Why can't I pass my driving test?

[dontcallmehon]

Failed my third driving test today. Am putting a brave face on it, but I feel a bit fed up, particularly when dh seems to think it is a big joke (he passed his third test). I am starting to lose faith and think that I may never do it. It is also costing a fortune!

First test went really well with only a few minors, up until the point near the end of the test when I pulled in, went to straighten up and hit the kerb :(

Second test, got quite a lot of faults really. 12 minor (all for different things) and 2 serious - 1 for making a car slow down when I changed lanes and for not seeing a car which had to wait when I was doing a three point turn.

Third test, had hynotherapy to help with my nerves on the day. Don't know if helped really, I was still horribly nervous. Got 8 faults in total, two serious - again for changing lanes and one for being in the wrong lane. I had changed to a different test centre to get an earlier test date and I really didn't know the routes very well. No excuse, I know - I should have been better guided by the road markings.

Just feel so rubbish - got test number 4 booked at the test centre I'm most familiar with, but I'm really starting to wonder if I'll ever do it. My instructor thinks I'm a good driver and I don't seem to make those mistakes on my lessons, but the thought of the test makes me feel sick. Ironically, I think it's actually getting harder the more attempts I take, as there is more internal pressure to pass - as I don't want to have yet another failure!

Please give me hope that it will happen one day :( I didn't tell anyone apart from dh about this test, which is good in one way, but I neeed sympathy :(

[Bumbo12]

Please never give up!,

I took me far to long to learn something I kept putting off something I will always regret. I woke up on my 50th birthday and vowed I was going to be a driver by the time I was 51.

To cut a long story short I passed my threory 3 weeks after getting my provisional in fact a whole month before I'd even sat behind the wheel. With marks my instructor said were marks he'd expect an adi to get. 49 questions and 69 on Hazard.

I quickly got the hang of it and had my first test failed on a mirror check classed as a serious with 2 minors. Test 2 3 4 & 5 all failed with silly mistakes marked as serious. It was obvious my nerves on the day were getting the better of me although not normally nervous.

So I did something not always possible and took my 6th in my own car, I told no one about my test I even booked it the morning of the test at 9am with the test at 12.05. I then had to let one person in on the secret a close friend who sat beside me while I had an hrs warm up and the drove to the test.

I felt relaxed and confident so confident I refused to turn right in busy traffic as the slip road had no space so would leave me no where to go, I continued and used another route to get to the same place with I told the examiner was safer.

Well low and behold I thought I'd failed because of this but to my surprise I'd passed, 9 months after starting I had what I vowed I'd have a drivers licence. It's now been 9 months since the test and I drive miles both on and off motorways.

Stay with it after test 5 I almost gave up but so glad I didn't.

[uzo71]

hello

[uzo71]

I am a mother of three young children. i need advice on what to do about practical driving test. i took my 11th driving test yesterday and still failed. I am very depressed and unhappy at the moment and i do not know what to do. please has anyone heard or seen anybody who had taken practical driving test 11 times and still have not passed? My instructor keep saying that i drive very well but i keep failing. Should i continue trying or give up? I need as many advice as possible. Thank you!

[youvegottobekidding]

Defeatedkid1999 - you're 18! You have the world at your feet, sweetheart please don't feel despondent - you have your young age on your side.

It's my birthday tomorrow. I'm going to be 45. Would you believe I started learning to drive nearly 3 years ago. My theory ran out in Jan if this year. 5 tests failed. I only work part time, OH was funding all my lessons & tests. He's reluctant now to throw anymore money at it. We just haven't got the spare cash at the moment. I'm embarrassed for myself - people keep asking 'have you passed your test yet?' I feel like telling them to fuck off. Every test i did I got less than 3 minors, obviously 1 serious to fail. Last test it was clean sheet, just 1 serious because I hesitated at a cross junction. I might get back into it when I'm ready, it's crushing though being told you've failed.

All I know is that I wish I had learnt to drive when I was your age, I really really do. It's so much harder when you're older, please please don't give up.

[Defeatedkid1999]

I’m getting sick of it now, I’ve just recently failed my 5th test! I’m a safe and good driver but I don’t know what is going wrong😴. My tests have been harshly booked down by the examiner they are such pricks!
I just feel like giving up, the DVSA are a money making scheme robbing people of their hard earned money!
I just feel like pure shit like nothing matters anymore.
It pisses me off so much that I need to pass badly because I need a car for college and work but yet these other drivers who have passed are horrendous drivers and so unsafe! I’m 18 and I seriously contemplating life because all I do is fail at everything no matter if I give it my all I always fail😔

[Rabia80]

And yes I tried rescue remedy too. It helped also. All I need is not loosing hope and confidence. Which I'm trying. I'm very shy and quite person. and as I said I only want to support my family Thts y I'm learning driving plus i improved my confidence tht day i started learning driving. Good luck to all learners !

