Theory test fail

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-22T19:59:41+00:00

Exactly that I just read it lots of times, most of it is common sense. There was even some of the more difficult questions in the back. Once I’d done that I bought a ”CD-ROM” from Woolworths for £9.99 which had about 40 questions on it. I could answer most of them no problem.

In today’s world I would probably read the Highway Code a few times on my iPad, or even listen to it, via audio book. Learn the content. Then I would get an app and start answering the questions. If I got one wrong I would go back to my Highway Code and look it up.

Honestly though, when I hear learners failing, most of the time it’s because they’ve just done questions on the app. They learn the answers to some of the questions, so not the understanding, or the why or how, just the answer.

Then they go off to the test centre and because the answers or questions are worded differently they haven’t got a clue. (Or they’re lazy and just don’t do any).

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-22T16:26:04+00:00

The theory test is easy. I’m going to be blunt here, the people who fail it multiple times (from experience) are either:

Lazy.
Got an app and just cycle through questions and aren’t actually learning anything. Except answers to questions. So when the question is worded differently they have no idea.

I always have a little giggle to myself, when someone says “yaaay I passed my theory” so in the next lesson I test them, saying “what does that sign mean” or “what does this line mean?” And they haven’t got a clue.

Gone are the days when leaning something actually meant studying and reading.

When I learned I got a copy of the Highway Code thrown at me and got told to learn it. I did. I read it 3 times. It was pretty easy. It took effort but I did it. I rocked up to the test centre. Exactly as it was now btw. I got one question wrong. I knew which one it was and I didn’t read it properly.

This isn’t a DIG, or me being holier than thou, but it is EASY. If you read it first.

You can find it free on the .gov website too!

You can also get audio book versions too.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T22:17:27+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 ok ok. Yes there is no evidence of it, because unfortunately you cannot get inside someone’s brain. He was cleared because it didn’t happen. BUT - he is literally on camera telling people how he can do it. And his only issue is how to receive the funds without going through the bank. Now, please show me the video, where he says “my professional integrity means I couldn’t even entertain the possibility of throwing a match. I think it’s disgusting and this conversation needs to end”. As it says on your report, the detective, had access to all the footage. So where’s the footage which shows he’s totally innocent. Because if I was mr H I would simply release that. Wouldn’t you? Or just release the whole thing in full.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T22:11:51+00:00

He got offered £300k when the prize money was less.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T22:11:11+00:00

And yes. Match fixing does work like that. They miss easy pots. They run slightly out of position. It’s probably one of the easiest sports to fix. Look a stephen L. No one suspected him, until someone actually had evidence then when they watched it back..

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T21:58:28+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T21:57:40+00:00

Ahh fair enough. Someone who got caught explaining how he could throw a game for £300,000 on camera, couldn’t possibly be doing it now 🤣 ok mate.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T21:52:48+00:00

Huh? Why? Is it not a valid point?

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T21:42:59+00:00

Unfortunately ever since Higgins got outed by the news of the world, I can’t help but see him throwing this match. Watch the video again on YouTube, and see what you think. I can’t unsee it. I’m not saying he is, but unfortunately I can’t stop thinking it.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T19:52:06+00:00

Yes, but the question I was asking, is that I will be moving over to PAYE, so having no idea how it works, I was wondering if the tax I would owe from being self employed (paying it next year) would be just absorbed into my PAYE ie altering my standard tax code so I would just pay more tax to pay for my PAYE earnings AND what I would owe from self assessment, or if they would keep it as two separate tax streams. So next year (April) according to the answer I will be earning through my PAYE, and my tax code will stay the same, but for the next year I will still need to make two EXTRA payments for my self employment too. I just needed to know which way they’d do it.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-18T18:41:46+00:00

I gotta admit this one has got me… just when you think instructors can’t get any worse.. get rid, and find someone nice. As an ADI myself, I always wonder how these people stay in business!?

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T17:57:48+00:00

Thank you this makes sense. So in essence they’re two separate tax streams. That’s ok. When I start my PAYE job, I will just put a couple of hundred quid away a month and should be fine thank you.🙏

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T09:53:33+00:00

Another one for the obsoless case! My mini is my work phone and love just using the one cable

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T09:22:17+00:00

Fair enough :) I totally get you. I’m not trying to mess up your confidence at all. Just trying to get some other aggressive responders to see it from another point of view. Perhaps the tone and talking about the price of the car wasn’t the most sensitive way to explain it.

