to wonder if it's even worth turning up to my driving test this afternoon?

[isithometimeyet]

Shamefully (but also, I feel, justifiably) starting to feel like a 14 year old with regards to my driving test.
First time - failed for being 10 miles over speed limit (this was on the way to a sliproad to a dual carriageway, so there was a logic to it, but I guess fair cop)
2nd - forgot to check blind spot when changing lanes (as do most of the people I take rides with)
3rd - ok, my bad - parent was very sick - mind wasn't on the road - did appallingly
4th time - 'took left corners too widely'. At this point, my very sane, lovely driving instructor started to sit in the back with me to find out what was going on. Yeah, I know it's weird, but I like it. He felt that was a dubious call and he is a hard arse.
5th time - clipped a corner. Fair cop, but I was hyped up due to 1-4
6th time - 'pulled out too quickly, forcing a driver on main road to slow down' - hardarse instructor felt this was dubious again.
Now I'm not denying there's a lot of my fault in the above catalogue of woe. Obviously you have to be safe. However, the driving test is completely unrealistic because in real life every driver makes a small mistake on every drive. it's a money making machine.
My instructor has said there's no point in contesting, because it's a closed shop.
Blame me and flame me, though please don't tell me 'yes but you've got to be safe' - I know that. That isn't what I'm talking about.

I too was unlucky on driving tests. First time, cut someone up, my own fault. Second, my instructor was livid with the examiner for failing me- really NOT my fault. It was awful, I thought I would never pass, mostly because I was so stressed out. I know I know that people have got to be safe that's why tests have to be strict, but you don't really learn to drive properly IME until you drive alone. To do this, you must jump through the right hoops i.e. pass the test. Good luck at beating the money-making machine! It will all be forgotten as soon as you get that piece of paper.

Reading that I don't know how the he'll I ever passed!!(on 2nd attempt)

Honestly, please go. I felt like that and I passed on 7th go. I couldn't believe it and was sure I'd made loads of mistakes. Some of my failures were more spectacular than yours, too. You start feeling it's impossible, I promise, you will pass it - maybe today. Don't give up.

My DS has just passed (4th time) and she is not a great driver. She hit someone on a zebra crossing... persevere!

If you don't go, you will never know whether you would have passed or failed. It will still cost you the same money if you don't turn up than if you fail.

If it's any consolation, I passed after 7 attempts on a wet Tuesday afternoon after some unlucky fails, including the dubous distinction of failing with no minors because of a silly mistake.

My nerves were shot, thought I'd made a mistake in the first 5 minutes, somehow puled it together and passed. It may be a money making machine but to get your independance you have to pass that unrealistic test.

Good luck and come back this afternoon to tell us you've passed. Plenty of PMA.

Poss not if you don't think your driving has kept improving since the last test.... Wouldn't even bother reciting the list of why you've previously failed as at least you've presumably learnt from those errors and can tick them off. Now just forget them, completely. Put them down to crap performance, either on your part or the examiners, whatever.
Qu is, whether your attitude is positive enough TODAY about your all round driving. Just think about the amount of work you must have put in, it really is good experience that counts

You've paid so go.

Had your instructor given you methods for certain things? Eg pull out if you could do it walking, use your wing mirror so you know when to turn left or right, ALWAYS check your blind spots when changing lanes, pulling off etc. Drive as if you were chauffeuring a VIP and wanted to give them as smooth a ride as possible.

Ooh, I forgot to say I passed on my 4th. 3rd was a near perfect test until 100 yards from the end, then, um not so perfect. Think a curb, tears and a burst tire. I changed instructor for my final test, more expensive, but gave me a fresh perspective and more more confidence.

I'm a good driver now, honestly!

...Might namechange now.

I have my third on Monday and I'm already thinking about not turning up. At the rate I'm going I'll be on all the examiners' Christmas card lists.

But you have paid and should go.

