Disappointed with pass mark on theory test

I passed my theory test a few days ago with 43/50 on the questions and 61/75 on hazard perception. I was initially relieved to have passed first time (and pleasantly surprised with the hazard perception result), but I can’t help feeling disappointed that I only just scraped a pass on the questions. I read the Highway Code and took loads of practice tests (although I probably could’ve gone over road signs a bit more as three road sign questions tripped me up), so I feel a bit dumb that it still wasn’t enough to get a great pass mark. Most people who just scraped a pass seem happy just to have passed, but I’m a perfectionist and really wanted to come away with a higher mark, especially as I was used to getting 47+ on practice tests.

Did anyone else who just scraped a pass (either on the questions or hazard perception) feel disappointed with their pass mark to the point that they wanted to retake their test? I thought I’d ask because I’ve not really come across any threads about low pass marks. And I feel like I’m probably the first person EVER to consider retaking the theory test with a pass lol. To be honest though, I think that’s been fuelled by someone’s comment (“you revised that much and only JUST passed?”) and smart asses on forums shaming people who only just scrape a pass, saying how they shouldn’t be on the roads. I’m pretty shocked by how nasty and snobbish some people are about others’ pass marks.

The mark you got is irrelevant. You demonstrated you had a good enough knowledge to progress to a practical driving test, and that is all you need to do.

You can't resit anyway, so...

Right, well I’ll just have to get over it. Yeah, I thought it was irrelevant until I started reading/hearing negative comments about getting quite a few questions wrong. Tbh though, those are probably the kind of people who would claim you’re thick if you don’t get 50/50.

You haven't come across any threads with low pass marks because there's no reason for people to broadcast what is, by definition, the minimum expected (and therefore a thoroughly unexceptional) score. Don't worry about it.

Be a perfectionist in areas of life where your grade matters. Get A*s at A-level. Get a First at uni. Finish your Master's with a Distinction. Otherwise, you're gonna consume your thoughts and effort into caring about something that a) no one cares about, and b) you can't change anyway.

I had the opposite of what you're describing - terrible practice paper scores (I failed half of my sample papers, and only passing the last two-three sample papers before my exam ), and a surprisingly good 47 for my actual test. Since then, I've done a bit more looking - independently - to make sure that my theory is actually up to scratch, more so for my own road safety as opposed to some arbitrary score in a test I will never have to do again in my life. I didn't feel any more intelligent thanks to my last-minute score improvement, because I knew that, deep down, what stopped me from doing amazingly well was that I couldn't be arsed to put in the time and resources to reach driving theory perfection. Conversely, you shouldn't be feeling bad for an outlier grade, when you were presumably doing very well in the rest of your practice papers.