[Rabia80]

Thank you everyone. Feeling better after your replies. Honestly lost my confidence yesterday but now trying to gather my self. I'm not alone. Many people struggling. God bless you all. Ur relies have me strength
Thanks 😊

[Jazzywazzydodah]

Seventh test passed!

Don't tell a soul then if you fail no one will know. I used to put so much pressure on myself

[skopu]

I passed on my 7th, so plenty of empathy here. I also used to be nervous although as months passed my confidence grew too high - -a couple of times I used my parents' car when they were on holiday-.

Book the next test asap, so they become routine.
Keep your self-belief - you're as good as most drivers out there, every day you see lots of silly mistakes made.

Have you tried Rescue Remedy, that's great for calming you.

I wouldn't recommend this but I went to lunchtime leaving drinks before my last test and had half a cider (the tester obviously had no sense of smell) and surprise surprise my nerves vanished. Not advocating this, I'm just saying whatever you can do to minimise nerves, legally, do it.

Also as a pp said, don't tell people the date of next test.

Positive thinking, you can do it, good luck!

[Rabia80]

Hi everyone
Failed my third attempt. Completely shattered disappointed. Basically I'm a nervous person but struggling to learn driving for my kids and for my own self. Lessons ok. But test make me nervous. But this time I wasn't even nervous and made silly mistakes. On roundabout took evict on no through road. And overspeeding. Theory running out in June. Have lost faith in my abilities. Giving up means loosing the money and time I spent. But seems I can't get passed. Shall I keep practicing and taking tests. People ask oh u have been learning long and not passed yet. Comments like these make me feel low

[Patheticfallacy]

Yes! I have name changed since but I've been driving three and a half years

[winda28]

Im curious, did you passed?

[Patheticfallacy]

I did get there thanks, I'm the op and I've been driving three years!

[Branleuse]

I passed 7th or 8th time. Took me years. 3 times is nothing these days. Tests are harder than ever, and we have the second hardest driving test in the world. Second only to finland.

[chrome100]

I failed 7 times. Just keep on going, you'll get there in the end.

If it's any consolation, I stopped caring after about fail number 3 and didn't even feel upset.

[Patheticfallacy]

This was my thread from years ago! I passed on the 5th attempt and have been driving three years now. Don't give up!

[Kezza86]

Just failed my third test today. The first test I took I failed for my steering which my instructor says was nerves. Second I was much more nervous and my kids knew about it so I thought I would be letting them down, I went over the speed limit. Today I moved off on a hill and rolled back slightly, used accelerator instead of brake to correct my mistake. My aim for this year was to pass. I feel like I have let everyone down now.

[Minaitani]

Hey did u eventually pass i failed today 3rd attempt was so mad

[lynnspeed]

Can I ask did u finally pass ur test I failed second time today and im totally gutted.i drive great on lessons and with my hubby but test day comes and fall to pieces ive been taking kalms leading up to both but on the test day I dall to bits x

[Passtheoryhelp]

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[selmiller]

You need to do more practice on it and as you said you are a teacher then you will also know that failing make everyone perfect and more accurate. So don't count your failure just find your deficiency for it, success is near

[basebee]

My instructor is good but just like most people on the forum, it is silly mistakes that made me fail. i had failed twice, and i seem to have enough as well, i have my 3rd one booked, nerves.... let you know how iget on

[nini10]

I can undrestand you I faild my 6th test , maybe I chang my test center or maybe find a new instructor ,I realy dont know what go to do but I cant give up cos I spend so much money and time for that

[WeAllHaveWings]

I passed on my 3rd go (in 1988 when tests were much easier than they are now!). Tests 1 and 2 were horrendous.

Test 3 I nearly never went to after a friend had died in a car accident the previous week and I was still too shaken by it.

A friend convinced me that since I'd paid for it I might as well go just as a practice for my next test, so I went and just went through the motions assuming I'd fail, couldn't believe it when they said I'd passed. I firmly believe I only passed 3rd time because I didn't care so wasn't nervous.

If your driving instruction thinks you are ready its likely to be your nerves holding you back. Good luck next time!

[magpiegin]

I passed 6th time. I could drive fine but always got a major in the test. Just stick with it and you'll get there.