Cancel test or not?

cailin.

Hello Boardsies,

I'm looking for advice although ultimately it's my decision I am not sure what's the best response to my situation.

Anyway, I've been learning to drive for 6 months and have completed 12 EDTs and probably 12 additional lessons with my ADI. 3 weeks ago I failed my pretest. I've been working hard with sponsor and ADI to get to test standard. ADI says I am at test standard and must continue to address flaws in breaking too harshly and dry steering on manovers.

Tonight, I had a mock test with a family friend who used to train driver testers and worked for the RSA for years (now retired). Well, the outcome of the mock exam shocked me. The family friend felt I was at the standard of someone who had approx 5 lessons and was more shocked at some of the driving habits I've developed from working with ADI. He corrected two of my manovers and is willing to give me constructive feedback however he does not think I will be ready to sit my test which is in 11 days.

If I cancel the test I will either lose my fee and next available date is late July.
I'm so disheartened by the different feedback I've received and my confidence is beginning to lessen. I really need to be driving for work and I've been so determined to pass on my first attempt.
Any advice or tips are welcome.

Speedwell

If you have not had a test before, and you can spare the 85 EUR, I recommend you take the test as a practice run so that you know exactly what to expect the next time you take it, and you get feedback from the actual official tester. You might think of it as an extra lesson. You might even pass. You can always request a "first available" date and get them to fit you in sooner in case of a cancellation if you don't pass.

MascotDec85

Have you cancelled a test before?
Often testers don't give any or very little feedback so sitting it may not be any help in that regard

Speedwell

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Have you cancelled a test before?
Often testers don't give any or very little feedback so sitting it may not be any help in that regard

I guess it depends where the OP lives. I took the test four times recently and finally passed (I'm a Yank who drove an automatic for 30 years with a clean record; it was the gear shift that "broke" me, lol) and the testers each time went over my fails in detail, gave me the chance to ask questions, and e-mailed me my detailed results.

pudzey101

Take the test and try your best OP , worse case scenario if you fail you know exactly where to improve on , best of luck with it too if i can pass anyone can , trust me

MascotDec85

Speedwell wrote: »

I guess it depends where the OP lives. I took the test four times recently and finally passed (I'm a Yank who drove an automatic for 30 years with a clean record; it was the gear shift that "broke" me, lol) and the testers each time went over my fails in detail, gave me the chance to ask questions, and e-mailed me my detailed results.

Your detailed results will always be sent to you but the feedback can, at times, be limited. You get some very good testers who give excellent feedback and others who give little or none. The OP needs to be aware of that. I'm an ADI

cailin.

Thanks for the replies.

I get what some of you are saying in terms of it being an experience which might benefit me going forward, however before the pretest last night I genuinely hought I was in with a good chance of passing. This guy has trained testers and his assessment last night was that I would not be anywhere near passing rate. He said that I could have gotten 15 Grade 2's and potentially 3 Grade 3's based on last night. I can have two more 2 hour lessons with him to correct my errors as he feels I'm a rough diamond in need of polishing.

I haven't had anywhere near that level of error when driving with my ADI. I am trying to balance all of the feedback I've recieved however the situation was added to my already nervous state about the test itself. Realistically, if I get our in the car every day with the sponsor and attempt to implement the feedback I've gotten I might have a chance. I'm just not sure realistically if I'm at this level of apparent error, if 11 days enough to pass a driving test..

MascotDec85

Have you ever cancelled a test before?

SteM

OP, you're over thinking it. Just practice as much as possible for the next 11 days and then do the exam. Even if you don't pass you'll gain valuable experience and know exactly what to expect if you have to re-sit.

Sam Kade

cailin. wrote: »

Hello Boardsies,

I'm looking for advice although ultimately it's my decision I am not sure what's the best response to my situation.

Anyway, I've been learning to drive for 6 months and have completed 12 EDTs and probably 12 additional lessons with my ADI. 3 weeks ago I failed my pretest. I've been working hard with sponsor and ADI to get to test standard. ADI says I am at test standard and must continue to address flaws in breaking too harshly and dry steering on manovers.

Tonight, I had a mock test with a family friend who used to train driver testers and worked for the RSA for years (now retired). Well, the outcome of the mock exam shocked me. The family friend felt I was at the standard of someone who had approx 5 lessons and was more shocked at some of the driving habits I've developed from working with ADI. He corrected two of my manovers and is willing to give me constructive feedback however he does not think I will be ready to sit my test which is in 11 days.

If I cancel the test I will either lose my fee and next available date is late July.
I'm so disheartened by the different feedback I've received and my confidence is beginning to lessen. I really need to be driving for work and I've been so determined to pass on my first attempt.
Any advice or tips are welcome.

Some family friend, they could at least have given you some encouragement to go ahead with the test.

spurious

I would go for it.

There will be cancellation dates nearer than July. You might not need them.

Dravokivich

OP, whether or not you do it should be based on how many practices you can get in between now and then, with how much time you can set to focus on each issue, or collectively on any related issues.

Sam Kade wrote: »

Some family friend, they could at least have given you some encouragement to go ahead with the test.

What? They are going to help the OP with what I've read as 2 free 2 hour lessons, after already doing a free in-depth assessment. Why send someone out to do the test when you suspect they are going to fail, based on the criteria you have used to measure the tester?

Speedwell

The main reason I think MascotDec85 is on about whether you have cancelled before is because if you have already cancelled twice, you will lose your fee even if you cancel in good time. http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/The-Driving-Test/Cancel-your-test/

I can't tell you why

Important point to be clarified; is the family friend doing the pretest driving lessons with you for free or are they asking payment?

Also, which test centre are you going to?

