Rushed Driving Test

Gavin "shels"

So I've my driving test on Wednesday morning, I'm very unprepared and the way the last 2 weeks have been with college exam I'm screwed to say the least. Basically I've been on off driving for 5 years, I'm grand at the basics but I've never reversed around a corner, have only done one turnabout, and a few hills starts. Now here lies my problem, again with work and my last college exam I won't be available till Sunday evening.

Would say an hour on Sunday (in my own car), an hour Monday (in my own car) and then say 4 hours/1 hour pretest Tuesday and an hour pretest on Wednesday be enough to get me through the test? I plan on doing my test in the driving instructors car as my own/mothers is a bit in the wars at the moment.

revz

Honestly from what I've heard/seen the test is a very personal thing, how you get on is different to other people.
I (luckily) passed it first time after 4-5 months of driving. When I say 4 months, after I counted it that was 7 lessons and 2 pre-tests.

From what I found, as long as you're a confident driver doing the right things, an hour practicing hill starts and reversing around the corner should/could cover you (I messed up reversing in my test; obviously if you could do this well you'd be at an advantage)
Actually after thinking about this, try and get a lesson on reversing around the corner. It'll cost you €25/30 and you can spend

So again, stating what I found personally I feel you could be alright to sit your test. You've drove for quite a while so as long as you make sure your observations are OK you could give it a good shot.

This is just what I think as obviously you're in a rush to sit your test (I was as well as I'm doing a J1 this summer, and I managed to get it thankfully)

an ADI will hopefully comment on this and point you on the right direction, but from my experience as long as you know the theory and are a confident driver you at least stand a chance of passing as long as you don't make a silly mistake! Good luck!

Edit: Somewhat drunk writing this, celebrating.

ADIDriving

Get your first pretest lesson as soon as possible. The ADI will be able to give you a better idea of your chances. From the other side of the internet we can't tell if you are a good or bad driver and how well you can pick up the manouvers. But the sooner you take the lesson, the sooner you can fix any bad habits.
Best of luck in all your exams.

Chris_Heilong

having a pretest on the day of your test would be great for preparing for the real thing, those mistakes you make will be fresh in your mind when doing the real thing, good luck.

Gavin "shels"

Had my test Wednesday morning and just failed! Had 3 hours of lessons Tuesday, doing a reverse around a corner for the first time, and the first time I'd done a hillstart and turnabout in months and surprisingly aced all three in my test but my "Gears" and "Clutches" were my big let downs, rebooking next week and going to give myself more than 1 day to prepare this time.:D

starlit

The reversing around the corner takes practice. Practice going around different types of corners like those on a hill, busy area, quiet area, a fall of ground or flat ground. Its not just the skill in completing manoeuvre, observation, mirrors, anticipation, being aware of what's going around you as the scene might change as you are completing the reverse.

The best way to do it is do so very slowly, giving a certain amount of wheel lock, clutch in to slowly do so unless you need a bit of gas if on a fall of ground, depends on the situation and road condition, keeping eye on what's around you, mirrors, blindspots, what's ahead of you and behind you and if anyone or any vehicle approaches. Keep a level head, keep calm and cool. Act like the tester isn't there like you normally drive.

Practice in simpler situations then more difficult ones preferably the typical places where you could be asked on a lesson/test to do it there if there is a particular estate that is a popular area to do the reverse.
The more you complete different types of reversing around a corner you will improve.

That's great that you got the big manoeuvres aced though they can go one way or the other for people whether they pass or not.

Surprisingly enough I have had a lot of pretests and the gears and clutch seem to be my downfall still other than not using mirrors and observing enough. Reversing it depends some good days some bad days. Hill start and turnabout my best manoeuvres at the moment. Just progress at junctions yet to improve though good at roundabouts for the most part but getting there!

Get another few more lessons preferable pre-tests and your instructor see where you need to work on, bring down your faults as much as possible to reduce the number of grade twos that might occur on your next test.

Keep positive and keep practising! Best of luck in your next test!

MascotDec85

Gavin shels wrote: »

Had my test Wednesday morning and just failed! Had 3 hours of lessons Tuesday, doing a reverse around a corner for the first time, and the first time I'd done a hillstart and turnabout in months and surprisingly aced all three in my test but my "Gears" and "Clutches" were my big let downs, rebooking next week and going to give myself more than 1 day to prepare this time.:D

Make sure you drive in a gear that's appropriate for your speed. When the road ahead is clear accelerate promptly moving up the gears up to 4th. Each time you change gear release the clutch smoothly, don't jump off it for the final few cm's. If the car jerks when you change up or down gear it's probably due to the speed you are coming off the clutch, this would incur a clutch fault.
Pressing the clutch whilst driving/turning corners, "coasting", will incur a clutch fault too or even pressing it too early prior to stopping.
Another clutch fault would made if you change down gears and don't release the pedal with each change to actually engage the gear.
Using the clutch as a foot rest is also marked

A gear fault would be incurred if for example you drove in too low a gear for a time when you should have went up a gear. This often happens if a pupil drives along in 3rd instead of changing to 4th.
Another example would be staying in too high a gear for the speed you are doing, eg. driving in 3rd when you should be in 2nd. When this happens the car would struggle or "labour"
Rolling up to a junction or set of lights in neutral will also incur a gear fault.

You will get away with stalling the car, but only if you attempt to move off in first. Moving off in 2nd and stalling will give you a gear fault.


Hope that helps you identify where you might be going wrong