn't practised it as much as the other ones.Last edited by NorwichtoBristol; 08-06-2012 at 15:37. -
Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" ThreadThank you! I posted in the 'failed' thread earlier, you might wanna check that out for general 'don't give up' advice!(Original post by neekha)
Firstly congratulations!
I've failed twice now
Both due to my terrible nerves, feel like giving up
do you have any advice at all you could give me? Thanks in advance!
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For me nerves were a big thing too. I always ended up doing something stupid I wouldn't usually do if I was with my instructor or my dad, but because it was added pressure of the examiner my nerves got the better of me. I know it is hard to do, but really try and keep your nerves under control so you don't end up thinking illogically and do something that ends up in you failing.
Another thing that helped me was practicing loads around the test centre and all the different routes, because if you know the area it is a lot more useful and you can focus on your driving, rather than worrying about where you're going and the different road signs etc
But please don't give up! If I can do it, then you definitely can! I know it's a horrible experience, but the way I looked at it was 1) i've spend so much money on lessons and tests, I can't throw that all away to get nothing in return 2) If I don't pass now, i'll have to try again in a few years, which will mean more lessons and more money, also the test will probably have got harder (plus retaking theory) and 3) if i give up, I won't be able to experience driving on my own (which is great when you first get to do it!)
Just believe in yourself and keep telling yourself you can do it, because if you go into the test centre having doubts about yourself, you're more likely to think you'll fail. Also, don't worry if on the test you do something that you think could be a major, it may just be a minor. I did this in one of my tests (did a manoeuvre and thought it was a major) so I felt like i've already failed, so why bother with the rest of my test. But it turned out my manoeuvre was just a minor, but I had a major later on :/
Oh and with nerves, you could try rescue remedy? I got it for my last 2 tests, I think it calmed me down a bit, but it's worth a try
Hope this helped, and good luck
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
Yay, I passed! Second time with 11 minors. I'm pretty sure my first examiner would have failed me for the mistakes I made like stalling twice on the turn in the road manoeuvre. And I also got 2 minors for shaving when overtaking parked vehicles. Both of these things I never did in my lessons. But anyway, I don't care I passed!
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
OMG! Can finally post in this thread!
I passed today with 5 minors
This was my second test and I was so nervous and I couldn't believe I had it in me to pass. The first time, I failed with 2 majors and 6 minors. The two majors were going 25 and 30mph
and the second major was marked under cutting corner when i was turning right.
Anyway, I had loads of mock tests and kept getting majors and as you can imagine, that left me frustrated and low self-confidence. While I was in the car, I thought I knew that I was going to fail because I pulled out too quickly in front of a van. I guess the van didn't have to slow down too much. I am elated and it still hasn't sunk in yet.
My advice would be for anyone who is about to take a test, believe in what you are capable of because you will pass when you are ready. I failed first time and I really believe it was for the best because I learned so much in my lessons that followed.
Safe driving everyone!
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i passed today!! second time with 2 minors. one for approaching speed when turning and one for being too close to parked cars when trying to stay in my lane when approaching a junction. so happy!
my advice would be to literally just give yourself brakes to take deep breaths within the test. i was surprised at how many times they ask you to pull over and pull away straight after, i suppose to check your observation and signalling. i failed the first time because i tried to do this all too quickly. i would say definately just stop for a second when you are pulled over, take a deep breath and think right, six point check signal check the blind spot move off. and before your manouver collect your thoughts and plan out what you are going to do. i definitely think taking it a bit at a time and taking deep breaths and thinking ahead really helps to stay calm and do all the right stuff.
welldone to everyone else and good luck to people to have theirs soon x
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
Have been lurking on the "learning to drive" board on and off for years, never thinking I'd pass, but I have! 3rd time lucky and only 2 minors to boot. My examiner was lovely and completely overlooked a lot of things which I'd assumed I'd failed for (e.g. he told me to pull over and I couldn't see anywhere safe to do so!).
I think what helped me was that I verbally voiced my thoughts, so the examiner knew what was going through my head - e.g. I'd say "okay, 30mph speed sign; okay, car pulling out/obstruction ahead - be aware of that". Sounds stupid, but I think he was a lot more lenient on me because of it.
So yeah...I'm a very happy bunny right now
. I've been learning for years and have *finally* managed to pass!!!
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
Passed today with 9 minors =D =D =D sooo happy ^_^ was my 2nd. Got the bay park and was literally just on the edge of the line lol.
Edit: It was actually 9 minors! No idea why I put 11 lol.Last edited by Diminutive; 22-06-2012 at 15:59. Reason: number was wrong lol -
Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" ThreadCongrats!(Original post by Diminutive)
Passed today with 11 minors =D =D =D sooo happy ^_^ was my 2nd. Got the bay park and was literally just on the edge of the line lol.
Got my test next Friday at 11.21! x
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Re: The Ultimate "I passed my driving test!" Thread
Passed mine on tuesday last week. it was my third
I was so convinced that i would never passed this test. this was going to be my last try lol also my pass certificate was gonna run out on the 1st of sept this year so thank God for that pass lol. I wouldn't even start talking about how much i spent on driving lessons they are the most expensive thing i have ever bought lol, literally. i was just so nervous it was awful and i hope i never go through anything like that again.
Good Luck to those who have their tests soon and pray that you get good examiners coz some of them can be real t**ts.
I had 4 minors - 2 for cocking up my reverse park (I ended up waaaaay too far away from the kerb, and had to ask if I could tighten it up a little). 1 for undue hesitation (A lorry driver flashed his lights at me to give way, and I was unsure whether I should go for it, because they tell you not to assume what other road users are meaning) and 1 for control.
Both due to my terrible nerves, feel like giving up
Hope this helped, and good luck