Sorry to hear that
@Matt N - it's natural to be disappointed. However it's really not unusual to not pass the first time - and personally I think it makes you a better driver when you do. (I should know, I failed three, and I'm an excellent driver
).
Ahead of my fourth test I found it helpful to download some practice test routes and do 'simulated' tests with my dad (who by then had pretty much taken over as my permanent instructor!). I'd definitely recommend it as a way of exposing yourself to test conditions and becoming comfortable with the format. If you're super-lucky you might even get a similar route in your test as one you have previously practiced.
Also, I don't think you ever told us the outcome, but if you haven't yet replaced the instructor that was making you so uncomfortable, now might be a good time to do so. (You can even just tell them you are 'taking a break from it to save money' or something and they will be none the wiser!)
My dad said something similar to me. He’s always said to me that he only knew two people who’d passed first time, and they were both “absolutely dreadful” drivers…
Unfortunately, they don’t put the test routes online anymore. They’re completely secret to anyone other than the examiners, so I can only go off of my driving instructor’s best educated guess of what the routes are (which was pretty accurate today, to be fair, as pretty much every road I travelled down was one I’d encountered before).
I never did replace my driving instructor in the end, and I don’t intend to at this point in time. Things were really good between us in the weeks and months leading up to the test, and in hindsight, part of me wonders whether I was exaggerating a little at the time and making things seem worse in my head than they actually were. She couldn’t have been nicer and more encouraging about the result today, and things went very nicely for the last few months before the test. Besides, even if I did want to replace her, the alternative options in terms of automatic driving instructors in the Forest of Dean are very limited…
It's a bummer mate, so sorry that this has happened! The test can be incredibly challenging and I know it's probably put a spanner in the works for any plans you might have, but this certainly isn't the end of the line. Best advice I can give now - keep driving as often as you can, with your parents, friends of age, instructor - it'll help rebuild your confidence.
I'm sure you know how tricky getting a test can be - depending on how ready you feel, I'd look into any last minute cancellations in your area and surrounding towns. It may be a bit off-putting - the potential to take such an important drive in an unfamiliar place - but it's something worth considering. My second test was a cancellation for about three, maybe four days away, in a town that I'd only driven through once prior (after getting the booking I did some practise there as well). It's also worth remembering that there are so many routes the examiner may take you down; I was particularly anxious about two unfamiliar roundabouts there, and was ready for them to appear on the test, only to be taken down a more cross-country route! There's a number of paid apps you can use that can scout out cancellations, so again, take a look if that's what you're going for.
Thankfully, I didn’t really make any plans assuming I’d pass, so there’s nothing I’d planned that really had a spanner thrown in the works by this.
Frequent driving might be difficult. My parents have always said a very blunt “no” to taking me out to practice, as when they took my sister out to practice, it was apparently very counterintuitive for both parties, but I’ll try to keep up weekly lessons with my instructor.
I hadn’t thought about doing it in other towns, but having had a look today, the town I did it in is actually the one where I can get a test soonest, so I may not need to anyway. I’ve booked one in the current town for 9th July, but I may look to move this to an earlier date if I can find a cancellation.
Not the best of news. However look at the major and the minors, see if they are in the same area. E.g observation.
Use the point as a base on which to look at what you need more training and practice on.
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The major was in the last 5 minutes of the test, where I was supposed to take a slip road off a 40mph single-carriageway road into the road I was turning into, but I instead turned into it like a regular junction and didn’t use the slip road. I thought that the slip road led into a different road, and I was caught off guard as I wasn’t necessarily expecting a slip road on a single-carriageway road.
I did have 4 minors for mirror checking ahead of signalling, so that may be an area to improve. I do check my mirrors, but I don’t think my head movements are quite as pronounced as they need to be for a driving test.
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