Driving test - how many times did it take you to pass?

wiz569 · 03-12-2014 10:34PM

Double post

mikeruurds · 03-12-2014 10:34PM

Passed 2nd time. This was when I was living in South Africa. The 'K53' test there is regarded as one of the toughest, but I screwed up on the reverse parking.

starlit · 03-12-2014 10:34PM

I think its how you are taught and how you progress in between is what matters. Its the practice in between that really counts on your progress with your instructor. Do think picking the right instructor to suit your learning needs can help. Structure can really help and learning over a period of time can be valuable. Learning younger can help too as you likely pick it up and learn quicker. Sometimes it comes naturally sometimes you have to approach it like you do when preparing and sitting an exam.

Amazingfun · 03-12-2014 10:35PM

Three agonizing times.

Tokyo · 03-12-2014 10:36PM

17. Car and motorbike, first time. Truck, second time - the day I did my test happened to be bin collection day - got stuck behind a bin lorry for God knows how long and failed on account of being an obstruction to traffic

rsl1976 · 03-12-2014 10:37PM

First time at 27. The tester said I passed in spite of myself

dirtyden · 03-12-2014 10:37PM

pwurple wrote: »

Passed car test first time, even though I went through a red light on the test (floored it from a good way back as it went orange). Must have done everything else perfectly.

Did a bit better on my bike test... Don't remember any feckups, passed that first time too.

If you drove through a red light the instructor has to fail you I thought?

I passed second time round, first was a mess, I neglected getting any lessons and had too many little bad habits.

masseyno9 · 03-12-2014 10:42PM

Passed 2nd time. Felt robbed the first time, but felt like I failed the 2nd one. I haven't much faith in the testing consistency!
Since then I passed my bike test first time with no lessons.
Then moved abroad and passed the "advanced road test" first time with no lessons and a jolly good chat with the instructor on the way around.

Venus In Furs · 03-12-2014 10:44PM

Karl Stein wrote: »

D'you remember that fella who was so good at driving they had to shoot him?

Yeh, several of them on this thread with their "passing firsts" - fecking swots! :mad:

/not bitter

Woshy · 03-12-2014 10:49PM

Embarrassingly - 3 times. I failed the first two times for "observation turning left". My friends ripped the piss out of me and called me Zoolander for ages - I'm not an ambiturner!

03-12-2014 10:53PM

First time, aged 18. Would probably have been much more nervous had I been older as a learner/testee.

nirvana78 · 03-12-2014 10:57PM

Back in 2000 was moving from city to midlands, needed to start driving, had 5 lessons booked with an instructor. After first lesson wasn't impressed with instructor, done two more then cancelled remainder. Done test 18 months later, passed first time aged 23

03-12-2014 10:58PM

If it takes you six attempts to pass you probably shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Knasher · 03-12-2014 11:00PM

Two, the first time I was behind a large truck which decided to park on a narrow road on a blind bend and I failed for passing him without being able to see where I was going. Which was true, but to be honest to this day I don't really see what else I could have done.

keithclancy · 03-12-2014 11:01PM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

I don't blame all my fails on it being "a money racket" etc. I blame it on me just not being very good at driving.
If it's a money racket, nobody would pass first time.

If it was a money racket, it would be better to pass as many people as possible to encourage car sales and get VAT, VRT and Motor Tax into the Coffers :pac:

Karl Stein · 03-12-2014 11:20PM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

Yeh, several of them on this thread with their "passing firsts" - fecking swots! :mad:

I passed mine first time too and I actually noticed the examiner guy getting bored about a third of the way into it.

What some people don't realise is that passing the test is meeting minimum standards. Driving is a life skill; a skill that we can all seek to ever improve.

Fin.

Venus In Furs · 03-12-2014 11:20PM

AdamD wrote: »

If it takes you six attempts to pass you probably shouldn't be allowed to drive.

True. I have my full licence nearly 10 years (nearly time to renew) and not a tip (never a claim during the years I was learning either) but you're right, I think it'd be best for all if I don't renew it.

RDM_83 again · 04-12-2014 12:10AM

pwurple wrote: »

Passed car test first time, even though I went through a red light on the test (floored it from a good way back as it went orange). Must have done everything else perfectly.

Did a bit better on my bike test... Don't remember any feckups, passed that first time too.

Did you know the instructor/was the instructor asleep/are you amazingly sexy

Because I am 99.999% sure thats an automatic fail (had my instructor go through the test list with me on monday and that was mentioned as a red)

aulddub · 04-12-2014 12:14AM

First time, 1974, very handy those days, little or no traffic

ballsymchugh · 04-12-2014 12:15AM

AdamD wrote: »

If it takes you six attempts to pass you probably shouldn't be allowed to drive.

bollox.

took me 7 goes. 13 years ago. now what do i win??

Aisling(",) · 04-12-2014 12:21AM

Mine took me 8 goes.
I was really nervous every test and made stupid mistakes that I wouldnt make like usually driving, for example was told to turn left and I went right.
Got it last Thursday though.
DELIGHTED

Adrian J Lynch · 04-12-2014 12:25AM

Second time for me.

ballsymchugh · 04-12-2014 12:27AM

Aisling(",) wrote: »

Mine took me 8 goes.
I was really nervous every test and made stupid mistakes that I wouldnt make like usually driving, for example was told to turn left and I went right.
Got it last Thursday though.
DELIGHTED

congratulations!

i almost feel your pain, although i don't remember doing anything like that!

myshirt · 04-12-2014 12:54AM

2 times

And they were such different experiences. First time I got a single grade 3, and nothing else. Clean sheet. I was left with the comment 'You are too young for a license, keep practicing'. What can you do about that? Absolute wanker I thought. I'd been driving cars since I was 14 years old.

The next time when I passed, I didn't even do a reverse around the corner or three point turn. It was 15 minutes in the car, then yerman asked me to bring him to Spar to get a roll. 10 more minutes in the car with him getting crumbs all over the place and saluting a few people out the window and I had passed. 'Sher you know how to drive, good man' and handed me my cert.

I said nothing as I really feel they f#cked me over the first time.

Daaryl · 04-12-2014 12:56AM

Passed it first go at 17

threeball · 04-12-2014 01:00AM

Passed every test up to and including artic licence on first attempt.

04-12-2014 01:00AM

Got it on my 7th attempt.

Only because I told the instructor it was my 7th attempt.

I was no better or worse a driver than I was on my 1st attempt.

The test is way too subjective and they can fail you on arbitrary things. And best of all, you cannot query or challenge their decisions. Basically, they are the authority, they will tell you what you can and cannot do, you just hand over your money and your soul and leave it to the "experts". Ireland in a nutshell.

Funny how so many attractive women pass first time and come back with stories of "I can't believe I passed, given that I did xyz in the test....".

Yes, I am bitter. But justifiably bitter. :mad:

myshirt · 04-12-2014 01:03AM

threeball wrote: »

Passed every test up to and including artic licence on first attempt.

Mate of mine took artic and was asked to drive into a cul de sac... needless to say, he didn't do it. And yerman got the sack.

nlgbbbblth · 04-12-2014 01:14AM

I passed on my third attempt at 41.

Should never have left it that long to master it.

Recognition Scene · 04-12-2014 01:16AM

First go in Galway, and first go in Boston.

Driving test - how many times did it take you to pass?

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