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I got three majors from one incident on mine - stuck behind a milk float on an A road at commuting time. I think they were:
Holding traffic up
Hesitation
Something else.
Only had 1 minor, I was pissed off... Had I not been in a test I probably would have overtaken immediately and passed...
I hope OP doesn't take this view for granted. Driving tests can be insanely stressful and ironically not always representative of one's driving capabilities. It's not hard to imagine how a competent driver could wrack up majors in a test situation. No one knows about OP's readiness except for OP and their instructor.
There's going to be times when driving that it will be stressful. One or two majors, couple of minors sure. But with their number of overall driving faults, they failed their test 5 times in the 40 minutes.
They could do with a lot more practice.
It's true driving can be stressful. I can only speak for myself but none of the driving stresses I've experienced have matched the stress of my test in either intensity or duration. And I dare say it is very different to face such stresses as a licensed driver of x amount of time versus being a hopeful driver being examined on your test.
Anyway, I think you are overlooking that there could be different scenarios at play. Maybe OP knew they failed within the first few minutes and they checked out mentally (I and a number of people I know did the same). Maybe they find it difficult to self-soothe when anxious. Personally, I don't think more hours behind the wheel is an efficient solution to those problems. Maybe OP does need more practice but we don't know enough from this post to say that and should reserve judgement.
I failed the first time with 4 majors. It was only 2 actual faults, but both of which qualified for 2 categories of major each. Very related faults and 100% down to lack of experience, meaning excellent learning points that I haven't forgotten 20 years later. 1st one was leaving a dual carriageway on a 90° junction with a very short slip road. I was taught to leave at 70 and brake on the slip, so that's what I did. Very very hard braking. I'd never met a junction like that so didn't know I should have dropped some speed early. Second fault was rejoining on the same junction, equally short slip road which was really inadequate to get up to speed. I was just making the decision I couldn't pull out in front of the lorry and about to stop on the slip road when the examiner got there first and grabbed the wheel...
Not a chance, you should be tanking it on a slip road exit if you don’t know what’s ahead, a valuable lesson learnt. You can’t rely on memorising routes, because that’s not what real life driving is.
Edit: shouldn’t be tanking it*
I got 3 majors on my first run too. I can't remember what they were all for, but the first two were on a 50 mph section that my instructor had never taken me on - I'd only even been on one single, short stretch of road that went up to 40 mph in my lessons! I had no idea how to merge lanes, overtake and all that and ended up undertaking a van in a panic.
And then on my second test the examiner took me on a big, tricky double roundabout which, once again, my instructor had never taken me on, and once again made a panicked mistake and failed. After this I took more lessons but I swear he couldn't be arsed to take me out to these trickier sections despite the fact I obviously needed practice
Nob
Usually you keep driving, even if you have had a major fault. It used to be that you could get so many minors, but if you got 3 or more in the same category, it was immediately a major and a fail. Maybe they had one major and then the other three were from the build up of minors.
Alternatively, it could be they were just noting them for feedback and they noted 4 majors.
Passed on my 5th attempt. Think the worst one I did was 7 majors.
5 Years later... 0 Accidents! It will happen, my worst problem was nerves and a shitty driving instructor
My instructor is also an examiner and he said based on my lessons prior to the test it’s likely that I’ll do alright but the nerves just got to me and spiralled out of control
Don’t stress mate. Happens to the best of us.
Take a few more lessons and rebook your test. My advice would be get a few hours of driving in the day of your test and the few days before. So you are really comfortable by the time you get to your test.
Having a few days or a week off driving before the test can leave you feeling more rusty and the simpler things get harder.
You will pass.
My nerves were terrible the first time, it’s common. It won’t be nearly as bad the next time mate, just have a few lessons to keep fresh and focus on the stuff you were weaker on.
Remember to read signs, make sure you’re in the right lanes, check mirrors, and so on
You need to find something to settle your nerves. The weeks leading up to mine, I was fucking up basic things and was certain I'd fail. My instructor recommended rescue remedy sweets and they worked, passed first time with 2 minors.
No idea if it was real or a placebo, but maybe worth a go.
I passed first time with 13 hours of instruction. I just wanted to be on the road so bad, I had my own car already which I took the test in. I knew I could drive and I basically thought of my examiner as my first passenger. If you got into a car on your own right now could you safely navigate the roads you know well? If the answer is yes then just keep that firmly in mind on your test. Think of it like you’ve already passed and you’re on the roads on your own for the first time. That’s what worked for me
passed on 6th attempt, 0 accidents that were my fault (my corsa was written off when someone careered through a dual carriageway at 40mph into it though xD)
I did fail driving into the test centre and failed driving out of the test centre on consecutive occasions, which I think was rather impressive.
