Best time of day to take your test?

pandamoanium

Hi all!

Been a while since I last posted so mini-update; I've been having lessons on a fortnightly basis, and unfortunately I've found I haven't been getting in much practice at all between lessons. I have however done a few long runs - drove from Galway to Athlone twice and loved it!

However during my last lesson my instructor told me that I've been doing too much country driving and need to do more city driving, practicing junctions, roundabouts etc... Which I totally agree, I need to.

Anyways I've had 6 lessons so far (pre-booked 10) and I'm kinda thinking I should apply for a test now seeing as it'll more than likely be around 2 months before I get one anyhow and I'll jam in as much practice as humanly possible til then.

Does anyone have any advice/tips on what times of the day are good to take a test on, or any particular times that I should try and avoid?

Or does it make much difference at all really?

mikemac

Of course

Don't get Monday morning or Friday morning, the tester will be hungover and fail you.
Try for Friday evening, the instructor won't care and pass you

I've heard a few other myths, don't get me started! :pac:

It shouldn't make a difference, the tester will take this into account and vary the route.
I suppose I wouldn't like to driving past schools as people doublepark everywhere in a bid to get 10 metres from the school gate.
So that's a time I'd be nervous of but realy, it shouldn't make a difference to your result, good luck

pandamoanium

Lol! Thanks Mike, some very valid points you make there! :pac:

I suppose I was just going on the fact that I keep hearing people say; "Oh make sure you don't go at such and such an hour, and ooh make sure you try and get an X time slot etc.."

You've just compounded what I knew deep down already!

timmywex

Shouldnt make much difference,

however some drivers prefer heavy traffic or light traffic etc etc.

I had mine at 8.25, wasnt al that bad, was done by nine and had the license issued the same day!

pandamoanium

Congrats Timmy!

Jeebus that was quick! Must've been so nice to get your licence so quickly!

I'll be staying away from those early morning slots if I can - sooo not a morning person!

fiona-f

With SGS you used to be able to pick a time slot yourself, but now with RSA I think they just send you out a day and time, and if that doesn't suit, then off you go back to the bottom of the waiting list all over again. Unless I'm wrong on this, I'd say just take what you're given. Any stories about testers failing more people on one day of the week or at a particular time are complete urban legend rubbish. Like that one everyone told me when I was going for my test - I was advised to wear my hair in a really high ponytail so that it would swoosh over and back when I looked in my mirrors and so the tester would see that I was observing correctly. I laughed and pointed out to people just exactly how much I would need to fling my head around like a luantic for my hair to be swishing - it was definitely far more head-turning than would be safe for a driver! Best of luck with it.

macroman

RSA don't give you the choice on your form, however, you can apply and state what time you prefer in comments and AFAIK they'll do their best to get you in that time slot.

If you want a test with light traffic go for around 10 or 11 in the morning, roads will be pretty quiet - I had my test at 11:50 - very little traffic, just had to watch out for kids out playing when in housing estates (schools were off).

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Novella

I did the driving test three times (:o) and all in the morning, between 9 and 11am. I failed the first two times and passed the third, my test starting at 10:10am that time. My point is that the time doesn't really matter at all because if it did I would have passed the first time! The driving test is a test of your driving so the time of day really doesn't matter at all because as was previously mentioned the testers will take into account the road conditions, traffic etc.
Good luck

LittleEve

Hey OP its good to take lessons at different times of the day to prepare yourself..as the others have mentioned its important to get some urban driving practice..where have you applied to do it? are you practicing around that area?i had my test round midday, so traffic wasnt too bad, though it was raining quite heavily which made me a lil nervous. id recommend taking a pretest lesson if possible too. best of luck