Pre tests in Wicklow?

Kruk

I'm gonna have my Driving Test soon (21st of January) in Wicklow Town and I'm looking for some pre tests in next week. Anyone can recommend any reliable instructors?

Thanks in advance!

redcar

Ah Wicklow, my home town, have my test there tomo. Good luck to you is all I can say... Wicklow can be a funny place to do your test.

Kruk

Good luck to you as well, let us know how it gone :-)

redcar

Well I passed!:)

What time is your test at? Even though I did pass I have reservations about Wicklow, its my home town, I know how people drive in it... terrible to say the least!:P

The route I was on was up around Dunbar if you know it? It was a good one, I like that route. 9.15, perfect time I thought, just after the school run. I see your from Greystones, would you be very familiar with Wicklow at all?

Kruk

Congrats again :-)

My test is at 3pm, so I presume the traffic will be quite heavy. Well, I live in Greystones but I work in Wicklow, so I'm a bit familiar with Wicklow. Additionally I'm gonna do some test routes with an instructor. By the way, how's your test instructor? Was he good or bad? :-)

So you can take your L-plates off now!

redcar

Ah well 3 I dont think is too bad, cause by the time you get out on the road you will have missed the primary schools getting out and just before the secondrys, so thats good.

I thought my instructor was great. He gave me great confidence. He is from Greystones actually, Noel Gaskin.

Kruk

Hope so. I seen a lot of terrible drivers in Greystones and Bray as well so I hope I'll be prepared for that :-)

Noel Gaskin, I met this name before. But did you do pre trest with him or he was an examiner on your test?

redcar

No did a pre test, brought me around all the routes they do. Had lessons with him in the beginning as well.

Kruk

Well, it seems I'm gonna do pre test with Noel Gaskin as well. I booked pre test with other instructor but he pissed me of tonight, cuz he cancelled my lessons. Grh. So I've just rang to Noel and booked first pre test on Sunday. Hope it's gonna help :-)

ian_m

Kruk wrote: »

Hope so. I seen a lot of terrible drivers in Greystones and Bray as well so I hope I'll be prepared for that :-)

You're right there. Some very bad drivers alright.

redcar

Kruk wrote: »

Well, it seems I'm gonna do pre test with Noel Gaskin as well. I booked pre test with other instructor but he pissed me of tonight, cuz he cancelled my lessons. Grh. So I've just rang to Noel and booked first pre test on Sunday. Hope it's gonna help :-)

Let me know how you get on with him.

Kruk

Will do. If not, it means I drove to the sea. You can call CoastGuard then. They should looking for swimming Renault Megane :-)

DubOnHoliday

I just got a letter for a driving test starting from the Grand Hotel... whats the story with that? I thought the Wicklow test centre is in the Murrough?

redcar

Thats what it says for the location? Thats a bit... weird.

Kruk

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

I just got a letter for a driving test starting from the Grand Hotel... whats the story with that? I thought the Wicklow test centre is in the Murrough?

I checked my letter. The location is Murrough Test Centre and I didn't find any information about Grand Hotel. So as redcar said it's a bit strange. Perhaps it's some kind of mistake?

DubOnHoliday

I have the letter in front of me. Location : Grand Hotel Wicklow. bizarre.... I'll call Ballina.

Kruk

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

I have the letter in front of me. Location : Grand Hotel Wicklow. bizarre.... I'll call Ballina.

That's weird. Ring them and let me know what they said.

redcar wrote:

Let me know how you get on with him

Well, so did my first lesson with him yesterday. It wasn't too bad but it wasn't too good as well. I made some stupid mistakes under pressure and I have couple bad habits. I need to get rid of them. Anyway, you were right, Wicklow is hard town to drive, especially if you're under pressure and you're not familiar with it. Hills everywhere, tight roads, etc. He said I'm a good driver, he can see that, but I need practice more and also I must know Wicklow better. And those bad habits makes me mad :-) So I'm gonna do more lessons and drive, drive and drive over Wicklow whole week. I'm a bit frustrated, cuz I thought I won't do any silly mistakes, but now I see that I'm not as calm as I thought I am.