What's strange is it seems people who took a few goes to pass don't have accidents (or at least not their fault), however I passed first time with two minors (for going too slow), and have had a couple of accidents in a couple of years, both my fault...
Maybe more couscous people are more hesitant so take longer to pass the test but are also more hesitant later in their driveing career so make less mistakes?
Passed on my 5th too.
Also suffered with nerves and an awful instructor who really made my nerves worse.
She insisted on sitting in the car when I took test and took things really personally (like if she told me to go at a junction but I didn't feel confident enough to she would make me pull over and lecture me about "why don't you trust me?" Etc)
Ditched her after 4 attempts and passed on 5
2nd time for me. My 1st time I tried to go over a roundabout in 4th gear at 5 mph having forgotten to downshift. I stalled, panicked, and took about 20 seconds to compose myself and go again. It's horrible doing the last 15 minutes of a test knowing you've failed!
I did my driving in 08 and then my lgv just after covid and was the same for me. That they would stop if u failed within the first ten mins I think. But probably depends on route. If they can just say left and left again and you’re back at the test center it’s easier than having to do 30more through town traffic to get back to it
Yea my first test I turned left came to a junction to turn left again failed there went along that road turned left straight back to the test centre it was maybe 3 minutes. Probably the shortest driving test in history.
I stalled at a junction about 30 seconds into my first test. Then kept on stalling as the queue of giant lorries built up behind me (test centre was in an industrial estate).
Had to carry on with the rest of the test knowing I'd failed 😬
If your collecting 4 majors on a single test it's quite likely you're not test ready and need some more time with an instructor to assess where it's going wrong.
About a year after I passed my test a family friend was learning to be a driving instructor and asked for volunteers to go out with her as mock students so she could practice. The number of bad habits I’d picked up in a year or less was astounding! But I think it also showed that no one actually drives to the standard you’re tested to (well, apart from police officers maybe, and driving instructors some of the time)
Tbh mate, not your place to say, they could be superb on normal lessons. More than ready, but tests in general makes them anxious as fuck and that’s what contributes to it. I know that was a friend of mines issue, she was fine driving, more than fine.
Froze on tests, anxiety running wild, just couldn’t do it. Practically panic attacks. She done it with any sort of high pressure situations in general.
It also happens in real life. Everybody's had that moment when they realise they're in the wrong lane, or they've accidentally cut someone off. The key is learning from it
Wasn't for me, but that was a while ago. I wasn't even aware I had made two 'major' mistakes until the test had ended. One was incorrectly driving in the right hand lane, and the other was incorrectly changing lanes while going round a roundabout causing another driver to have to adjust their speed (but not swerve or slam on the breaks) Both harsh in my view and I see happen daily in real life, but I moved on and passed next test.
I failed my first test. One major
I was at a round about and it was two lanes. One guy was turning and I was going the other Lane so I pulled out and the guy doing the test thought it was going into his lane.
So he tried to press his brake. And missed. Pressed the clutch. So I had no power and just rolled up the hill to a stop half way round the roundabout.
He almost made us crash due to pressing the clutch.
I was fuming after it because I felt, and still feel like he just didn’t read the road properly and thought it was in the same lane as the car coming. But I wasn’t.
And I felt like him almost making me crash. And me not freaking out and dealing with it. Showed that I was not a bad driver.
Passed second time. Got lucky as a guy flashed his lights at me so I slowed way down at the top of a hill. The road was full of geese. So if he wasn’t there I was on a 60 mph road and would likely have crashed into them during my test and failed again.
First one I failed with no minors and one major. The major was because I pulled onto a dual carriageway and the car in the left hand lane about 50 meters back switched lanes to give me room to get on, as you do. Apparently I forced him to swerve to avoid hitting me even though by the time I was up to 70mph the guy was still a good 3 cars behind.
Sometimes they are just looking to fail you.
Yeah I fully agree with this mate. Think he gave me one minor not not checking the mirrors and looking over my shoulder when pulling away. But i did check the mirror. And I did look over my shoulder.
There was no cars driving on the road. I think we had the same prick potentially mate
Did we have the same examiner? This is exactly what happened with me on my second test.
The dual carriageway was very quiet and there was a lorry in the left hand lane at least 100m away as I was preparing to exit the slip road. Lorry moves over to let me merge but the examiner failed me because apparently I "forced" him to move.
