Driving test

Milo98

Just a note on the Sgs centre/testers:
I did my test yesterday & unfortunately I didn't get it- no harm reapplied straight away. I'll be honest it was my fault, not a major thing but i did get a red tick- it was a bit debatable whether it should have been blue but no point in dwelling on it now.
Something I would like to say though is be prepared for your test to be long- i was behind the wheel for 60 minutes-traffic was bad, weather was bad etc. Also I was told the tester won't talk to you when your driving other than to give instructions/directions etc. Mine was a little bit different to that my tester was a bit chatty asking was I going anywhere on hols- where i worked- did i like my job etc. He told me he gets moved around Leinster with sgs every few months & hates Navan- where I did the test.
I wasn't expecting the chat & it didn't really put me at ease.
I think if i expected some of this before the test I might have done a little better. No harm- as he said I didn't do anything bad & I should get it next time- SGS seem very friendly. Just thought some ppl might like to expect a chat etc

Alanstrainor

Hey there and welcome to Boards.ie. Thanks for posting your experience, i suppose it's a case of the examiners just getting bored sitting in traffic and the likes, personally during my test, not a word was said except for directions, which, to be honest, i preferred. I suppose it's personal preference, but i wouldn't be afraid to politely ask the tester to stop if he is bothering you, i'm sure he'll understand the pressure you're under.

Milo98

I can except the examiner was probably a bit bored in the traffic but i do think it was a little unprofessional under the circumstances to be asking me had I any holidays planned- I wasn't at the hairdressers! It actually made me quiet uncomfortable in the car as a girl alone with the guy I had only just met- I was nervous enough already without the small talk. The questions came about 40 minutes into the drive and to be honest just made the whole thing a bit too uncomfortable & not at all what i was expecting. I think ppl should be prepared for this kind of approach to the test.

April Raine

Milo98 wrote: »

It actually made me quiet uncomfortable in the car as a girl alone with the guy I had only just met- I was nervous enough already without the small talk.

Can you appeal if you feel he contributed to your nervousness? I don't know but you may be able to?
I passed but it was not with a sgs so I do not know what they are like

Alanstrainor

April Raine wrote: »

Can you appeal if you feel he contributed to your nervousness? I don't know but you may be able to?
I passed but it was not with a sgs so I do not know what they are like

You can, but in this case i wouldn't advise it. For something as trivial as the examiner making small talk i can't see anything happening, if you did appeal the best you can hope for is another test date.

prodigal_son

I would only complain if you thought he was purposfully trying to distract you or put you off.

If you think he was just a wee bit bored after 40 mins and just wanted to make a bit of small chat, i wouldnt complain.

snickerpuss

My guy chatted the whole way through the test (tell me about yourself, where are you in college, i had this girl once...) and I found it a bit distracting, it definately led to 2 of my grades.
It's hard to tell someone who's marking you to shut up though.
I passed in the end so I didn't mind!

Milo98

Alanstrainor wrote: »

You can, but in this case i wouldn't advise it. For something as trivial as the examiner making small talk i can't see anything happening, if you did appeal the best you can hope for is another test date.

I was advised to appeal- yes they can talk to you but they really shouldn't be asking you personal questions- but to be honest its not really worth it. I'm just going to wait for a new date. Should only be 4/5 weeks apparently now.

Thanks for the advice though.