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Original poster

Please help can't pass driving test

122 replies

FrontToBackTree · 04/08/2020 14:22

I'm at my wit's end and I just cannot seem to pass the fucking thing. My fourth attempt is tomorrow. I haven't told a single soul I'm doing it, not even my DH. Only my instructor knows.

My only problem, and I really do mean this, is nerves. I get so flustered and so nervous that I panic and make the most ridiculous mistakes. I never, ever do these things in lessons nor when I'm out practising with DH. I'm a completely confident driver but I go utterly to shit in the tests. Things I have tried that haven't worked:

Beta blockers
Kalms, Rescue Remedy
Narrating what I'm doing as I'm doing it
Practising - I do a shit tonne of practising
Hynotherapy
A different instructor
Pretending the examiner is a taxi driver

I am all out of ideas. How the fuck can I stop being so nervous during the test? I am a perfectly competent, confident driver in lessons. I go to pieces during the test.

I have always been the same with any practical exam. EG with my piano exams I'd have practised my exam piece for months and know it absolutely back to front and inside out. On exam day I'd cock it up completely!

I'm at my wit's end with this!!

OP posts:

dottiedodah · 05/08/2020 10:45

Good luck ! Believe me you are not the only nervous driver .I gave up after failing my test and started again a few years later .Success ! Maybe have a couple of cigs if it will calm you down! Sometimes Examiners can come over as being miserable gits, but they are just doing their job! Try to think of it as being like a lesson ,and just drive normally(not easy I know!) My DH just told me to think of it as being nothing (again not easy )and this helped me for some reason!Fingers crossed you will pass today .

TequilaSunrise39 · 05/08/2020 10:52

Good luck, you can do it, we believe in you 💐

Puddlelane123 · 05/08/2020 11:04

I feel your pain OP as I was in exactly the same situation in my 20s. Finally passed on my 7th attempt. Or possibly 6th - the good news is I have forgotten now. Like you I tried everything you have listed and was also disappointed by the beta blockers. I think the idea of getting rid of your nervous energy is a good one - I used to go on the treadmill before finals - and may help do the trick. Otherwise just keep plodding on. You will get there in the end.

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Driving & parking

TiddyTid · 05/08/2020 11:07

Sending positive driving vibes OP!

FAQs · 05/08/2020 11:10

Let us know how you do. I suspect several of us are thinking of you on your test currently. Really hope you pass.

Original poster

FrontToBackTree · 05/08/2020 11:49

So. I failed. Not unexpected.

BUT - I had an absolutely LOVELY examiner. He was just lovely. I told him how nervous I was and he said it was absolutely fine and that he'd failed 6 times himself as he was a nervous wreck. He said just do your best and it doesn't matter if you fail, you can come back and do it again. I was really nervous for the first 5 minutes but after that I was very at my ease and felt quite confident.

I failed just as I got back into the test centre because I was too close to a parked car. Other than that I only had one minor fault, for hesitating at a roundabout. So I didn't actually make any stupid mistakes.

I've realised that the thing I'm nervous about is actually not failing, it's the test itself. When he said I failed I didn't even feel particularly disappointed, I just felt huge relief that the test was over.

I'm going to try to book a new test (if I can, none are available right now) and have a break from lessons for a while but just go out and practise with DH. Then the week before my test I'll have a block of intensive lessons.

Thank you all so much for your kind words, they really did help.

OP posts:

FAQs · 05/08/2020 11:58

Oh that’s annoying because both of those are really minor. Parking too close to a car can be corrected and it’s something all drivers do, just observe a supermarket car park, you’ll see it every few minutes with the driver correcting.

xsquared · 05/08/2020 12:01

Keep going OP. I passed the day before my theory ran out on my 4th attempt. You will get there.

Nothanksnota · 05/08/2020 12:07

Sorry you didn't pass. But it sounds like you were much calmer and maybe this will be the breakthrough you need!

Original poster

FrontToBackTree · 05/08/2020 12:09

I was so much calmer. It was the only test where I've actually felt like a driver.

OP posts:

LizzieVereker · 05/08/2020 12:10

Well done you for keeping on going. Next time, for sure.