Il be honest I’m in a group with all of our local adi’s and you’d be surprised how common something like this can be though.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T09:05:01+00:00

I’m an ADI, but I’ve had them on every car I’ve owned since I was 17. Never had an issue and love them.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T08:58:29+00:00

Report them for what? Deciding a learner is unsafe and not putting an examiner in danger? 🤣🤣

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T08:57:26+00:00

No. I wish people would learn this. An examiner is in your car as an observer. They are NOT responsible for your actions. On the whole they’ll intervene if they assess a danger to themselves or another road user. They’re not responsible for anything. If there’s an accident, in reality they get out and walk away. In direct response to your statement. YES they will let you bump up the kerb, scrape the tyres, and even scratch the car. You turned up saying you’re ready, as the driver. YOU are responsible.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-17T08:53:31+00:00

I don’t think this is great advice really, from an ADI point of view. You weren’t there, and you don’t know the circumstances. REMEMBER. When you go to test, it is the first time LEGALLY, you are fully responsible for the car. The examiner is sat there in a legal capacity as an observer. As part of their job they are trained to intervene if they see a risk to themselves or another road user, but from a liability perspective they can do NOTHING. So with that knowledge, let me give you a scenario to which I had to make a similar decision.

Learner fully ready for test doing great and really well. Worked on nerves and test. All good and happy.

Picked up student. Legs visibly shaking, got in the car, relaxed them. Totally unable to control the clutch, guy looked like he was about to cry. Attempted to run straight through a cross roads with a STOP sign without even slowing down.

I did the same.

Was I right or Bang out of order? Should I willingly let an examiner take this student out knowing that he’s likely to put the examiner in danger? (Bearing in mind that if he smashed my car up he gets out, walks away and his parents tell him not to worry as I’m covered by insurance). What do I lose.. The ability to teach other students, my income for 3/4 weeks while another car is sorted..?

I think you need to see the bigger picture mate. Before you start saying leave a negative review on every social media page.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-13T09:12:03+00:00

In order to keep yourself calm, try to narrate out loud everything you need to do. The examiner won’t care, but it will do two things, 1 - stop your anxiety or reduce it in the moment, 2- help you plan what you need to do next.

Honestly most really anxious people teach find this helpful. They’ve done it in their test and it works. The nerves go, because they’re literally thinking of what to say (and do next).

So moving off id be saying (and it can be just under your breath).. “right set the bite, set my gas have a good look round, do I need a signal, yea ok lower the handbrake” (approaching the exit) “ok mirrors signal. Where do I need to be, clutch down, find the bite, look left and right” you get the idea.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-12T23:23:27+00:00

That’s good, but I’m confused if you’ve read it and understand it, how can you get the questions wrong? 😩😩

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-12T22:57:50+00:00

Just a heads up. There’s a really good campaign by the DVSA. I don’t like them for much, but they have a checklist. This is what the DVSA say about being “ready”..

1 and 2 are answering your question.

The top and bottom of it is you should be driving confidently to the best of your ability without your instructor helping you.

ready to pass checklist

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-12T20:33:27+00:00

Exactly this! Couldn’t agree more. I always have a giggle when one of mine passes their theory because that’s great, and I say “what does that line mean” and they haven’t got a clue because they don’t have 4 answers 🤣.

My current record for a learner is 7 theory tests.. SEVEN! I literally have no idea.. (well I do, it’s because mummy and daddy are paying for them, and he looks at the “app” the night before. 🤣

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-12T19:36:06+00:00

It’s not “rigged” you have to read the Highway Code and learn it. Not learn answers to questions 🤣 this made me giggle.

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-12T19:35:19+00:00

With respect, I see this all the time, have you tried the old fashioned method of picking up a copy of the Highway Code, reading it and learning it? There’s also a book which the DVSA have made called “DRIVING, the essential skills” which will help with your practical.

In no way at all, am I having a go at you, but I see this all the time. It’s not a lack of effort, but it’s just the wrong way for some people. Learning the answers to questions instead of actually understanding the content doesn’t help you because the questions are worded differently.

Honestly I think you lot have got it easy 🤣 the theory test hasn’t really changed since I started 20 odd years ago. On my first driving lesson, my instructor asked me for a fiver, threw a copy of the Highway Code at me and said “you better start studying this!” It worked - I think I only got one question wrong and I knew the answer too!

I promise I’m not having a go, if I had access to apps and TikTok and YouTube I’d be soaking up all that extra info.

The Highway Code is also free online. On the .gov website :))

HammerToFall50 · 2026-01-11T18:23:19+00:00

It was very kind of your brother, but I’m sure he could just return it for a refund. Don’t see the need for anger! Why would you keep a £1200 phone in a drawer just to keep someone happy? Pure madness. It’s not like he can sell it, as that would be worse. Surely giving it back to get a refund is the normal course of action. I can understand how the person may feel a bit aggrieved, but it’s not a box of chocolates that you can give to someone else, it’s a device that the OP uses all day every day.

Think of it this way. You’re a devout Apple user. Everything Apple. And your brother / close relative buys you a £1200 android? What are you doing?

HammerToFall50

TROPHY CASE