Impending test

Extrasupervery

Anyone have advice for biting the bullet and just doing the thing? I have a test booked for two weeks time that I was 100% going to push out for another few weeks, but my 'sponsor' drivers are telling me to go for it. I feel a lot of my hesitation is just nerves, I'm not nervous on the road but the idea of the test terrifies me. I feel comfortable on the road and have done loads of driving recently and a dozen lessons (I'm EDT exempt but have done that many just to feel safe and comfortable) and have more lessons before the test date.

The odd time I still do something silly, like try to take off in 2nd and cut out, or get a little flustered cause I'm in the wrong lane in the city centre, but I'm hoping that with 2 weeks more test-focused practice I'll iron out those kinks, or at least learn from a failed test. Also open to good advice about what to focus on for the next two weeks. I need to do more of the extra, non-driving parts of the test, like the theory and that. Thanks in advance for any help.

sparksfly

Have a stiff drink before the test.
Seriously, dont let nerves get on top. My daughter passed her test last wednesday. She was a bundle of nerves. Luckily the tester was aware of this and reassured her before and during the test. She said when she calmed down she found that her lessons and experience got her through. If you fail, not the end of the world.

cantdecide

You just have to take the leap. You'll either pass first time or you'll try again with experience. Everyone thinks they're some kind of special case and they're going to be the one doomed to renewing permits for the rest of their days and of course, they're all wrong and they all make it, albeit some do it with a little more ease than others.

My advice is just keep moving forward (fnarf) and when you get down to the days running into the test, just focus on some point in the day but after the test (I recommend dinner time!) and realise that when you make to that point, the test will be done for better or worse and you'll be taking a break from driving test chatter regardless. It's not serious if you fail, just inconvenient.

Best of luck.

spurious

Take the test.
Regardless of how it goes, you will know the drill for a next time if necessary and won't be as nervous.

playedalive

I would literally just do the test and trick your mind to think you are driving with your family/ friend. Depending on your nerves, maybe just go practising regularly. I am an anxious person by nature and found the whole pageantry of pre-tests an hour before the exam/night before just made me worse. All my instructors told me I would pass if I listened to them but I was more aware of my faults and still I failed my test 3 times with 11 grade 2. But I changed instructors, got one that was very much of the 'the driving test is a lottery' and you just have to do your best based on feedback/new habits you have and I passed finally yesterday. My fourth attempt was a cancellation I got on Monday and I just went for it. I did nothing else other than drive regularly with my mum when I could. I did the test routes twice. I had a few faults for lanes but my tester actually commended me that I had safely rectified it quickly by changing swiftly into another lane.

Tl;DR: Do the test. Treat it like any old drive. If you make a mistake, just swiftly rectify it. They may mark it as a fault but they can be human and turn it into a positive. TBH the Irish Driving Test is a lottery. It is down to who you get on the day and how they judge your performance. If you fail, take the faults on board and get a new instructor (I have had 7, so can vouch for it) as new eyes can bring about a better learning experience for you.

Extrasupervery

Thank you all for your very helpful replies, you've echoed what I've heard already which is reassuring. I do think it's the 'pageantry' that's getting to me as I have spent so much time driving around Finglas lately that I know the routes and that, and what I'm worried about is the technicalities to do with the test. I like thinking that it's a lottery of sorts (wether it is or not) as that somehow takes the pressure off a bit and leaves me to just concentrate on driving. It is built up as this big event when in the end it will be over in less than an hour, and the world will not be a changed place afterwards.

My slot is for 10 am, so I don't really want to do an early morning pre-test, I think I might do something the night before. Thanks again guys.

My best advice is to tell absolutely nobody you are doing it, certainly not work

This will take a lot of pressure off

Monaco1989

They way you describe your nerves us very similar to how I felt before mine. Comfortable on the road and when driving with family but just a total wreck at the thought of the test. I went with the idea that if I fail at least next time I'll know the routine and won't be as nervous. I passed in the end. The tester was very friendly which put me at ease (was in Finglas also). Having it early in the day is great as well as it's not hanging over your head all day. Mine was at 8.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

My best advice is to tell absolutely nobody you are doing it, certainly not work

This will take a lot of pressure off

Did this myself, booked a day off but didn't tell anyone. Family and the better half were the only people to know. Meant if I failed no one else had to know, but I passed and told everyone of course.

Don't let the occasion get the better of you, I postponed several because of nerves. Best to just sit and see what happens.

Extrasupervery

Definitely going to go for it, it's not like you can only take it once. Haven't told any work people about it, just that it's coming up in a vague sense. Any advice on pre tests the day before? Should I take one? I plan on doing a lot of reversing around corners in Finglas over the next while. I'm so sick of Finglas. Why all the mini roundabouts?!

thelad95

Extrasupervery wrote: »

Definitely going to go for it, it's not like you can only take it once. Haven't told any work people about it, just that it's coming up in a vague sense. Any advice on pre tests the day before? Should I take one? I plan on doing a lot of reversing around corners in Finglas over the next while. I'm so sick of Finglas. Why all the mini roundabouts?!

As much practice as possible in the lead up.

Extrasupervery

thelad95 wrote: »

As much practice as possible in the lead up.

Struggling big time with that. When I go out with my instructor I feel confident and safe and like I'm doing really well. When I drive with my (very patient) other half I do shockingly. So bad. Mostly when I'm in Finglas. I just lose the head. It's exhausting, I feel so bad for him. I don't have a clue which way it'll swing with the tester, somehow I don't think the test situation will make me feel calm and confident though.

I've got a pre test soon with a different instructor, so that will be...telling. Feeling very disheartened by it all. BUT at the end of the day it is just a driving test.

thelad95

You just need to start trusting in your own ability and let that take over.

In the build up, make sure you work on your habits, look in your mirrors for feckin everything, practice those pointless manoeuvres over and over again and most of all just relax! It's really not a big deal.

Extrasupervery

Quick question about dry steering - my instructor told me I am very much allowed to dry steer on the turnabout, however I went out with another instructor who said I absolutely can't do that, and now I'm stuck re-learning it very close to my test. Any insights? How can an instructor with a 10 year record be so wrong? Confused.com

Monaco1989

Extrasupervery wrote: »

Quick question about dry steering - my instructor told me I am very much allowed to dry steer on the turnabout, however I went out with another instructor who said I absolutely can't do that, and now I'm stuck re-learning it very close to my test. Any insights? How can an instructor with a 10 year record be so wrong? Confused.com

My instructor (16 years teaching) advised against it "as it's bad for the tyres" but said that there's no issues with doing it in the test as far as grading goes. I definitely did it a small bit on my test which I passed with 6 grade 2s and no mention of dry steering during the feedback

thelad95

You can definitely dry steer, there's nothing dangerous about it.

Extrasupervery

Thanks to everyone for answering all of my queries. I took and failed the test in Finglas this morning after a fairly hilarious pre-test last night. The instructor for the pre-test disagreed with loads of what my regular instructor had taught me, and helped me to correct it. I corrected a lot of it for the test today, but I'm still a bit inexperienced and have a lot to work on. Onwards and upwards!

islandlady

Sorry to hear you didn't pass but you can only get better!! Reading your post has been very helpful for me, I have so many of the same concerns as you (test next week). You'll fly it next time!