Successful - post here

Passed in Tullamore on Tuesday after my 3rd attempt. 10 years on the provisional this year. Not one single mark against me in the test but i suppose after driving on and off for ten years one would expect to be a fairly competent driver. Delighted to finally have it over with.

Passed on my second attempt in Wilton (Cork) with two grade 2s (compared to 11 the last time two months ago) and a single grade 1.

The tester was a nice man but he was very frequently tapping his touchpad for the first half of the test and I thought I could be accumulating grade 2s.

I didn't let it deter me because I knew I was doing nearly everything right although I was questioning in my own mind what the marks could be for (did I properly scan the junction when I made the last turn? Did I look into the mirrors properly when stopping and turning? etc.).

My advice to people reading this who have an upcoming test is to try and pay no attention to the tester tapping the notepad - you might not be getting any marks at all!

Passed second time of asking in Kilkenny on Saturday with 4 grade 2s. Driving tester is an absolute gentleman compared to the one I had first time makes you feel comfortable and he also makes his instructions very clear. Got 2 marks for reaction to hazards. Car almost pulled out in front of me and he said i wasn't going slow enough to react. Also got a mark for observation on the reverse. Car was driving into the junction I was reversing into and he said I should've made eye contact with the driver and then continued on.

Couldn't be happier right now!

Slow down and change to 2nd a few seconds before hitting a junction or roundabout, so you're not doing that while you should be looking whether you can make your next move safely.

When stopped, first and handbrake is correct.

Passed my test on Tuesday! Driving just under a year(drive heavily for work though, about 500km a week) but first time doing my test so was delighted! Got 7 marks for stuff completely unrelated to anything I was worried about. Got 1 for lack of progress (did in Dundalk & speed limits go from 50/60 regularly without decent signage). 2 for position in the straight, 1 for position turning left. 1 for competency in my turnabout & 2 for reaction to hazards! Absolutely delighted!

I passed my test first time around in Tralee Thursday last week.

Had a disaster of test, to be honest. Tester wouldn't let me do the test in my car that I'd been practicing in as there was a problem with the insurance disc (damn Axa) but he was sound enough to let me ring my driving instructor to bring up his car! Passed in his 151 that I had never driven in, having been brought through the narrowest streets in Tralee.

Got 7 Grade 2 marks but I don't even care considering he could have told me to **** off when we couldn't do the test in my car!!

Legend of a tester. Tbh, I thought I'd failed straight off and was close to tears on the phone to my instructor but somehow it all worked out :D:D

Been a while since anyone posted here. Glad to add my name to the successful attempts.

Passed with 7 level 2 marks against me in Raheny today.

First time posting on this sub-forum but I've been reading for months so cheers for all the tips

Passed my A category motorbike test in Galway. Fairly delighted, I could already drive a car but it's great being able to use the bike as well, especially if I go abroad.

Passed my driving test! First time around in March I got about 15 grade 2 marks mainly on observation I was seriously nervous as well for the test and not prepared at all.

I was losing hope and thought I was a crap driver, but I just kept with it and was constantly driving trying to improve each time. I got a test then on the 12th at 8:25am, I see the person opening the door in the office and it was the same guy that failed me the first time so I was really nervous at this stage.

Even though I knew the road signs and rules of the road I struggled the first time and got a grade 2 for it, with less nerves this time around I whizzed through it and we were out.

The last time we went he looked bored, he put his hand on his cheek and was sighing so that frightened me. However this time he was chatting the whole time and only use his ipad a few times to mark me so I was thrilled with it and only got 4 Grade 2's.

Observation turning left: It was a yield however I did look and see it was clear he felt I could have went a little slower and waited a little longer which is fair enough.

Progress on the straight: There was loads of cars in an estate so I went a little slow but not crawling, he marked that too though. I just wanted to be able to react to any hazards because it seemed busy.

Progress at roundabouts: This was a little bit harsh, i'm usually fine on roundabouts and there was about 30/40 cars flying past us. On two occasions a few cars pulled out causing the traffic on the right to stop but I wanted a bit of a bigger gap because i'm only in a 1.0L Yaris so take off isn't that quick and I didn't want us to be in trouble. He said though himself that it was a test so he understands why I didn't move. But if he understands why did he mark me?

React to hazards: Don't remember this one at all, there wasn't any times I had to react because for the most part it was quiet around so not too sure.

I got back to the centre around 9:10 which was good considering we left at 8:40. After 5 minutes of chatting to the receptionist he sat down, sighed and after a few seconds said I passed.

I went down to the NDLS and seen around 30 people there so I decided to leave it. I ended up going back around 2pm and they have an appointment system in there so I was only waiting an hour and a half. It took less than 5 minutes to do as well so even better.

Passed first time with 1 Grade 2 in Naas just now. Grade 2 for Progress On the Straight, I was allowing other car from stationary to get onto lane and left too much gap for allowing.

wobbles wrote: »

Passed my test in waterford last friday and applied that day also, anyone now how long it takes for the full licence to come back in the post. I know they said 2 weeks but is it really that long or is it usually shorter. Have a car waiting to be collected up the country and need to get it down

Do you need the licence to collect the car, I was told that as I kept the receipt in the glove compartment it was fine if the guards stopped, yeah it's about 10 working days.

wobbles wrote: »

Was told I was still under learner permit until I had the full licence in my hand, and only then the N plates can go up. Thats from the tester though so maybe he was wrong.

Did the person in the ndls office not say it will take ten days just keep your receipt in your glove box and once you show that to the guards you have ten days to produce your full licence.

The odds of getting stopped by the guards if your sticking to the speed limit and other rules you should be fine.

It's the form that you handed into the ndls isn't a licence as such.

Passed on my 1st attempt in Finglas yesterday. Well pleased to say the least!

Slightly bittersweet in the end as I dinged my car off a pillar in a multi-storey car park later in the day! I was chatting to my friend beside me, wasn't paying enough attention, and rubbed against the pillar. It'll cost about €300-400 to fix.

But anyway, 2 bits of advice for anyone doing their test in Finglas:

1. Watch your speed coming out of the test centre and make sure you keep an eye out as you drive through- particularly for any vehicles or cyclists coming from the left before you get to the security hut (anyone who's been up there will know the place I'm talking about). My tester told me after the test that he almost gave me a Grade 3 for going too quickly at that section and not observing properly. If anyone had been approaching from the left I would've failed outright without having left the complex.

2. One of the possible routes you'll be asked to take is to go down Jamestown rd. and take the first left on to Clancy Avenue. If you're not familiar with the area then I would strongly advise taking that corner a couple of times before your test. It's a tricky one...move slightly out to give yourself a good angle, drop into 1st gear and take it nice and easy around the corner. During my mock exam my instructor told me that testers are fond of taking people down that route as it's a great test of a learner's handling and positioning skills. Sure enough, the tester took me down that way yesterday.

Best of luck, everyone

Just passed today in Buncrana. Was my 2nd time to do it and just about passed. Tester said he was lenient because he knew I was a safe driver but showed too much caution, he put it down to nerves. Failed my first test for lack of caution!!! I'm happy out tho

Passed on my second attempt in Kilkenny just now. So happy to be able to post in this thread. If you fail look at where you went wrong and practice practice practice. Good luck to everyone and don't give up.