Page 2 | Failed driving test

Qwertykeys · 2021-12-02T09:00:20+00:00

Hi all , DS has failed his deriving test three times . He’s a good driver but just can’t do the test. If any of you have experience in multi fails how do I keep his spirits up ? He’s rather glum .

GreenPumpkins · 02/12/2021 13:08

I passed 7th time, failed each test with low minors and 1 major. The test I passed I was convinced I'd failed very early so just 'gave up' The nerves went away then and I was stunned when I passed. He will get there. It's very frustrating though especially when everyone keeps saying you can do it and it just doesn't materialise!

rhubarb84 · 02/12/2021 13:09

My instructor insisted his pupils only book tests in the slots at 10 or 11 in the morning as that's the quietest traffic so far higher chance of passing.

MadisonAvenue · 02/12/2021 13:15

My son passed on his third attempt, his instructor couldn’t work out why he was making the errors as he was more than ready for his test and was getting practice in his own car between lessons too. On his third attempt we tried Rescue Remedy. No idea if it made a difference but he passed. Even going back three years to when he passed there was a four month wait at our local test centre so it was frustrating for him.

I’m currently learning, I had my 15th lesson yesterday, and I just feel like I’ll never get it. The thing a lot of learners seem to struggle with, gear changes, I have no problem with but have a mental block about what I have to do to slow down or stop the car. I feel like I’ll never be ready for my test, and at one point during yesterday’s lesson I was close to tears and close to getting out of the car at a junction and walking home.

Babdoc · 02/12/2021 13:24

I think nerves play a big part in test fails. I failed two tests as a teenager, because I was so tense I could hardly concentrate.
I stopped having lessons while I was a student, and didn't try again until I'd qualified as a doctor. The extra confidence from my job and a few more years of maturity made all the difference.
If this is the case with your son, OP, then a small dose of a beta blocker on the day, to damp down his adrenaline and steady his heart rate could be helpful.

Immaculatemisconception · 02/12/2021 13:28

My cousin is a driving instructor. He gets a lot of first time passes. He also gets people coming to him from other instructors, after they've failed.

He's very patient, very chilled and is able to instil confidence into his pupils.

Not all driving instructors are good.

tobypercy · 02/12/2021 13:35

If you can find another instructor with some space it might be worth asking for them to do an independent assessment of DS's driving, with possibly a few lessons on anything he thinks is needed. As @Immaculatemisconception says they do vary a lot. Most people think their instructor is good but it's not always true.

I'm especially thinking this from your list of serious faults - unless DS drove right up the kerb & didn't stop then probably the reverse park was also an observation fail. I'm thinking 2/3 of the fails on observation might mean he hasn't been taught that topic very well, or just the way it's been taught hasn't really "clicked" for him and maybe a different teaching approach would help. And for safety of DS & everyone around him (as well as passing the test) observation is critical.

Icecreamsprinkles · 02/12/2021 13:59

My DD passed after fourth time recently . Another good driver but nerves kept getting the better of her. Also not helped by lockdown so there was a gap of 7 months between first and second fail. For her what worked was to keep getting cancellations she averaged 4 weeks between her second and third fail and third fail and fourth pass . For her she knew she had the capability the driver instructor couldn’t teach her anything more and just desperately wanted to get it done
I must admit after the third fail I did wonder if she would ever pass but she is a very confident driver now

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 02/12/2021 15:27

My 20yr old DD passed on her 4th go. Exceptionally able - about to get a 1st at a top uni bright - but driving tests just sent her into a spin of nerves and she kept failing. Tell him not to give up. We did however change her driving instructor after her 3rd fail and that helped enormously.

TheCreamCaker · 02/12/2021 15:49

I eventually passed my driving test, about 20 years ago, after failing 5 times. Tell him to keep up with it.

Original poster

Qwertykeys · 02/12/2021 16:19

Thank you all for your comments. His instructor is good , taught his sister , so I only want to change instructor as a last resort.
He goes out with me between lessons so I know he can do it .
I think it's just nerves and luck of the day . Will consider the rescue remedy and mars for the next test . He's always been a high achiever so failing is not something he's used to .
After the third fail he wanted to give up, but hopefully now he has come to realise he's not the only one to fail multiple times and can get his motivation back .

OP posts:

Original poster

Qwertykeys · 02/12/2021 16:37

Today 13:35tobypercy

If you can find another instructor with some space it might be worth asking for them to do an independent assessment of DS's driving, with possibly a few lessons on anything he thinks is needed. As @Immaculatemisconception says they do vary a lot. Most people think their instructor is good but it's not always true.

I'm especially thinking this from your list of serious faults - unless DS drove right up the kerb & didn't stop then probably the reverse park was also an observation fail. I'm thinking 2/3 of the fails on observation might mean he hasn't been taught that topic very well, or just the way it's been taught hasn't really "clicked" for him and maybe a different teaching approach would help. And for safety of DS & everyone around him (as well as passing the test) observation is critical.

Yes I agree two seen to be on observation ( both at road island) . The reverse we put down to a different car , his instructors car had been in a crash 3 days before his test . You have a very valid point in he does need to work on observation as this seems to be his downfall. Thank you for highlighting this i will work on it with him .

