Test in January arrh! any tips?

miss choc

Well got the notification today for test mid January at Raheny "again" last few times it seems no matter how hard I try I am always failing on the same stuff it's not that I forget, I did mock test and instructor always thinks I'm test ready but last feedback form was riddled with grade ones and twos that I hardly get on the mock, guess a mix of me, stranger and nerves. I've had loads of lessons and going to start back at the books and car again this week in the hope I get it this time.
Here are my weak points maybe someone will have pointers, advice for me. Changing gears not smooth enough, looking at wing mirrors when turning though I am doing this more now, coasting it's such a bad habit I got into, when turning I accelerate and dont take it slowly with the brake, big roundabout my worse fear ever :eek: it takes me forever to go onto it cos I dont trust the drivers indicators and what they are going to do once I'm on it I'm grand know my signals and I guess the old one that you cant envisage the reaction to hazards going too slow to avoid danger you are marked for not progressing and going too fast you are a danger to other drivers/people. I went through test routes till I'm sick of them but will have to go out again hopefully if I get out for 30 mins every day and read the books till Jan might do it this time

Neon_Lights

Im learning too, but whats helping me a lot with the coasting is block changing gears, i thought you had to go from 4-3-2 coming to a junction you can go from 4 - 2 by breaking to a level that supports 2... hope this little tip helps

miss choc

Ha ha Neon lights I started blocking too I was taught ages ago by my Dad and that was the old way going 4-3-2-1 which was so much harder trying to deal with slowing down/stopping. They dont do that anymore funny how the old habits die hard I am slowly getting out of it can do 4-2, 3-1 never done and never gone into 5 cos dont be on motorway I usually change up the gears one by one get the revs up.

Craftylee

The things you mentioned you should work with your instructor on - in regards to changing gears smoothly, you'll find the rev counter should help you out here (especially when changing up), on my car as soon as it gets near 3,000 revs I change up (will be different in your car). You should also be able to hear in the engine when you need to change, it won't sound as smooth and will get louder. Ideally you want to change gear before you start getting towards the higher speeds of that gear, so it's nice and smooth.

When changing lanes or turning just set it in your mind to look in your mirrors before you indicate, make sure you also do that quick blind spot check when changing lanes too. It's very simple but often gets forgotten and can change a pass to a fail.

When stopping at lights etc, you can block change down, or work your way down, avoid coasting as they won't be kind on the marking for it. But I wouldn't say you need first gear, you should be stopping in second. First is very slow, should only be used if you need to close a gap etc.

JamboMac

What's the exact issue with the gears. Maybe just sit in the car while not moving, get the biting point of the clutch and all that. This could be your seat position, I like to to be fairly close so I can put my clutch pedal to the floor, but it's biting point is a lot further up.