The second problem is language. I'm not Irish and english is not my first language. Usually I don't have any troubles with understaning, but some people have weird accent or they speak indistinctly (as Noel), so in consequences I need couple more seconds to understand what he says to me. But sometimes these couple seconds are to much :-)

DubOnHoliday

Mystery solved. They've opened a second centre in Wicklow town. It operates from the Grand Hotel. They could've said as much on the letter!

Wishbone Ash

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

They could've said as much on the letter!

Why?

It would only confuse matters!

redcar

Kruk wrote: »

That's weird. Ring them and let me know what they said.



Well, so did my first lesson with him yesterday. It wasn't too bad but it wasn't too good as well. I made some stupid mistakes under pressure and I have couple bad habits. I need to get rid of them. Anyway, you were right, Wicklow is hard town to drive, especially if you're under pressure and you're not familiar with it. Hills everywhere, tight roads, etc. He said I'm a good driver, he can see that, but I need practice more and also I must know Wicklow better. And those bad habits makes me mad :-) So I'm gonna do more lessons and drive, drive and drive over Wicklow whole week. I'm a bit frustrated, cuz I thought I won't do any silly mistakes, but now I see that I'm not as calm as I thought I am.

The second problem is language. I'm not Irish and english is not my first language. Usually I don't have any troubles with understaning, but some people have weird accent or they speak indistinctly (as Noel), so in consequences I need couple more seconds to understand what he says to me. But sometimes these couple seconds are to much :-)

Yea Wicklow is a bitch of a town!:P But if you just keep driving in it so you will know it backwards and be able to do it with your eyes closed... you will be fine. And you could learn that in a bout a week. :-)

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Mystery solved. They've opened a second centre in Wicklow town. It operates from the Grand Hotel. They could've said as much on the letter!

Jaysus, good luck to you there.

DubOnHoliday

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Why?

It would only confuse matters!

Why? Because nobody ever heard of a test centre there. Mine takes place in the first week of it opening, even the instructors didn't know and were bring me to the other centre. I would've been easy enough to say you're driving test location is in our newly opened test centre in wicklow.

DubOnHoliday

Kruk wrote: »

Well, it seems I'm gonna do pre test with Noel Gaskin as well. I booked pre test with other instructor but he pissed me of tonight, cuz he cancelled my lessons. Grh. So I've just rang to Noel and booked first pre test on Sunday. Hope it's gonna help :-)

Did you have a lesson with Noel, was he any good? If so can you pm me his contact no?

Kruk

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Did you have a lesson with Noel, was he any good? If so can you pm me his contact no?

He's okay, can't complain. I sent his mobile to you.

Claire1

Hi could someone please PM me Noel Gaskin's number? Thanks

Kruk

Claire1 wrote: »

Hi could someone please PM me Noel Gaskin's number? Thanks

Done :-)

xIsabelx

I have my driving test in the Grand Hotel centre on the 30th of June. Can anyone tell me about this test centre and what it's like? I assume it brings you the same way as the other Wicklow centre does.

Freaking out alot over this test, don't think I'm ready at all.

revolver2k

If anyone can PM me with Noel's number too please, or indeed, any instructor they can recommend in the Wicklow area, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks a mill
M

xIsabelx

Ok, there seriously must be only one place they bring you on the test to do the reverse bend in Wicklow. Every time I've gone down to practice, I see at least 2 L drivers queuing up to use that specific corner!

diggler33

OK, looks like I'm in the right place. I need some help. My wife is doing her test in Wicklow on Friday. She is refusing to do a pre-test as she is too nervous and she reckons it will put her off . I am goin to bring her around Wicklow tomorrow and was hoping to get some info on the test route (Such as where to practise reversing around corners..) Any help would be so appreciated... Tick tock.... Thanks all.