I would go for it. I did a pre-test with a friend two nights before my test and made an absolute hames of it, making mistakes I would never normally make. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because I think I was complacent and thought I would cruise through test. Anyway, I spent the next two days working on the mistakes I made and they never cropped up again.

Given the amount of lessons you have had, it seems unlikely you are in fact at the level of someone who has taken just five and it sounds like a bit of an overreaction on this guy's part. I wouldn't let it dent your confidence and just keep focused on the areas you need to work on between now and the test and give it your best shot. So what if you fail, you'll fail better or hopefully pass the next time. Good luck.

cailin.

Can I clarify that the family friend is being paid for his tuition and I have not cancelled a test before. First time Learner Permit holder.

Effects

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Have you cancelled a test before?
Often testers don't give any or very little feedback so sitting it may not be any help in that regard

Don't you get the sheet back which shows all the errors that you made marked on it?

My sister failed on observation. She didn't agree with the tester.
A month later she changed lane into an articulated truck which "wasn't in my blind spot".

cailin.

I can't tell you why wrote: »

Important point to be clarified; is the family friend doing the pretest driving lessons with you for free or are they asking payment?

Also, which test centre are you going to?

Taking test in Raheny.

cailin.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I would go for it. I did a pre-test with a friend two nights before my test and made an absolute hames of it, making mistakes I would never normally make. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because I think I was complacent and thought I would cruise through test. Anyway, I spent the next two days working on the mistakes I made and they never cropped up again.

Given the amount of lessons you have had, it seems unlikely you are in fact at the level of someone who has taken just five and it sounds like a bit of an overreaction on this guy's part. I wouldn't let it dent your confidence and just keep focused on the areas you need to work on between now and the test and give it your best shot. So what if you fail, you'll fail better or hopefully pass the next time. Good luck.

Thank you. That's what happened last night I totally screwed it up and made mistakes I would never normally make in lessons.
My fear is that a fail will do worse to my confidence but in saying that driving is a skill I'll continue to work on throughout life.

DavyD_83

Go for the test.
Best case; you pass
Worst case; you fail, and have to take it again.

If you can squeeze in and afford the other 2hour lessons before then, maybe no harm to go for them.

I pretty much expected to fail my test, even during and after it, but passed first time.
Can depend on the tester as much as anything; you can also have a better or worse performance than you should depending on the day.

Cancelling or failing will pretty much leave you in same position, but if you cancel you will still not have the experience of sitting the test which is valuable in itself.

And, you might even pass!
Good luck

NinjaTruncs

In my opinion I would do the test, people telling you that you aren't good enough and then offering to give you lessons for profit have a vested interest, even if they are family.

If you fail the test get a new instructor (try get a recommendation from someone who has recently passed) and prebook a set number of lessons with them, work on the areas that you failed on in the test and practice as much as possible between lessons.

Best of luck.

Speedwell

A fail will ruin your day, or maybe your two days if you're a shopworn anxiety case like me You'll grumble a little whenever you come across one of the issues you failed on (approach to roundabouts was one of mine, for example), but you will likely not make the same mistake twice if you practice. Plenty of people on the "success" thread report failing a test, then passing two weeks later.

Sam Kade

Dravokivich wrote: »

OP, whether or not you do it should be based on how many practices you can get in between now and then, with how much time you can set to focus on each issue, or collectively on any related issues.



What? They are going to help the OP with what I've read as 2 free 2 hour lessons, after already doing a free in-depth assessment. Why send someone out to do the test when you suspect they are going to fail, based on the criteria you have used to measure the tester?

Some people are more sensitive than others, you could put off the test forever if you were told that you weren't good enough. She paid for the test so no harm in doing it. Also the family friend is charging for their time.

uli84

Go with it, with testers it's all the same as with the instructors you had- like i drove way better on my failed test than on the one I passed

spurious

Dravokivich wrote:

What? They are going to help the OP with what I've read as 2 free 2 hour lessons, after already doing a free in-depth assessment. Why send someone out to do the test when you suspect they are going to fail, based on the criteria you have used to measure the tester?

There's that, but there is a fine line to be walked, across which the learner is disheartened and ready to give up. You have to give encouragement with criticism.

MascotDec85

cailin. wrote: »

Can I clarify that the family friend is being paid for his tuition and I have not cancelled a test before. First time Learner Permit holder.

1) If the family friend is accepting payment for his lessons it's illegal. Only an ADI can be paid for driving lessons. As a former RSA employee they should be fully aware of that!
2) You could cancel your test if it was 10 days away including today. You're probably on 9 now so can't.

uli84

Technically he still can cancel but will lose the fee now

MascotDec85

uli84 wrote: »

Technically he still can cancel but will lose the fee now

I know that in the op they said they'd lose the fee regardless. At the stage they were at 2/3 days ago they wouldn't have.

cailin.

Hi all.

After weighing everything up and taking on board advice I decided to sit the test arranged for June 21st. Told my ADI about my lesson with the family friend and safe to say it didn't go down well. We picked my three areas I needed work on and I passed a pretest last night.

Today I received a text from the RSA to inform that they have cancelled my test with 6 days notice. I booked in for a cancellation for Friday 24th, this was later cancelled.
I was then told I was given a new date which is for 10 weeks time!

HowLong

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Your detailed results will always be sent to you but the feedback can, at times, be limited. You get some very good testers who give excellent feedback and others who give little or none. The OP needs to be aware of that. I'm an ADI

Those "detailed results" are useless. I failed mine a few weeks ago and all the instructor told me was that I took too long doing the turn about (I wasn't aware there was a time limit..) When I asked him for more info, he told me I would get an e-mail with the details. All the e-mail told me was how many grade 1/2s I got under a generic heading. Grade 2 for observation? That's great detail, now I have to figure out when, during the 40min drive did I not observe something.