YABU to think "the driving test is completely unrealistic". You'll only get failed for a dangerous or illegal mistake. Going over the speed-limit is an instant fail. Clipping kerbs, causing other drivers to brake hard, taking corners wide = going onto the wrong side of the road, not checking properly when changing lanes and the other things you failed on are downright dangerous so you'll get failed for those every time. Minor faults are allowed for. Do the test, focus on the important things and stop blaming the examiner or making excuses like 'other drivers do it'.

Think Positively!

Go, do your best. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Don't even think of the other tests, treat them as trial tests.

Good Luck.

PS I passed on a wet Tuesday too!

Good luck op! You should go and do your best. You might get an easier test route or a less picky examiner. It's easy to say but try not to worry and trust your judgement, you've done this 6 times already so you've put in the practice to make it perfect :)

You know what, you can pass this - what you need to do is THINK. It's really hard, because nerves and panic and rote rules take over when you are scared or under pressure. So stop. Breathe. And concentrate really hard. Are you going to pull out? Well, okay, you need to know if something is coming, so check. Are you coming up to the brow of a hill? Well, something might be coming over the stop, so slow slightly.

That sounds really simplistic, but actually, IME, it's because people get fluttered and go on autopilot a bit that mistakes like yours happen. Just really really focus on everything you are doing, not what happened last time or the fact that the examiner is writing on his clipboard. Just concentrate. Because you do have the knowledge and skill to pass this, if you only let yourself.

hth

Also if the worst happens and you don't pass this time, try another test centre. Some are harder-nosed than others.

Probably best if you don't turn up.

There are far too many cars on the road as it is.

Alternatively, try a new driving instructor. Yours sounds uselessl

You get 12 small mistakes on the driving test, but only one major.

Just wonder whether your "lovely driving instructor" needs to be changed for one who perhaps isn't so nice but gets you through the test?

Ahh yeah, I actually do have to defend drivers here, most do manage a drive without making mistakes on every drive.

I could easily have had my first accident in 22 yrs the other day, I was indicating to turn right out of a side road, guy alreay on the road was indicating left, ie he was going to join the sliproad turning left into the road I was waiting to turn out of, leaving the road free for me to turn. I thought he was tanking it a bit, so waited, he sailed straight past me.

And I still, to this day, remember my instructor telling me you should never make anyone slow down when you pull out. Funny how things stay in your head.

*need thesaurus to find another word for 'Drive', I think

I agree with what they said. ^

I would go and do your test, it's a waste of money if you don't go. History is history regarding your previous tests. Just start afresh.

However, you DO need to be consistently safe and confident to be able to drive on your own and that's the objective of the test, not to make money from you.

I think you would benefit from a new instructor, because this one sounds like they like to blame the system for your fails rather than addressing your issues.

Good luck OP! I would go to the test. You have paid and at the very least it is more practice. You might surprise yourself and today could be the day you pass.

Go for it, honestly. Even if you fail it's a little more experience gained. You honestly have nothing to lose. Friends who have passed recently have all told me that they thought they'd failed very early on, which made them relax because they weren't putting themselves under pressure any more - in their minds they had failed already so it didn't matter. I really do think that relaxing is a huge part of it.

I am taking my 4th test in a few weeks and expect I'll be back there again after that. It's expensive and gut-wrenching but paying for tests you don't turn up for isn't helping you at all.

hi - you need to persevere. I passed on number 7 - lucky number 7 and all that so you can too!!
I think there is an amount of luck as to whether someone passes - I almost did on number 2 but got a manage fault for missing a mirror check on a lane change (they said anyway, I couldn't remember exactly but thought I'd done the check). but then I changed area and my results got even worse (more faults). London seems to be a much harder place to take and test and pass (I have sat them - up north, london and essex).
maybe you need to change area - where are you sitting it.
I have a friend who can't parallel part (didn't get it on the test and now never does it because she can't).
And another friend who claims her test was stopped mid-way through because she was too dangerous!
And another who gave up trying because after taking lots of lessons she never got to the stage of taking the test.
SO be proud of yourself for persevering. Believe that 7th time lucky you can do it - I did and am sure you can too.
good luck!!

Thank you everyone...everything crossed.