OP posts:

Q123R · 06/12/2021 16:22

Well this old gimmer passed on her 4th attempt today. I took Rescue Remedy beforehand, along with a banana and two paracetamol. I think the biggest thing was having the belief I could, and deserved to, pass.

Original poster

Qwertykeys · 06/12/2021 16:54

Well done Q123R . Test 4 booked for January for DS.

OP posts:

RightOnTheEdge · 06/12/2021 17:01

Q123R Well done! You must be over the moon

WhatHaveIFound · 06/12/2021 17:11

Q123R Well done, you must be so pleased!

My DD passed on her 4th attempt too. It was all down to nerves on her first fail, then again on the following two when she had the same examiner. Changed test centre (and instructor) for the final one and she passed with no minors at all.

She also had rescue remedy pastilles and a banana just before her last test. Maybe they both helped calm her?

Q123R · 07/12/2021 09:25

Thanks everyone! I don't really believe it. It seems mad that yesterday morning I couldn't drive my dd to nursery, yet I was allowed to drive her home (and did just that).

Only told a few people. One friend can't quite believe it. Her reaction bemused me no end. Am just pleased I'll be able to drive my dd places. My mum (no dad on the scene) could drive but sold her car when I was young and refused to drive again and I hated it. Am glad I persevered so my dd won't have that.

AmyDudley · 07/12/2021 13:04

I didn't start to learn until I was in my 50's and passed on my 5th attempt at age 57.
Firstly there is an element of luck involved (I was crap at reversing round a corner but on the test I passed I got turn in the road as my manoevre - much easier under stress!)
I found on my fifth test I was much more relaxed - I went into it thinking I would deal with each element as it came (rather than thinking - Oh my God I've got 40 mins of this) I just though OK now I'm doing 'this' I'll concentrate on that and not think too far ahead - not worry about what is to come. Then when you have done something dismiss it from your mind - don;t dwell on what you think are mistakes - they may only be minors, you may have done better than your think Don;t let what you think you have done wrong affect what you have left to do.
I presume his instructor has done several mock tests with him? I always found them useful, as it recreates the atmosphere a bit, with the instructor not conversing with you just giving instructions and them marking - it concentrates the mind.
As a PP said - make your observations very obvious, and make sure you basically 'get on with it' (I was guilty of being so worried I wasn't making enough observations I didn't get going when I should have. You have to make good progress)

Good luck to him in January, - he will pass I'm sure

RB68 · 07/12/2021 13:09

Practice Practice Practice take him out in your own vehicle with plates

Original poster

Qwertykeys · 07/12/2021 16:15

Thanks all , I took him out at the weekend and he was fine . He's done mock tests with his instructor, he's having another on Friday. He's not the most chatty person so driving in silence probably suits him . I'm sure it's just nerves , I think I could understand if he had a long fail list but the last test was one major no minor's.
I just need to keep him motivated to keep going

OP posts:

FooFighter99 · 07/12/2021 16:24

Hi @Qwertykeys I failed my first 2 tests purely because I was nervous - it was awful, my legs wouldn't stop shaking so I had to abandon my maneuvers completely

My mum bought me a little car and I ended up having extra lessons from my oldest brother to help build my confidence, so it's good that you're able to take him out for extra practice as that will help

Would he consider taking something like "Calms" on the day of his test? Though I'm not sure if they would affect his ability to drive in any way

Tell him good luck from all at Mumsnet!

FooFighter99 · 07/12/2021 16:25

Also @Qwertykeys, would you or his instructor be allowed to accompany him on his test and sit in the back of the car for moral support, or is that not allowed?

Original poster

Qwertykeys · 07/12/2021 16:28

I'm not sure what the rules are now because of covid. I will ask his instructor

OP posts:

prettyteapotsplease · 07/12/2021 16:48

Don't worry OP - I passed on my 6th attempt, my nephew (half my age) passed on his 7th, and he's really a fabulous driver.

I then took a few more lessons with the pickiest instructor who made me feel very inadequate at first - he said, 'I know I'm difficult to drive with but my intention is to make you feel that the test itself is child's play by comparison' which was certainly the case.

In the end I got a bit, not nonchalent exactly, but not strung up with nerves either. I woke up on the day of the last test and calmly felt that everything was going to go my way and it did. The test went like a dream. It can be like that for your son too so don't give up. If I can pass so can he.

rightsideoftheroad · 07/12/2021 16:51

Eat a banana an hour before the test. I heard this advice and did it and passed first time

Tee20x · 07/12/2021 16:57

Just a thought on the observation issues. Could it be that he is observing but the examiner can't see him doing it?

A trick my driving instructor taught me was to not set the mirrors perfectly (sounds counterintuitive) - obviously make sure visibility is still good but makes observations more glaringly obvious to the examiner - rather than just being able to move eyes and a slight movement of the head?

Agree that it's probably just nerves and luck of the day. I passed my test first time about 4 years ago and like others couldn't really believe it!

Failed driving test

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