Alanstrainor

diggler33 wrote: »

OK, looks like I'm in the right place. I need some help. My wife is doing her test in Wicklow on Friday. She is refusing to do a pre-test as she is too nervous and she reckons it will put her off . I am goin to bring her around Wicklow tomorrow and was hoping to get some info on the test route (Such as where to practise reversing around corners..) Any help would be so appreciated... Tick tock.... Thanks all.

Well all i'd say is, if your wife is nervous about the pre-test i'd hate to see her on the morning of her test!
I think you're right in thinking that she needs to do a pretest. It will do the opposite of making you nervous, it should give you a chance to experience test conditions and to be shown areas you need to work on. I'd advise getting a couple of them to be honest, perhaps during the week before the test, it should give her a chance to brush up on aspects of the test that she needs help on, and boost her confidence.
I'd always advise people to go to the professionals for Pre-tests, they're the ones who should know well the areas you'll need to work on.
Well best of luck.

xIsabelx

Personally, I don't understand how people don't do a pretest lesson before their driving test. I had three 2 hour pretests for Wicklow town, some of the routes are quite tricky. (But I suppose that's the whole point.)

I went to do my test in the Grand Hotel centre in Wicklow town, so if you need info on routes just PM me and I'll type them out for you. I know some of The Murrough routes are the same, but I don't think they all are.



I had the ultimate worst luck with my driving test there on Monday (i.e June 30th - last day before the new law) I went into the centre anyway and answered the oral questions and then we came outside and the tester got me to lift up the bonnet and talk him through the technical checks. Grand.

Then he asked me to demonstrate the indicators and break lights (standard procedure, of course) It's here when the tester informs me that neither of my break lights are working. I was like "WHAT??! They have to be working!! The NCT was only a few days ago and it passed!!" Even he got into the car and kept pushing the break, but they failed at the very last minute. My test was cancelled and I had to re-apply again yesterday

But I rang my pretest instructor and told him what happened. He couldn't believe it and said "I literally only checked your break lights when you were reversing into the space in the test centre!!" So, somewhere between when I left the car and came back out with the tester, my break lights mysteriously failed. Both of them!!



BUT, the freaky thing about it all, is that when I was driving back home after the whole fiasco, an ambulance flew past us in Rathnew. And then my friend who was supposed to do his test today, got a call from the test centre yesterday saying that his test had been postponed until Friday, because someone in the test centre died! There are only 3 people in that test centre, so it must have been one of the testers!

The whole thing is just so bizarre.

Wishbone Ash

xIsabelx wrote: »

I don't understand how people don't do a pretest lesson before their driving test

I never did a pretest in any of the categories. I simply got a few lessons and did the test. I don't understand this 'pre-test' craze. Anyway, surely one could only have one pre-test?

xIsabelx wrote:

my break lights mysteriously failed. Both of them!!

Did you wash the car with a pressure washer prior to the test?

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I never did a pretest in any of the categories. I simply got a few lessons and did the test. I don't understand this 'pre-test' craze. Anyway, surely one could only have one pre-test?

Doesn't a Pre-Test refer to letting your driving instructor act as the examiner, where by he conducts the test as it is done by the RSA/SGS, with no help or guidance and at the end of it he/she can tell you where you have fallen down and what you need to work on, so numerous can be done before a test. Personally i found them to be a great help in giving me an idea of what to expect and being able to have someone critique my driving after going through a test situation. That's just my experience of it, but who am i to argue with a man who has a license in every category!:pac:;).

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Doesn't a Pre-Test refer to letting your driving instructor act as the examiner, where by he conducts the test as it is done by the RSA/SGS, with no help or guidance and at the end of it he/she can tell you where you have fallen down and what you need to work on, so numerous can be done before a test

I'm afraid I've never had the pleasure!I did a few lessons and would get the "ah, you're grand" assessment.

If one were to do two pre-tests, would the 1st one not be a pre-pre-test? :pac:

xIsabelx

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I never did a pretest in any of the categories. I simply got a few lessons and did the test. I don't understand this 'pre-test' craze. Anyway, surely one could only have one pre-test?

