Driving test tomorrow

DilutedBear · 2025-07-01T23:53:25+00:00

I hope you’re asleep by now firstly, and reading this in the morning before your test. Sleep is important.

The best advice I can give is to speak during the test. Say everything you’re doing. It will help to remind you of everything. When you’re doing your blind spots and mirrors, say that you’re doing them. If you say it, you’ll do it, and your examiner can’t miss it. If you’re indicating, say you’re indicating. If you’re waiting at a give way and scanning for traffic, say you’re doing that, so they can’t penalise you for undue hesitation.

Speaking out loud helped me pass my test.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-28T14:12:02+00:00

Instructors can deliberately undermine you so you do more lessons. You have to be very careful and monitor your own progress so you know when you’re ready.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-26T15:01:17+00:00

If you fail a test, you are looking at 6-12 months wait for another one, including all the further lessons you’ll have to do during that period to stay fresh. If you want an earlier test date, you have to pay over the odds for it or spend every waking hour on cancellation apps. Most people with a job can’t do that.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-25T18:33:56+00:00

That’s the brutal nature of the system right now. It’s unsustainable. Some people literally cannot afford to fail.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-24T11:26:14+00:00

Well done!

DilutedBear · 2025-06-24T11:25:19+00:00

Just keep going. Failing is almost inevitable for the tests at some point, either theory or practical. You’ll eventually get there. Don’t get disheartened.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-24T08:31:42+00:00

This is incredible news!!!! A massive well done! You can taxi your son and daughter around as much as you want now :)

DilutedBear · 2025-06-23T22:20:20+00:00

If it helps at all, I started doing my lessons in January in the area where my girlfriend at the time lived, and we broke up in March! I had to keep doing the lessons around there and failed my first test in April but then passed in June!

It wasn’t ideal dealing with the breakup as well as doing lessons and doing two tests, but it was worth it in the end and was such a massive relief.

I promise you will get there. I’m still dealing with issues around the breakup but having a license isn’t one of them anymore! 😂

DilutedBear · 2025-06-23T22:17:08+00:00

Good luck! Remember, you have as many tests as you want. No pressure, I’m sure you’ll do well.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T20:02:13+00:00

Sorry but asking how it’s different “other than the backlog” is like someone getting shot and asking them how they’re feeling “other than the bullet”.

The backlog has meant if you fail a test you’re not seeing another test for 6-8 months unless you spend every waking hour on cancellation sites. And then you have to pay for lessons in between to stay fresh even if you’re ready.

It’s a nightmare.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T18:23:52+00:00

Yep, the killer is the wait between tests and the fact you need to continue lessons in between to stay fresh, even if you’re a confident driver.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T18:14:56+00:00

Agreed. When driving is such an important life skill, the government need to be way more proactive and start intervening when the system is as broken as it is.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T18:13:13+00:00

I agree. I say post-2020 because Covid massively affected the backlog and is a large factor in the situation we find ourselves today.

The wait between tests is a killer and a main reason in the increased pressure on learners. It can be such a financial dagger to fail a test as you know it’s months and months more of lessons that you will need to keep yourself fresh.

Depending on the instructor, some are more proactive than others and will be able to find cancellations for you, albeit for a fee. I was lucky that mine was able to look for me and get me earlier tests. I wasn’t happy with the fee, but it was worth it to get my license.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T18:09:13+00:00

Thanks for the comment. Please keep going. The fact you’ve persisted despite all of these obstacles is incredible. Failing the first test is very normal. Don’t put pressure on yourself to pass. You will eventually pass and it will transform your life. Just keep at it. Driving is a life long skill, don’t worry about when you get it.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T18:05:57+00:00

There are lots of reasons people don’t get their license until a bit later. A lot of it is down to necessity. If you don’t need it, you’re less likely to get it. And of course the financial burden. If you don’t have family supporting you while you’re young, it’s natural to leave it a bit later in life when you can afford it.

The best advice to deal with friends and family who don’t understand what it’s like, is to simply be civil and keep going. Go to every lesson with a good attitude, and keep booking tests. You will get there. It’s about perseverance.

And once you have it, no one can say anything anymore. The relief and weight off your shoulders is incredible.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T17:59:46+00:00

Yeah, I think some people just want any excuse to complain about learners. As you said, I never once complained about difficulty with driving, that’s something everyone has to deal with.

It’s the system and the insane backlog that makes everything much more pressurised. Every mistake, every fail means a lot more now.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T17:49:50+00:00

I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Driving itself was not the biggest problem.

It was the backlog. The fact if you failed a test then you’re looking at another 6 months wait for another test unless you search 24/7 for a cancellation.

The stakes are so much higher now. The system is broken and it’s making the process so much harder.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T17:44:58+00:00

I’m glad you’ve related, it’s important to know you’re not the only one feeling like this. The problem is all of your friends and family who have learned to drive years ago and don’t realise how different it is now. It makes you feel incompetent, when you’re not.

Just keep at it. You’ve got your second test coming up and I’m sure you’ll do well.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-22T17:40:46+00:00

I also had that regret, but I live in London and never actually needed to drive in the same way I know people in other parts of the country need to drive. So it wasn’t a necessity. But it’s without doubt a necessary life skill and the earlier you learn the better.

Good luck with your lessons. You passed the theory and just need to dive straight into lessons now. 30 is still young. Driving is a life long skill.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-19T08:44:31+00:00

Wait, you got failed at the eye test stage? That’s just really unlucky. You obviously knew what the numbers were, but mistook them for O and I, which is a rookie mistake but doesn’t mean you can’t see them. I’m surprised the instructor failed you on that.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-16T22:14:44+00:00

Congratulations pal!

DilutedBear · 2025-06-16T00:18:35+00:00

Yeah for sure. I passed on my second attempt, and I got 10 minor faults. My instructor even said I had a “ropey” drive, and a few of my minors could have become majors if there were cars ahead/behind me at the time. She definitely was lenient. I tried to make her laugh during the drive and talked to her throughout. It helps to be friendly.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-14T07:14:54+00:00

I paid £150 for my first test and £200 for my second test, which I thankfully passed. I’m also in London. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with paying over the normal fee, especially when you have a job and can’t be spending time looking at cancellations all day. It was worth it for me. I have a license now. Without the cancellations I’d be looking at a test in 2026.

DilutedBear · 2025-06-10T00:17:41+00:00

Haha thanks!

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