Time to switch to automatic, change instructor or persevere?

Hey I totally know how you feel. My concentration got really bad when I hit around the same number as hours as you. My instructor started to get quite negative and knocked my confidence a lot. My advise would be to take a breather. It's similar to how we need to take breaks when revising for exams. Take a couple of weeks off and go back to the same instructor and see how it goes. If you're still having a negative experience then maybe switch. It could be that you're making a few small mistakes but your instructors negativity is knocking your confidence. I hope it all works out.

Honestly, when I was reading this, I almost thought I'd wrote this. I'm in the exact situation right now. I've considering switching instructors, as although he's nice and we have good conversations, he does get frustrated easily when I make little mistakes (and those little mistakes get me stressed and/or nervous and lead on to MORE mistakes), so I myself feel as if I'm also stuck in a loop of one improvement = one step back. I'm not the most confident person either so it's possible my confidence is also being knocked by any negativity, as @han55 said.

I've also considered the automatic option as I've heard it can be a bit less stressful, but my main reason for the consideration was so that I could focus more on my the road itself and coordination (as I've also been told and feel myself that my coordination is poor - I get told I'm too close towards the curb or nearby cars and feel I can't work out what's around me while having to change gears, use the clutch, on top of steering, checking mirrors, traffic lights, and it all piles up, so I wanted to remove a bit of pressure).

I passed my theory first time and am dying to pass the driving test, it gets suggested that I get stressed before my lessons which is completely false as I actually look forward to them, it's just that errors start and build up and the frustration starts from there when I'm actually in the car.

I'm definitely interested in what others may have to say on this. I'm sure we'll get there, good luck for your next lessons!

Hi, that helps a lot, thanks! Do you think it's worth switching instructor should I just stick with him? We ended up spending the whole lesson looking at T junctions again since I somehow kept messing that up :/

Oh wow, that's exactly me! It's weird since I keep getting told that he doesn't know what else to do now as I keep making these mistakes, or make other ones which I didn't, even when I've fixed them. I feel the automatic lessons would help as you don't have to worry about gears, of clutch control, or hill starts etc but I'd be a little uncomfortable in being in the minority who have an automatic licence as a result :/. Did you end up trying out a new instructor or an automatic out of interest?

I've had 35 hours of driving lessons but still don't feel ready for the rest. I feel like when I take a step forward, I end up taking a few steps back in the next one. For the past few lessons, I seem to have a learning block now and I am a very nervous driver I'll admit, and no longer feel too confident around other drivers or at high speeds, which I feel like I should be fine with by now.

My instructor is very friendly and nice, though he does seem a little annoyed when I stall sometimes or don't slow down enough, and my clutch control and gear changes still aren't always accurate. Like in my last lesson a couple of days ago, i ended up making quite a lot of simple errors and not spotting some obvious things, with my instructor saying stuff like my reactions should be sharper for my age, my coordination is poor (I have been bad at sport and multitasking for a long time), that I should no longer be stalling at this stage etc which has knocked my confidence . So my performance has definitely gone downhill over the past few lessons so much that I think I'll delay my test even further.

I've considered taking automatic lessons (most of my family have automatics now so could practise in their cars, and I have considered buying an automatic in the future, if I pass) , or to find another instructor (as nice as he is, maybe his teaching isn't helping me), or just take a break for a few weeks and be more refreshed.

Any advice? I wanted to pass before uni but I don't see that happening anymore :/

Not sure if my post read as if I'd passed my test, so sorry if it did, but I'm still in the process of taking my lessons and have had about 30 hours so far. The automatic and new instructor options are still a possibility, but for now, I'm persevering. Will just see how it goes for the next five or so lessons, then weigh up the options if it still hasn't picked up. The reason I put automatic off was that most of my family drive in manual, but I've got a few who use automatic and when I see them driving, it looks far less stressful, at least to me but I'm sure it's just the fact that manual takes more getting used to. Sometimes I wish it was like Canada here where automatic cars dominate, but I'm hoping I'll get through this stage and gain a bit more confidence so will just have to see.

I see! Yeah, I wish it were the same here though in my situation, it seems most of my family have switched to automatic now! Do let us know how you get on though and good luck

I've had 35 hours of driving lessons but still don't feel ready for the rest. I feel like when I take a step forward, I end up taking a few steps back in the next one. For the past few lessons, I seem to have a learning block now and I am a very nervous driver I'll admit, and no longer feel too confident around other drivers or at high speeds, which I feel like I should be fine with by now.

My instructor is very friendly and nice, though he does seem a little annoyed when I stall sometimes or don't slow down enough, and my clutch control and gear changes still aren't always accurate. Like in my last lesson a couple of days ago, i ended up making quite a lot of simple errors and not spotting some obvious things, with my instructor saying stuff like my reactions should be sharper for my age, my coordination is poor (I have been bad at sport and multitasking for a long time), that I should no longer be stalling at this stage etc which has knocked my confidence . So my performance has definitely gone downhill over the past few lessons so much that I think I'll delay my test even further.

I've considered taking automatic lessons (most of my family have automatics now so could practise in their cars, and I have considered buying an automatic in the future, if I pass) , or to find another instructor (as nice as he is, maybe his teaching isn't helping me), or just take a break for a few weeks and be more refreshed.

Any advice? I wanted to pass before uni but I don't see that happening anymore :/

Oh. As i was reading ur post i can say that this is what and how im feeling right now. Ive hqd 54hours lessons already. The first 20hours with a different instructor which there was no progression at all. And the rest with my new instructor. So far no mention of being test ready or test standard. I admit im a panic driver. And i tend to fixed stare therefore missing out on important signs, still stalling and inappropriate and poorly timed gear change. i say we should just persevere more. But its sooo damnnnn expensive. more power to us then. Let me know how ur getting on