DS theory test in a week, has done no revision

[DuchessDeuce]

DS has his theory a week today. Was bought all of the books, flashcards etc as well as the official app, and I've asked him repeatedly if he's confident, feels ready, would like me to test him. "No, im fine. Feel OK about it" etc.

Asked tonight if he's done ok on the hazard perception parts, and its basically come to light that he's done fuck all.

Im fuming. We're £1000 into practical lessons and he's got a little car waiting for him, being gifted by his grandparents. Seems to be enjoying the lessons, so i dont get it. So annoyed by the apathy!

What are the chances of him passing? They're not gonna be good are they?

Tell him in advance of the test that he’s paying for any resit out of his own money, and mean it.

If he wants to pass, then a week is loads of time to pass his theory for a teenager. If he's not scared of failing, then no amount of time will be enough.

I can tell you now that I passed it, and passed it well, with far less revision time, after I impulsively grabbed a theory test slot that had come up because of a cancellation. And at that point I'd had one driving lesson!

Like so many others posting this was my DS for several annoying years.
I got quite stressed over his laid back attitude to exams, test or bloody anything that needed any type of planning or thought.

I recognised that he had to learn to fail, he bought tickets to some fighting event in Manchester when he was 18, he didn’t book a hotel, train travel, nothing just shrugged his shoulders when I asked him how he was going to get there and where he would stay.

But he got there and came back in one piece.

He has a theory test in two weeks, no revision yet and I’m saying nothing, his time, his energy and his money wasted!

a week is plenty of time if he puts effort in now.

I had this feeling too OP with my DD and I was right - she failed. Came out asking me what a defib had to do with driving, and had “no idea” that questions relating to towing a caravan would come up. Erm, you would have had you practiced! My plan was always to make her pay for the theory, and then I’ll give it her all back once she passes (whenever that may be). I’ve also cut her driving lessons down now to once a month as you’re literally chucking money away until they pass the theory as you can’t book the test.

just to put yourself in their shoes though, there’s an app they can buy for £5. Do the test yourself and see if you pass. I did it and failed. So it’s not as easy as you think and they definitely need to revise.

You can definitely cram it in less than a week.

Dd2 told me to the way to her theory that she'd done literally 20 minutes that morning and not even looked at it beforehand.
Like you, I was not impressed.

She passed. I wasn't sure whether to be pleased, or put out because it would have served her right to fail.

Personally a week seems like ages. But I’ve always left all revision to the last minute!

I think nearly every poster here is right, and it is frustrating when you have a lack-lustre attitude to it coming straight back at you. You CAN pass theory with a week to go. BUT it is not a slam dunk. A driving licence IS something they usually want to achieve. You do need to think about how much you bankroll it. First go, yeah, second go is "on them" for us. And, yes, then you have the real test, lessons, practice. I have chucked a lot of money at this with my five, and now they are paying for themselves. Only one driver made it out. Makes me quite cross, but, equally makes me cross when I end up being taxi driver because there is no alternative. (and maybe I shouldn't, but as you all know jobs would be lost etc, it is the last time I will ask, please please Mum,,I can't afford a taxi..). I shake my head at my own weakness ! Hope he pulls his socks up. xx

My daughter crammed the night before. I was similarly annoyed but she passed with a v good mark. If he’s smart and used to revising for exams he can apply those techniques here and do fine.

I think I did about 2 days revision for mine. A week is plenty, if he's had £1000 of lessons, he likely has a reasonable idea of theory

It is still possible -my DS only started revising for his 2 days before the test, and mostly just the evening before, and passed it easily. I was pleased and frustrated at the same time!

The point is whilst you need to be aware of hazards you can't be braking for every pedestrian that approaches, or every car at a junction. You press when the potential hazard starts developing into an actual hazard I.e when youd react in real life

It's a hazard perception so there's a high probabilty potential hazards will actually become hazardous, so it skews towards positive, but pressing really early in really life just makes you an over cautious driver. Anticipate hazards yes, but you only need to react at the point of a "developing hazard"

Same. I kept letting mine run out. I’ve actually done it three times. I passed it all three but the last time I did it it was much much harder.

It is possible to pass with short notice. I just did the quizzes on the app over and over and there was an option to include the questions I kept getting wrong. I didn’t think the hazard perception was difficult though really

My son was the same
but in last week totally spent every min on it and got a better score than when I done mine

It’s his driving licence, not yours. He’s old enough to apply himself. If he doesn’t want to, that’s not your issue.

When I was doing practice theory tests online the night before mine, my then 11 year old did one, and passed. It’s that easy.

The pass rate for theory tests is now 44.9% so it obviously is not that easy .

Erm I was given all that as were my brother's and no never even took the book wrappings off, we all passed no problems first time..some of us don't need to study etc because we've been taking it in for years anyway...over studying I would have failed no studying I didn't...what works for one person does not work for the next

My DD2 crammed it the day before and passed. A week is plenty time.

I’m an instructor. If he’s academically bright there’s every chance he will cram it in one big go. If he isn’t then he won’t.

My son passed the second time after he actually bothered to work!

I passed mine about 6 weeks ago and only managed about 6 hours studying in total around work/kids etc. I used the app and just gave everything a very quick read through then done a few practice sets of questions and then concentrated on doing Hazard Perception clips as I kept getting 0 because of clicking too early when I tried them! They definitely need to be practiced!
I got 49/50 for Qs and 68/75 for HP which I was delighted with!!

At the end of the day @DuchessDeuce - it’s your DSs responsibility. Personally I’d be letting him know that I was only continuing to pay for his lessons if I was seeing effort on his part. It’s bloody expensive!!
Also might be worth mentioning to him that the wait for practical tests is ridiculous. I went on to book one as soon as I’d passed my theory and the first available was the very end of July. It’s not an ideal date for me so I keep going on to try and change it but when I tried again this week the earliest I can get is 5th Sept. So getting through the theory and getting something booked should be a priority if he wants to be driving anytime soon!

My instructor had someone fail last week and they can’t get a resit until August!

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I’m over £1k into lessons too 🫠 for myself though 🤣 I don’t have anyone able to take me out for extra practice unfortunately so completely reliant on 1 lesson a week when I can fit it in between work/kids etc. And I can’t get a test until the end of July so it’s going to end up costing me at least another £1k in lessons 😔😬

20 lessons in, the theory test was the point DS decided to give up learning to drive.

He couldn't be bothered to study for the test.

So infuriating, but his life, his choice.

4 years on, he's learned to get himself everywhere on public transport.

I hope your lad ends up getting there sooner than mine!

What strikes me is that you’ve done everything you can to prepare him for this test and handed it over plus the car is there and waiting, if he fails it will do him good to realise that he has to work for things. Make him pay for the resit, they do tend to pass it though, their reactions are quick and the app is brilliant for learning and practising the test on