ChubbyPigeon · 05/08/2020 12:14

That sounds a bit harsh to fail you for that if your drive had otherwise been good

I think a break is a good idea, one thing my driving instructor said to me is that people retake their test too quickly, and you get in a cycle of anxiety and pressure.

Take a break from all the pressure. You were so close to passing so you know you can do it.

My FIL was a driving test examiner, whilst telling the examiner you are nervous helps relax you he also said that you got a feel very early on as to whether someone is ready to pass or not, and if someone was coming accross as very anxious then he wouldnt be confident about passing them. I think thats why you get so many stories of someone thinking they failed and so relaxing and passing

Original poster

FrontToBackTree · 05/08/2020 12:22

No it was fair enough, he did actually have to say to me watch out, you're way too close to that parked car.

I'll definitely go for a bit of hypnotherapy but even though I failed I really do feel a bit more confident now. I know I just need to keep going and I feel kind of defiant about it - if I have to take that blooming test 20 times, I will!!!

OP posts:

NerrSnerr · 05/08/2020 13:36

I passed on test 7. I was the same, doing silly mistakes. On my 7th test I was convinced I had failed. I had to drive down a narrow road with a school at drop off time and sat waiting for a gap with a massive impatient queue behind me for what felt like half an hour (probably a few minutes). I was convinced I should have gone earlier but it turned out I made the right call. Because I thought I had blown it I just couldn't wait to get back to the test centre.

lobster12 · 05/08/2020 13:45

That's great that you weren't as nervous this time and ur examiner was lovely. Fingers crossed you pass next time. You can definitely do it!!

TheCraicDealer · 05/08/2020 14:02

My sympathies OP. I passed on my 6th attempt. Or maybe it was my 7th? Who knows, I stopped caring as soon I got that signed certificate in my hand!

I changed instructors twice, did my last four attempts with the same guy who was nearly tearing his hair out but for the fact he was already bald. I knew how to drive and when we were on lessons I was fine, but the exam conditions just got to me every time. I was sitting in the car in tears after one go, with the examiner consoling me and telling me I was a good driver and would get it eventually.

In the end I went to a different area to do another test route and got it first time there. I think being in new surroundings (also a smaller town rather than inner city) really helped me psychologically.

Here I am eleven years later in a job that's had me driving up and down the country, with never even a point on my licence * -touches all the wooden things-* . You can do it!!!

jojobar · 05/08/2020 14:35

ah OP I'm sorry you didn't get it this time. But feeling like a driver is brilliant, that's such a breakthrough.

I failed my first test (technically my 4th, if you count the 3 I took 25 years earlier before deciding driving was too hard and I couldn't ever manage it) because I pulled slightly too far forward into a junction when turning right. I'm still convinced I was in the right place but it is as it is...I then made several errors on my next one before the 3rd (or 6th) one went brilliantly.

I think you will feel a lot more confident after today. Get that next test booked, do practise with your DH in the meantime, do lots of everyday driving - to the shops, to pick up a parcel, to visit relatives, whatever. Any journey you're doing together, try and drive it. The more practice you can get on just those normal journeys the better. And best of luck for your next test.

toothfairy73 · 09/08/2020 06:28

I'm sorry you failed OP but it's amazing you are now feeling more confident. Wishing you all the best of luck for your next one. Will you let us know how you get on?

CaviarAndCigarettes · 11/08/2020 00:04

I'm sorry you didn't pass @FrontToBackTree but glad you had a good examiner!

The test situation was always what got me too. I'm not wired up for that sort of scrutiny. Best of luck ❤️

Melanie7788 · 13/08/2020 15:41

This reply has been deleted

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SociallyDistantPenguin · 13/08/2020 16:07

It seems there are quite a lot of us who were 5th time lucky!
I've been driving for over 10 years now without accident or penalty points, and was one of those 'good in lessons, crap at test' type learners.
I genuinely believe that luck plays a huge part, what the road conditions happen to be, the weather, if the examiner had their Weetabix in the morning or had to just grab a coffee...

You'll do it next time OP, you can join the 5th time crew!

Kateella · 19/07/2022 18:48

I know this post was a while ago now. Did you end up passing in the end @FrontToBackTree ? I’m in the same situation now, I cannot seem to pass this stupid test! And it’s really getting to me. I failed my 7th test today and I’m just thinking I should throw the towel in and give up.

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