The only thing that I have struggled with when learning so far has been getting the clutch up when coming away from a junction. Although I seem to have sorted that out now so I just need to pass my theory and practice my manouveres then I will be ready for my test.
Clutch is tough to start with. As soon as you pass and get on the road, you will look back and literally be unable to imagine how you ever stuggled. Just remember on your test, if you're unsure of the bite when at a junction, pop the handbrake on to avoid rolling. Even a smidge of a roll and it's a fail.
As said clutch control is just something you perfect after you pass and drive regularly, just need to practise on the job and finding the bite will just be something you don't conciously think about anymore
Completely true, I cannot emphasise that point enough! I failed for that exact reason in my first test. My test centre was on a steep sloping car park and right at the start of my test I was asked to perform a reverse bay park on the car park. I pulled forward facing down the hill, put my handbrake on and prepared to reverse back up the hill into one of the parking bays. Unfortunately I hadn't put enough force into the gear change so the car wasn't properly in reverse so when I took the handbrake off to reverse I rolled forward slightly. Only 2 or 3 inches before I quickly put my foot on the brake and put the handbrake back on, but it was enough. I knew I'd failed and sure enough when I got back at the end of the test I'd got a major for it There's nothing more gutting than knowing you've failed your test before you've even left the test centre car park with a whole 45 minutes still to go!
I did something like that on my first test, The first roundabout I got too about 2 minutes into the test, I was so nervous, I hadn't seen a car waiting at the junction next to mine, I went to pull out without seeing him, but it was too late, by the time I had slammed the brakes on, the tester had went to do the same thing. It was obvious I had failed and my nerves vanished immediatly, the instructor said the rest of my drive was perfect after that
I've got my test booked for the 8th of June. I'm quite looking forward to it tbh, considering how well I've done in my recent driving lessons.
I would of just said 'i have failed can we stop now?' I don't know the feeling though because i passed mine first time, but i can tell it's a right downer.
mines next week, the problem with me is i know i can driv, its just under test conditions i panic, my driving instructor has said that i can drive perfect but as soonas i know its a test i just fall apart, its crap, i just need to be calm
Just try and relax and not to think of it as a test. Just imagine you've picked up someone and giving them a lift home and they're just giving you directions to their home or something. Good luck.
Yeah I could have done but I suppose in the back of my mind I was hoping he hadn't noticed it or I'd drive well for the rest of the test and he'd just give me the benefit of the doubt and put it down as a minor. It was probably worth carrying on though for the experience more than anything which helped in preparing me for my second test which I passed. Just wear a low cut top, flash him some breast and you'll be fine mate Seriously though there isn't really too much you can do to prepare yourself for the pressure of the day. You just have to do as many practice lessons as you can afford before the test and/or drive your parents car if you have access to it to try to get as comfortable with driving as possible. The more driving you do the more the simple things start to become 'second nature' which reduces the chances of making silly mistakes on the test. The best advice is to try to blank out of your mind that it's a test and just drive as you have been doing for all those weeks leading up to it. Just take each junction and roundabout as they come and try not to dwell on what's gone before or what you think might be coming in the test. If you allow yourself to become pre-occupied with other thoughts that's when you lose concentration and you'll make a stupid mistake. If you do make a mistake that you're almost certain is a major whatever you do don't panic and just carry on driving as normal. If you're lucky you might have thought wrong and it's actually only a minor, and even if it is a fail the experience comes in handy for your next test. I was a bag of nerves on my first test, which wasn't helped by f*cking up before I'd even left the car park! On my second test the experience of my first test helped me a lot and I was much more calm and relaxed.
The nerves are beginning to kick in already. All that confidence I had a few weeks back has vanished now.
I was like that before all three of my tests, once I got into the car and got going the nerves went. You will be fine, Good Luck
When I passed I felt like I was going for a nice leisurely drive to somewhere, and the examiner was just a friend directing me to a nice spot. Obviously couldn't hold that thought on the maoevures but it my nerves disappear. Once you get going and don't stall as you pull away from the test centre everything gets a lot easier to be fair.
Immense drive, and then one f*cking mistake. Went 35 down a 30mph, this after he gave me a hint asking whether I knew the speed down here or not. Why did I speed up? My f*cking God...
Doh! Of all the fiddly pedantic things you can fail on speed is surely one of the easiest things to keep control of! Oh well you'll just have to put it down to experience, try not to beat yourself up about it and come back next time to finish it off. I had a nightmare in my first test as I've said on here but I came back second test and the experience and disappontment of the first test really helped me. Good luck!