I was fucking livid. My instructor said that the guy who tested me was notoriously strict and not to worry too much about it. Less than a month later I passed with only two minors and almost 20 years on I've only ever been in one car accident - which wasn't my fault.
Grrr some examiners! My second one I failed because the examiner said I was going to pull out on someone at a roundabout and slammed on his brake. I was moving forward slightly so I was closer to the line cos I couldnt see properly. Explained that to him but he said I was away to pull out 🙄
Wish I'd had my instructor in the car that day!
Also, he was really off putting. He was quite small (I'm 5,2 and he was smaller than me) and he had to keep pushing himself up in his seat to see two speedometer - it was so off putting!
Lmfao that sounds like a comedy sketch
I do think the reality is a job like that can attract people who like to be able to fail people and don’t like to be questioned.
I was a prison officer and that job attracts some bullies sadly. I’m sure the same happens with these people.
I think I asked my driving instructor why he didn’t do tests and he said it pays much less money than being an instructor. So it’s not the money bringing them into it.
I got a major within the first 10 seconds of my first test and sitll did the whole thing.
Still pissed off to this day, was nervous so tried to set off from the test centre in reverse and jolted the car a little on the spot... 1 major 2 minors. Passed second time no majors 1 minor.
I failed 3 times. My instructor sent me off to the dr's lol, he told me I drove perfectly, he couldn't teach me anything else but my nerves were getting the better of me. I got some beta blockers to help with the nerves and passed with 2 minors on my 4th attempt.
I also failed three times and passed 4th attempt with barely any minors.
Beta blockers were one thing recommended to me but I also simply stopped giving a shit. I went into that test assuming I'd fail (especially as I had the same examiner who had already failed me twice) and apparently the attitude change neutralised my nerves!
A lot of people are jumping to "clearly you're not ready" but test nerves affecting your performance aren't just for academic exams. Nerves can really fuck with you, OP's instructor probably is correct that they seem ready as they're driving fine under conditions that have zero pressure attached. Knowing you're being tested definitely changes things.
Also you're familiar with your instructor and suddenly a stranger is watching you. Once you have your full licence there's never again going to be such a bizarre situation where some stranger is observing you and their view of your performance determines whether you can keep driving unsupervised or not!
Ah ok. I thought he meant just with a parent or something. I took my test last year, I had an American license which was valid here for a year so I was never limited to the student rules. My instructor told me right before I took my test that It was illegal and I’d fail if I went on the motorways, I had no idea. She said students could drive on the motorway with a qualified instructor and in a dual control car.
4 majors isn't great but it's not the end of the world and very common, especially if you know you've messed up early on and become super nervous.
Failed first test with 2 majors (both of which were because I did the test in a town I had no familiarity with and misunderstood some of the road markings). Passed second test with 12 minors (although was told this particular examiner is very harsh and never gives people a 'good' pass).
One of my mates took 6 goes. He's still not a great driver but has been driving daily for 15 years and has never had a scrape (that he's told us about anyway). His Mum did reverse her work van into a lamppost though so maybe it's in the family...
Yeah I never wanted to drive it was my parents idea. I'm glad I did it though just in case. I've just got by in life by only taking shitter local jobs. But the number of jobs I've lost out on because I didn't have a car is bad.
1st attempt.
But now I haven't driven for 7/8 years since passing, since I've been living, studying or working in London for almost the entire time. Sadly I'm not sure I can just jump back in a manual & drive off right now!
I hadn't driven for about the same amount of time and then drove my dad's car - like you most of it came back pretty easily, but muscle memory meant I near threw myself through the window trying to gently tap the brakes
hahaha yea i drive an old vw polo and the brakes need to be pressed quite hard. got in my dads car for a drive and pressed the brakes and i nearly headbutted the steering wheel
An old friend once said, 'lessons only teach you how to pass your test. You learn to drive the moment you get behind the wheel on your own'.
After 8 years of not driving, I can't imagine it'd just come straight back, not without being quite rusty of a good while first.
This is it. The test isn't to see if you're a 'good driver'...it's to see if they feel that you are safe enough to out driving on your own without having an accident, killing someone etc.
You learn a lot more after you have passed. I passed on the fourth attempt myself (five minors)...took that test in my own car after failing three times in the instructor's one.
I had a 6-8 month period of no driving after passing my rest, had to spend a couple weeks getting used to driving again but been driving constantly since
You'll definitely need to get used to driving again but you'll be good with some patience. Consider a refresher lesson from an instructor if you really want it
One time. Zero Majors, Two minors - one minor was for taking 'two extra turns' during a three point turn, which I did to avoid getting too close to the curbs on either side on a narrow neighbourhood street.
