Can't pass driving theory test

[TeddyForever]

Very embarrassed by this but I'm in my 40s and can't drive. Taking practical driving lessons for over a year but can't seem to pass my driving theory test. I've done it once and failed. Can't wrap my head around it especially the hazard perception. Feel very stupid and sad. I do need to learn to drive my kids now as DH is annoyed at having had to do this for such a long time.
Any tips or advice on how to study, or pass the theory test pls?

Have you used any of the apps you can get? Using them and practising the hazard perception every day helped me pass.

I've downloaded the official DVSA app, is that alone sufficient? I can't wrap my head around the hazard perception test :( honestly feel dumb.

I used the driving theory 4 in 1 app, as they offered a refund on the theory test it you completed all of the chapters, I practised about about 30mins a day, there's also lots of videos on YouTube that will help understand the hazard and when to click.

I’m a trainee driving instructor. Even us trainee driving instructors fail on the hazard perception, and loads don’t pass the theory first time - I was lucky to. So don’t despair.

Re the hazard perception, you should click for each hazard, once when you spot something, another when it develops and again when it’s obvious what action you need to take. Don’t click any more than that for each thing, it’ll penalise you.

The theory questions are far more detailed than any of the practice apps so do look at the Highway Code too, the apps aren’t enough sadly (because they are far more pleasant). The DVSA also has their own apps including the hazard perception, they are worth paying for as those as far more like the actual test.

Hope that helps and don’t give up!

DS took a while to pass. For him the James May app made a big difference. He talks you through what’s expected on the hazard test practices- it’s tricky as even if you’re great at spotting hazards the way the test works is not very intuitive.

I think less than half pass first time! It took my son four times - not until he did the app over and over til he was getting 100% most of the time.

It's been about 20 years since I passed mine but I remember struggling with the hazard perception. I clicked every little thing to the point of failure. I must have done 100 practise tests to get to the point where I could confidently guess what they considered a hazard and what was a trick (note- a bird in the sky is not a hazard 🤣). I assume there are more practise versions online than before so find every single test you can and practise for 10 or even 15 minutes a night until it becomes habit.

You don't mention struggling with the driving but if you do, I wholeheartedly recommend switching to automatic. I passed with a manual licence then moved to New Zealand where automatics were more common. I never drove manual again because it's so much easier to drive.

I just passed it yesterday but it took some concerted effort. I am also in my 40s! I really recommend the driving theory 4 in 1 app. it has a pass guarantee- if you are passing their mock tests (4 in a row) then you really are ready to take it. And if you were to fail, you get your test money (£23)back. I found this really helped me concentrate and by the time I took it (I delayed it a few times) I was completely ready and passed with 49/50!

I just redid and redid the multiple choice questions and then nearer the test I wrote out the ones I got wrong. I think writing them by hand or even in Notes on my phone helped make it more concrete. My brother failed 8 times!! He is very intelligent just didn't really apply himself which is what I think everyone has to do. A lot of it is instinct and a decent amount is rote learning. You can do it!

For the hazard perception I found practising on a computer rather than a phone screen much easier- thats what you do in the actual test.

I don't quite understand the hazard perception :( so I was under the impression that I click once when I spot the hazard? Is that not right so am I meant to keep clicking as the hazard develops etc?

Thank you so much you have given me hope.

Thank you for the tips, I will download the 4 in 1 app, and read the highway code.

If you click one when you see the hazard and you have mistakenly “spotted” the potential hazard before it even is a developing hazard, you score zero marks. You need to try clicking once per second for maybe 4 or 5 seconds to try and secure marks that are actually within the developing hazard time window.
Also each clip includes several things that could develop but only one thing that does. If you only click on the first hazardous scenario you see you might miss the one with the scores

I clicked twice for the hazards, so once quickly as soon as I saw it, then a second time just after.

I was doing rubbish at practice ones when I was 17 because I was clicking too quickly apparently 😂

The actual driving itself is fine for me - I'm doing auto, not manual. Definitely would not be able to manage manual.

Pay a driving instructor to sit with you and work through the practice tests. DD was a driving instructor and did this once or twice.

The DVLA one helped me loads. With the hazard perception, the others are right: you can't go too early. In my real test (I had to re-pass due to the pandemic) , for example there was this one clip that was very long with kids near a road, then more the other side, but it wasn't a hazard until they started to approach the road, even though you knew they were going to!

I think my sons used DVSA, the 4 in 1 app and Theory Test Pro which I think I paid about £5 for. There are instructional videos about when to press, how often to press and how many presses are too much. You are not stupid you just have to know how to play their game to get their points.

For real life scenarios, there are some great driving instructor videos on Youtube showing mock tests and they talk through what someone does well and what they should have done if they do something wrong. These were very helpful to DCs as they show things not in our area so they come across all different situations. The other videos that help too are any dash cam ones that help you spot potential situations. Most of them are near misses with only the occasional bump.

@SoundsOfNature is exactly right, it's a game that you have to learn the rules of! Once I got the hang of it the only time I had low points was when I'd click a few seconds before but because I always click soon afterwards I'd still get 3 points rather than 5 and passed. You only need 44 out of 75 so it's a lower score required.

I found I kept getting certain questions wrong and would google them (eg signs for a clear way ams the difference between the various no waiting /no stopping signs) but once I'd concentrated on learning them they generally stick.

Download the app and maybe commit to doing a test of 30 questions a day (or more, or less- they have options between 10 and 50 like in the test) and come back here and tell us how it's going and we can encourage you 🚗

If something causes you to have to change speed then it's a hazard as you are having to check your mirrors and it will effect other drivers. If a child is near the edge of the road you are having to be prepared for them to go into the road, if someone is about to open a car door you will potentially have to change speed etc if there's a skip/pot hole/badly parked car you are changing speed direction and that takes a cautious approach(speed,direction) you will need to mark the point of the hazard.

You can get theory test support online, you do have to pay for it but it's usually cheaper than the actual lessons

Thank you all for the advice. I've signed up for the test and re-sitting in Oct. hopefully that'll give me plenty of time to study. I appreciate all tips for hazard perception- I click when the hazard starts to happen not before!

You click once when you first spot the potential hazard then 4 more times as it develops into an actual danger. Click steadily, not quick succession.

🤞good luck. Don’t feel stupid, it’s not meant to be easy.

I see what you mean, it seems unnecessarily complex?!

Thank you, I'm old and can't pass it. I'm quite embarrassed when I tell people I can't drive. It's usually met with shock or laughter.