Thread 15 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Lateral Flow & Driving Tests

[orangecinnamon]

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@Seeline

Proud Mum alert! DD has been elected a prefect! They had to write a letter of application to the HM, then successful candidates stood for election by the rest of the L6 and staff. I'm really pleased - as one of only 40 girls new to an existing year group of 150 boys, and being quite shy, I am amazed that enough people knew her to vote for her! She is really chuffed ☺️

Well done to her..that's lovely

That’s great, a big well done to her Seeline

Congratulations to your DD seeline; DS didn’t make any of the senior prefect roles but is going to try for one of the other ones. 🤞🏻

@sandybayley well done to your DD on her theory test.

Fools that’s lovely positive news about your DS, hope things continue on the same path.

That’s brilliant @Seeline!

Have just listened to DD and 2 friends having a zoom study session on BMAT questions and understood NOTHING. Not one single word. I am a scientific illiterate.

Lots of positive news on this thread, well done all.

For any DC interested in computer science CyberFirst summer courses part of GCHQ are open for booking and completely free (I booked one for DS year 10, but courses for year 10,11&12).

Just wanted to ask questions about driving tests.

Dd passed his theory a week ago but I couldn't tell you all because I was banned for a week, re 'racist and anti Semitic posts', which I was very very upset about being accused of.

Driving test booked for end of September. Paid £19.99 for cancellation app, but so far no earlier availability.

Which app did you use ican? Because I used 'find-me-a-driving-test' and so far no good.

I know Esther got a date in July.
I'm prepared to drive Ds1 to any place in the country for a test! He's ready now. I just don't know how to get him an earlier date!
Any suggestions?

Hi - glad to see you back @oblomov. Walton west Yorkshire had availability 30 june when I looked at the weekend- rural location. We are in Harrogate and early August now. I had Testi App but found nothing via that

Thanks Esther. Hmmmm. 3.75 hours drive is a bit too far even for me!
Bugger. Why can't I get him one, a bit closer to Surrey. I've tried loads of different places, Oxford, Southampton, nothing!

@Oblomov21, my DS is only just starting to have lessons-should I book something as it sounds like it is a long wait?
My DS has had a real wobble about medicine, he says 12 people applied and only 5 got any offers last year. What are others doing about the back up 5th option on uni's? He is really not interested in anything else :-(

Hopeful I suggest booking the theory. You can only book the practical test once you've passed the theory. On the theory pass certificate they give you a certificate number. You need this to be able to book your practical driving test.

Thank you! I have booked the theory, I had no idea about having to pass that first. I have not kept up with these things at all.

@Hopeful201 2021 has been a very odd year for medicine applicants, we think there were fewer offers because medical schools are not expecting offer holders to miss grades as they would in a normal year, and there are a lot of gap year applicants with A/A* grades they may not have achieved of they had done exams. Most advisors would say that you should always regard it as a 2 year application process and just feel lucky if you get in the first year. DS1 got in second time - first time 4 interviews, no offers, second time 4 interviews, 3 offers. I think school leavers are often in the minority on medicine courses. It is a bad idea to do another degree first of you know you intend to apply for medicine as graduate medicine is even more competitive - this year graduates with UCAT scores over 3,000 did not receive interviews. Also costs more and if they do an undergraduate medicine course they can't get a loan if they are a graduate.

Just wanted to know about the practical driving test doesn't your instructor book this for you or do you do it yourself?

@Oblomov21 you probably just need to dip in to the test booking site every day and select some to search which might work for you. The downside of getting a test far away is that to maximise chance of success you really don't lessons with a local instructor who knows the routes. We have booked in July for DS1 in Bodmin and I have arranged some lessons over the previous 4 weeks. It is a frustrating consequence of Covid most people will not have noticed!

@Nard75 varies. Some instructors offer 20 lessons + test deal, most people I know booked themselves

@Oblomov21 I have used an app called driving test now. It was £17 We were offered approx 10 tests each day as soon as I paid for the app. but tests always too soon. I thought I'd probably bought the app too early. There's the option of choosing dates and times you can definitely do. So I ticked every box from 7th aug (on holiday week before) through to 21st. It automatically booked one on 20th august. Ds seems to think he will be ready to take it before. If so I just turn the app back on and it'll search again. No need to pay again. My friend has been been trying to get an earlier test for her son...she refuses to pay £17 so she is sitting refreshing the dvsa page every few mins, she's just had an operation so is home, but each time a test comes up it gets booked before she can do it. So I'm glad we got the app. So we have a test 20th august. Only a month earlier. But I can move it forward if need be. At least he won't be at school like he was for the original test. I don't want to book it too early and find he's not ready.

Well done to your son too.

@Nard75 I've not heard of the instructor booking a test. Only with intensive courses. But maybe some do.

Thank you Monkey. I'm already trying that, every time I remember. Nothing.

And yes I know what you mean re instructor and different area.

Saying that, I mentioned your Dh's Welsh test to instructor today, and he commented that this area we live in is considered to be one of the hardest test centres because it has everything, nasty junctions, huge roundabouts, everything.

Thank you icanbe. I will pay for that app aswell. The one I've just paid £19.99 has given me nothing.

icanbe is it this one?
There are loads!

I've emailed my other app telling them I'm unimpressed, they've offered me nothing on a week, (and since then 100's of others will have passed theory and be looking) and that I'd like a full refund.

@Oblomov21 I think so. It looks like this....

You can see my nhs covid app too 😂

On this app they say if you don't get an earlier test they will refund you.

Thank you indeed.

I have no news on the driving front. We are adding to our family with a Greyhound soon....watch this space ! If anyone has any advice I am solicitating...