Intensive pre-test driving prep in North Tipp or Limerick

[CanIHaveChocolatePlease]

Hi,

I have done my 12 EDT lessons and a few more since (so about 19 lessons in total, mostly a year or two ago) but despite practicing as much as I could, I have recently failed two driving tests (one at the end of March and one last week), mainly for cutting out when trying to move off and other little things like that so am gutted but now as determined to get it the next time.

I’m a nervous/ anxious person in general so that probably doesn’t help my driving, especially in the test situation.

So my parents would like me to do a few pre-test lessons that hopefully would help to allow me to work on these issues so that I can be a better driver and hopefully pass my next/ third test.

So now I am just trying to suss out which driving instructors might be able to cater to my needs and offer the best deal/ value for money as well as the best tuition.

My preference would be to apply for my test in the next few days (once I’ve heard back from people saying what they can offer me), get a date as soon as possible and then do some intensive test prep in the run-up to the test (ideally like those ones you see advertised that can have you driving in less than a week).

Is intensive driving lessons/ test prep (ideally in as short of a length as possible rather than having maybe one lesson per week for a few weeks) something that is commonly available to learner students? I just prefer the idea of getting it over and done with in a shorter length of time rather than stretching it out unnecessarily

And if so, how much would it cost and how many lessons and hours would be included?

And if not, how much would normal lessons cost and can they be tailored to work towards test prep?

So does anyone know of any good intensive pre-test driving lessons/ courses? (Ideally in the north Tipp or Limerick area but if there was any good value ones further afield I’d be willing to travel)

Sorry for long enquiry and all of the questions, I just don’t want to fail my test for a third time over silly things so want to make sure that if I’m spending my hard-earned money on another test and lessons/ test prep that it will have been all worth it!

[Procrastination4]

Can you talk to anyone locally who has passed their test? If you were in Cork I’d have no problem recommending a great instructor -he takes people around the route again just before the test, which is a great help. My son and niece (21 and 20 at the time of their tests, passed and I really believe he had a lot to do with it.) Also, have you done all the extra supervised (by a qualified driver) hours of driving that you’re supposed to have done? I constantly went out for driving practice in Cork city on Sunday mornings (quieter) at the start with my son. Those things like cutting out etc.-it’s not a driving instructor and a few intensive lessons you need, to fix those things. It’s lots of practice with a patient and encouraging qualified driver. My son used to get really frustrated when the car would cut out on a hill start, etc. Encouragement to do it over and over again (in spite of him wanting to abandon things when he made a mistake) were what helped.
Also, there’s no shame in failing a driving test. My older son did, and I was relieved as I didn’t feel he was ready for it at the time as he hadn’t enough practice and consequently confidence, in my opinion. S few months later-he was a totally different driver. Get your parents (or at least, someone you know will be supportive and give advice without making you feel inadequate-my sons didn’t want my husband taking them out ever as he would be too impatient would not be able to tell them how to fix what they were doing wrongly )to take you out and practise driving the route you’ll be doing for your test (good instructors are familiar with these). Plenty of practice will really help your confidence. Then see if you can arrange a few more professional lessons when you get the next date for your driving test. Don’t worry about it-that would only make you more nervous. You know what your errors are now. Concentrate on fixing those.

[Procrastination4]

Re. Preferring to do it in “as short a time as possible”-stop putting that pressure on yourself. Driving is a SKILL and skills take PRACTICE and practice takes TIME, so stop focusing on the length of time you want to achieve a pass in the test and instead focus on getting in lots and lots of practice and developing your confidence.

[CanIHaveChocolatePlease]

Thanks guys

I have practiced a good bit (both in towns/villages and from Nenagh to Limerick, Nenagh to Roscrea etc) so probably have clocked up the rough number of suggested practice hours at this stage

I just hate prolonging things over a long time and instead like to get them over and done with in one go, and I suppose at this stage I’ve invested so much time and money into driving and all it involves that I’d like to get my licence to try and improve my confidence and independence, as well as helping to reduce the insurance bill and maybe be able to bring myself to and from some things rather than my parents having to ferry me around the whole time