to think it's a bit pointless just rebooking driving tests again and again when I don't seem to have learned anything more to help me pass?

[working9while5]

In two minds about this.

Have failed three tests. Have another tomorrow but not feeling particularly confident about it as I seem to be making the same sorts of mistakes in lessons now that I did before the previous tests.

It's the new "independent driving" section that's doing me in. All my errors on the previous two tests have been in this section to the extent that I had no minors on the rest of the test but serious errors in this section. Basically, they show you a little diagram with three changes of direction (which you will usually need to change lanes for etc) and you have to remember it and execute it. They can ask you to follow signs too, but I haven't had this yet.

If I'm honest, I just don't feel I have enough experience to co-ordinate everything I know with the memory requirements. If I were out on the road as a real new driver, I would probably stick to familiar routes until I was more confident with driving on my own but I have to do this as it's the new requirement so need to find a way round it. I've been saying to my driving instructor that I really need a lot more practice but he thinks I'm "ready" - I think the results speak for themselves, really!

Is it my attitude? Should I just keep taking tests until it all works and they give me a license? Should I buy a car and drive with my dh for a few months with occasional lessons to keep me on track? Am I just unlucky? Should I give up taking tests until my baby sleeps through the night and I am not a walking zombie?

Any tips?

YABU. Keep on taking the test.

It's £62 a pop though. I can't help but think if I was really ready to take the test I would, erm.. pass?

Can you switch to a different test centre where they're more likely to do the independent driving differently?

Can you come up with a way of remembering the changes in direction? It's only three so must be doable. Also are you allowed to ask for clarification if you forget? You are probably focussing too much on the memory bit - it's not a memory test!

(I say all this as a learner and am worried about this myself).

How about changing that sentence round and when you really think you are ready to take the test then you will pass? Bit cod science though.

I passed third time and that was the test when I actually relaxed as I thought I had failed at the beginning so in my head I used it as driving practice. You could have knocked me down with a feather when the chap said I had passed.

Just had a read of this which sounds like you can ask for clarification.

Iggly, what have you been told about it? It's such a new section I think there's a fair bit of confusion about it. A friend of mine elsewhere told me that she was told to stop and ask to look at the diagram again if she got stuck but I was told this was a no-go.

It's not the actual memorisation of the three "bits" that I find hard, just that because I am trying to remember them I kind of miss out on other information e.g. in the last test, one of them was:
"go to the end of the road and turn left, there will then be a compulsory left (and something about a dual carriageway here?), go straight ahead at the roundabout and right at the next roundabout.

I remembered it all, but it was strange. The first roundabout was one of those strange ones where you have to go into the right hand lane to go straight ahead.. but I was panicking I had done it wrong and so went through a red light between that and the next one. Ouch! Have never done that on a lesson! Made a similar stupid error on the other diagram.

I'm not a nervous driver but I find this bit really, really hard. I think I haven't been very well prepared for it e.g. I've been overprompted.

I think because the thing that is causing you probs is about independent driving I would do what you suggest and go out with your husband to do some practising and get experience that way for a couple of months. Then you're not relying on just doing exactly what the instructor says as you probably do in lessons. I'd then have a few more lessons nearer to the test date to make sure all your other skills are still up to scratch.

My Dad put in for his test 21 times (only actually turned up to 9 of them though). When he eventually passed it was because he was in bad rush hour traffic. The fact that he had been out driving independently for such a long time meant he was able to cope with difficult real life driving. He is sure this was what made the difference for him after so many failed tests.

DD1 had 4 fails her instructor refused to give her a mock test so she changed instructors and he refused to let her put in for test until she'd passed 3 mock ones she passed her test after that.

I've been told that you get a set of instructions and you then try and follow. If you get stuck, ask for clarification. Main thing is you drive safely and make decisions. So if you messed up at the roundabout, focus on driving safely ahead then ask what to do next.

My instructor is pretty good at not giving many prompts so I have to make decisions about lanes etc in advance.

Are you seeing your instructor before your test? Get him to debrief you on what you should do if a similar thing happens on your test tomo.

Interesting borderslass! I've never had a mock test!

Another link

Keep taking the test, I think it is such a waste of time and money to have a break because when you go to have a test again it feels like your first time, so you will probably feel very nervous. I passed my 4th time I think the only thing that changes is you get less nervous and nerves is why I failed all of mine and second the mock test they are very helpful.

That's useful Iggly! Do you have a test booked?

I will have a go tomorrow and I think if it doesn't work this time, I will definitely start driving more with dh. We haven't done any because he was worried about confusing me but now that I am otherwise test ready, I think it should be okay.

good luck for tomorrow

Maybe I could get the instructor to just do mock tests inbetween tests.

I don't want a huge break but I've been put under a lot of pressure to just rebook straight away e.g. last test was 6th of November.. so it's a lot of money when I don't really feel any more ready iyswim.

Thanks!

Yes - test is ages away though, in Feb. Instructor suggested making it sooner but I've had to miss lessons and christmas is in the way, so I'll leave it I think!

You should consider switching instructor just for the test - my instructor has got new pupils this way as he's very good. He just takes them on a lesson, does mock tests to make sure they're good enough and they usually pass. I'd recommend him if you were round my way (SE london/kent).

Let us know how you get on!

Keep taking it. DH passed 5th time. Although he will tell you it was 4th!! He failed on the same roundabout 4 times.

I seriously think that if I had to sit my test now I'd never pass!!

AND it took me 4 attempts in ye olden days because I found it so nerve-wracking. And I never got nervous about any other type of exam!!

It was when I got a really nice, relaxed examiner that I passed.

Defifnitely try to get out and about between lessons - but this won't be necessary because you will pass tomorrow!!

Good luck!!

I passed my test on my third attempt. Between tries 2 and 3 I bought myself an old Mini and drove it everywhere with DH and my mum. The experience definitely helped. I felt completely confident when I took my third test (in my Mini, not the instructor's car).

I didn't have to do the independent driving bit but I'm sure I would have struggled with it. As you say, when you are a new driver you can stick to familiar routes until you get more confident.

Good luck with try number 4 whenever you choose to take it.

I did loads of mock tests. If you go with BSM or somewhere like that, you get the tests with a different instructor, not your usual one, so it makes you a bit more nervous but not as much as the real thing. And they don't prompt you, so you can practice it like real, whilst knowing that it doesn't actually count for anything.

Also make sure the instructor knows the routes of the tests - if you have a big company like BSM they will have discussed the routes with each other, know where the independent driving is likely to be, etc, so it's really not that independent at all. You still have to remember what to do, but you'll have driven in those areas before, so you'll know what lanes are important, where compulsory left turns are, that kind of thing. When they give you the instructions, you'll be able to visualise where you are actually going, rather than as a series of instructions (i.e., you can think, oh that's the way that you'd take to get to sainsburys or something, rather than 'left then right then right again).

Really good advice here.

I have taken my test in three different centres so not knowing the area is something I've been wondering about (whilst dismissing it as me making excuses for myself!)