Help Me Pass the Test in Rathgar

The Duke of Moral Hazard

After failing three times in Rathgar and once in Tallaght, I'm at my wits end regaring what I must do to pass the test.

Generally, I'm hovering around the 10/11 grade two mark. I've had two instructors who are experienced and genuinely feel that I've been unlucky thus far. I now have a kid on the way and am throwing 85 quid a pop at this like confetti and need to pass the test as a matter of urgency.


There is no consistent pattern to where my defects are, it would seem that subjectively none of the testers are consistent. One test pinged me for incorrectly changing lanes, another for my gearing, another for not checking blind spots and lately for not moving out in good time to turn right.

It's perplexing that if you were deficient in one area, that other testers would not pick up on this the next time, but from one to the next, their criticisms appear overly subjective. Take for example the first three tests I have done, there was no issues with turning right at junctions, so why is the latest tester nit picking on this. I've never had a mark against me before for this fault?

Should I cut my losses in Dublin and look for a test further afield where the pass rate is higher? There may be a chance I could try in Meath/Louth any feed back would be helpful.

The constant set back of failing the test is infuriating especially when you constantly see drivers with full licenses flouting the law by speeding and using mobile phones.

I've done 20+ lessons at this stage and have about three year's driving experience. Any advice would be appreciated.

Witcher

You're probably obsessing over the section that you failed on the time before and overlooking another during tests.

I Am_Not_Ice

I did my test three times, took well in excess of 50 lessons (approximately two grand's worth), and was driving for over three and a half years before I finally passed in 2013. I feel your frustration, but people learn at different rates. Be patient; it'll come good in the end.

Kevin McCloud

Heard some one recently accidentally dropped €50 down by the passengers footwell and passed.

Craftylee

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Heard some one recently accidentally dropped €50 down by the passengers footwell and passed.

I seriously doubt bribery works. Would you risk your job for €50? All it takes is you to be filming as a joke etc.

But yeah some testers have different areas that (as my instructor called it) that "annoy" them. My first tester was big on use of gears. My second was very fussy on use of braking.

For example when turning right - if you looked right, then left, then went that might be fine for some. But others prefer right, then left, then quick glance back right again before you go.

spurious

I failed five times in Raheny and passed first time in Finglas. The human mind is a funny thing. You can have yourself convinced it's just not going to happen, or conversely that it will. I felt there was no way I was ever going to pass in Raheny and was delighted to get a cancellation in Finglas. Up I went and passed no bother.
Keep at it.

Gavin "shels"

The guy I done my most recent lessons with has some good videos of the test routes, I found them a great help. Also some other useful stuff on there.

https://www.adischoolofmotoring.com\rathgar-test-routes\

kerry4sam

spurious wrote: »

I failed five times in Raheny and passed first time in Finglas. The human mind is a funny thing. You can have yourself convinced it's just not going to happen, or conversely that it will. I felt there was no way I was ever going to pass in Raheny and was delighted to get a cancellation in Finglas. Up I went and passed no bother.
Keep at it.

The Duke of Moral Hazard wrote: »

After failing three times in Rathgar and once in Tallaght, I'm at my wits end regaring what I must do to pass the test.

Generally, I'm hovering around the 10/11 grade two mark. I've had two instructors who are experienced and genuinely feel that I've been unlucky thus far. I now have a kid on the way and am throwing 85 quid a pop at this like confetti and need to pass the test as a matter of urgency.


There is no consistent pattern to where my defects are, it would seem that subjectively none of the testers are consistent. One test pinged me for incorrectly changing lanes, another for my gearing, another for not checking blind spots and lately for not moving out in good time to turn right.

It's perplexing that if you were deficient in one area, that other testers would not pick up on this the next time, but from one to the next, their criticisms appear overly subjective. Take for example the first three tests I have done, there was no issues with turning right at junctions, so why is the latest tester nit picking on this. I've never had a mark against me before for this fault?

Should I cut my losses in Dublin and look for a test further afield where the pass rate is higher? There may be a chance I could try in Meath/Louth any feed back would be helpful.

The constant set back of failing the test is infuriating especially when you constantly see drivers with full licenses flouting the law by speeding and using mobile phones.

I've done 20+ lessons at this stage and have about three year's driving experience. Any advice would be appreciated.

I failed in my hometown and just applied for a random town in Limerick. Was advised to get some practice in, in that unknown (to me) area to get familiar but I didn't want to drive up and down to practice in this new town so I just winged it.
Arrived up on day of test, only having general area of test-centre building from google-maps and had to ask someone where the test-centre was exactly.
Parked up; studied my notes and books for an hour before I went in.
Found a lovely spot to park; easy to drive out of to begin my test

Perhaps a new area could help you. People can get overly confident in a v-familiar area and then lickle errors can creep in & don't be long in adding up imo,
Wishing You Well though,
Stay Confident, Study your Notes from your Lessons,
Practice what your instructor says you should practice,
Keep Smiling
kerry4sam

The Duke of Moral Hazard

Thanks to everyone for replying, fingers crossed for the next time.

I'll report back with hopefully some good news!