Did you wash the car with a pressure washer prior to the test?

Not me, I wanted to become familiar with each of the routes so I would know exactly where the tester would be taking me. Plus, I am terrific at worrying, so I needed all the help I could get!

Nope, I didn't wash the car at all actually.

Kruk

xIsabelx wrote: »

Personally, I don't understand how people don't do a pretest lesson before their driving test. I had three 2 hour pretests for Wicklow town, some of the routes are quite tricky. (But I suppose that's the whole point.)

I went to do my test in the Grand Hotel centre in Wicklow town, so if you need info on routes just PM me and I'll type them out for you. I know some of The Murrough routes are the same, but I don't think they all are.



I had the ultimate worst luck with my driving test there on Monday (i.e June 30th - last day before the new law) I went into the centre anyway and answered the oral questions and then we came outside and the tester got me to lift up the bonnet and talk him through the technical checks. Grand.

Then he asked me to demonstrate the indicators and break lights (standard procedure, of course) It's here when the tester informs me that neither of my break lights are working. I was like "WHAT??! They have to be working!! The NCT was only a few days ago and it passed!!" Even he got into the car and kept pushing the break, but they failed at the very last minute. My test was cancelled and I had to re-apply again yesterday

But I rang my pretest instructor and told him what happened. He couldn't believe it and said "I literally only checked your break lights when you were reversing into the space in the test centre!!" So, somewhere between when I left the car and came back out with the tester, my break lights mysteriously failed. Both of them!!



BUT, the freaky thing about it all, is that when I was driving back home after the whole fiasco, an ambulance flew past us in Rathnew. And then my friend who was supposed to do his test today, got a call from the test centre yesterday saying that his test had been postponed until Friday, because someone in the test centre died! There are only 3 people in that test centre, so it must have been one of the testers!

The whole thing is just so bizarre.

Oh dear, what happened to you should be used as a definition of 'bad luck'. It has to be really difficult for you. Usually even if you failed a test, at least you know you had your chance. But here... no words.

Anyway, I failed my first test in Wicklow as well but my second attempt was succesful. Hope it will be same with you. I wish you luck, try don't think about it all the time. You couldn't do anything about that.

xIsabelx

Thanks!

I've emailed the RSA anyway and asked them for a cancellation. Don't know if it'll speed things up, but I can only hope

I put a note on the application to get Bray this time, so I really hope it'll still be running for another few weeks! But if I get Wicklow again, it won't be as bad because I kind of know the area a bit. It's just a bitch for petrol, I've spent so money just travelling down there lately.

Kruk

Wicklow is quite hard town to be honest with you, but if you are familiar with it I am sure you can pass the test. Before my second attempt I was worried cuz first test was really bad. The tester was arrogant moron. However tester number 2 was great so I passed. So if I could make it means everyone who's motivated can do it

romurphy

Hi I do my driving test in 2 weeks time. I start at Grand Hotel, so can anyone help me with the route?? I don't know Wicklow town very well. Also would a pre test help much, if so can anyone recommend an instructor? ThaNK YOU SO MUCH, ANY ADVICE VERY WELCOME.:)

Calhoun

romurphy wrote: »

Hi I do my driving test in 2 weeks time. I start at Grand Hotel, so can anyone help me with the route?? I don't know Wicklow town very well. Also would a pre test help much, if so can anyone recommend an instructor? ThaNK YOU SO MUCH, ANY ADVICE VERY WELCOME.:)

Wicklow is very very tricky, you could even end up driving out to Rathnew. I would have a test/pre-test with a driving instructor, if you dont you may fail.

PM me if you want the name of a good one, the guy i used does a more wholistic pre-test takes you everywhere and tells you what your doing wrong.

wil

Darkener wrote: »

.... I would have a test/pre-test with a driving instructor, if you dont you may fail.

PM me if you want the name of a good one, the guy i used does a more wholistic pre-test takes you everywhere and tells you what your doing wrong.

Utter UTTER nonsense.

If you dont prepare by taking proper lessons from a good instructor your chances of failing are likely to be greater.
NOT because you didnt take this so-called "pretest" - the great invention of of recent used as a silly cheapo alternative to actual proper training and preparation and supposed fix all for years of unaccompanied or poorly instructed learning.

Wholistically:rolleyes:, if your instructor isnt already taking you everywhere and not telling you what you are doing wrong, then you are already wasting your money.
Suggesting some alternative panacea as a replacement for honest tuition is paramount to recommending throwing even more money after bad.:eek:


Romurphy - your instructor should show you the routes where you plan to take your test as part of a proper lesson.

Calhoun

wil wrote: »

Utter UTTER nonsense.

If you dont prepare by taking proper lessons from a good instructor your chances of failing are likely to be greater.
NOT because you didnt take this so-called "pretest" - the great invention of of recent used as a silly cheapo alternative to actual proper training and preparation and supposed fix all for years of unaccompanied or poorly instructed learning.

Wholistically:rolleyes:, if your instructor isnt already taking you everywhere and not telling you what you are doing wrong, then you are already wasting your money.
Suggesting some alternative panacea as a replacement for honest tuition is paramount to recommending throwing even more money after bad.:eek:


Romurphy - your instructor should show you the routes where you plan to take your test as part of a proper lesson.

yeah agreed, got my point across wrong . Was trying to say that its good to know what the routes are but if you dont know how to drive properly does it really matter.

Also an instructor can take you on routes he knows but the tester can change it up how ever they feel, so you should be ready for any driving condition.

Wishbone Ash

wil wrote: »

Utter UTTER nonsense.

If you dont prepare by taking proper lessons from a good instructor your chances of failing are likely to be greater.
NOT because you didnt take this so-called "pretest" - the great invention of of recent used as a silly cheapo alternative to actual proper training and preparation and supposed fix all for years of unaccompanied or poorly instructed learning.

Wholistically:rolleyes:, if your instructor isnt already taking you everywhere and not telling you what you are doing wrong, then you are already wasting your money.
Suggesting some alternative panacea as a replacement for honest tuition is paramount to recommending throwing even more money after bad.:eek:


Romurphy - your instructor should show you the routes where you plan to take your test as part of a proper lesson.

That's the best post I have read in this forum for some time, especially the RED piece!

romurphy

Well Thanks for all that.. My problem is I have been driving a long time and have developed some very bad habits.... also I did one test in Gorey and failed, I did make mistakes but I was also very nervous:mad:...
So it sounds like a pre test is not necessary apart from getting an idea of the route?????

Calhoun

romurphy wrote: »

Well Thanks for all that.. My problem is I have been driving a long time and have developed some very bad habits.... also I did one test in Gorey and failed, I did make mistakes but I was also very nervous:mad:...
So it sounds like a pre test is not necessary apart from getting an idea of the route?????

I think the point being made is that you should take proper driving lessons with a good instructor and make sure you are weeding out all of those bad habits before your test. Should the route really matter if you can drive properly,most instructors will drive your around the general routes when your driving anyway.

best example i can give is with myself, way too fast on the clutch and really bad at doing the turn about. First thing my instructor says to me when i got into the car was to move the seat up high and forward so i can see more of the road. My clutch work improved straight away as there was a bend in my leg so it made it easier to control and my reversing skills were much better as i could see more around me.

I know it makes allot of sense but until it was pointed out to me i didnt realise the affect of sitting far back had (also makes you look like a boy racer), which sets a bad impression..

maxlia

I have a driving test in Wicklow town on the Saturday before Christmas at 2.00pm can anyone give me the name of a good instructor that I could book at pre-test with.

Also does anyone know the test route?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

adriana97

revolver2k wrote: »

If anyone can PM me with Noel's number too please, or indeed, any instructor they can recommend in the Wicklow area, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks a mill
M

Next in line
I need Noel Gaskin phone numper please,
thanks a mill
A.

Alanstrainor

This thread is from 2008. Please don't drag up old threads.