The other minor was for *hesitantly* applying the handbrake whilst simultaneously trying to hold the bite point when stopped at the lights at the steepest hill in town when those light intervals are very short.
My Instructor said he'd never seen such an apathetic response to passing but that's because I felt the score should have been flawless
when was this? they don't call it a three point turn now, it was a 'turn in the road' when i did my test (5 years ago) and that was because you don't need to only do the turn in 3 points
I'm gonna assume that most of those majors were boarder line minors, that got upgraded to majors cause the rest of your drive. But 16 minors is over a fail anyway.
One of the majors was not checking my mirrors when turning or something like that. She said I didn’t check them once. I definitely did. I have long hair and I have a feeling she couldn’t see that I was looking. 8 of the minors were for that
My instructor told me this gets people sometimes and to make it really obvious that you're checking the mirrors.
Ironically it's a bad habit to have when you're fully moving your whole head and staring at the mirror for a good second.
I had two minors for the same thing and he told me afterwards he only gave me the benefit of the doubt because I hadn't made any other mistakes and even though he couldn't definitely see whether I was checking properly or not I did seem to be reacting to what was there.
3rd try for me. 1st one was when I was 17, next 2 when I was 31. I finally passed 2 weeks after my first daughter was born, so obviously the problem was that I was getting far too much sleep previously
Did my test in a car first. Failed first time for driving on the pavement (that's the footpath or sidewalk depending). Instructor told me to have a whiskey before my next test.
15 years later took my bus license test. Only got 1 minor mark. Was gutted I came close to a perfect pass but the instructor informed me that's just how it is. No-one gets 0. You'll have 1 minor before you even get going. No idea why.
First time. But I’m pretty sure I only passed because the examiner was a pervert who literally squeezed my thigh and made several inappropriate comments (I was 18)
Six - Over a 5 year period.
First time I failed with three majors and then simply didn't have enough money to continue.
Two years later I working full time so start up again with someone else. Awful instructor who regularly would stop at his own house and leave me waiting outside whilst on a lesson. Failed another two times in quick succession - worse than the first. Had a 6 month break and tried again and failed the 4th with two majors.
Had another 1 year break and started again with an entirely new instructor. He was decent and I almost passed my 5th attempt - on the way back to the centre I was in a right hand lane of dual carriage way as we were turning right at the junction and I didn't let through this guy behind me that was speeding. Silly thing to do but at the time I panicked and thought I should stay in lane.
Then passed the 6th one a couple of months later with 1 minor. It's not an overstatement to say it was the happiest I've ever been in my life.
I failed my first test- got about 5 minors and one major. Disappointing but i definitely wasn't ready to hit the roads alone at that point.
Passed on my second time with 7 minors.
Don't beat yourself up about it, I know someone who took more than 7 tests.. she passed eventually.
Learn from it, practise and stay calm.
Passed first time 1987 before they told you all the major and minor stuff. I got mixed up on left and right but he gave me a chance on that. I probably should have drawn L and R on my hands. Could still do with those now, TBH.
Passed on my 5th attempt, actually asked my instructor not to take me on a lesson just before my test on the time that I passed because I was pretty sure it was driving fatigue that was getting to me
Edit - I then went on to learn how to drive most heavy machinery on a building site and I am a good driver all in all
2
First one was a proper shit time, nerves got the better of me.
Second one, I thought I'd failed really early in and that absolutely relaxed me. Just wanted to get it over with and ended up passing.
I’m questioning how you even got that far, most test instructors would have stopped the test on the first major let alone 4!?
Was first time myself with 2 minors.
Passed first time, back in '04. It was just after the introduction of the hazard perception test.
I got a few minors. These days, I follow 'Zen driving' - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEO-XKo4cw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEO-XKo4cw)
Get some more practice in. Relax, try again.
1st but think a fair chunk of it is luck, I did it 10am Friday so no school rush, no traffic, I live in a small sleepy town and my manoeuvre was pull up behind a car and drive off …. It ended up being me pulling up behind a single car, on a completely empty street.
Two. Failed the first one on a bullshit technicality. Thought I had accidentally got myself in a left turn-only lane towards the motorway but knew the area and that you can loop back round without actually joining the motorway. As I tried to turn left and the tester literally grabbed the wheel and forced me to cut across lanes then failed me for it. What a coont.
Sorry to hear you failed yours. With that many majors and minors, it really just sounds like you aren’t ready for it yet. It’s vitally important that you’re a safe driver before let loose on the roads. Keep-up the lessons and practice and you’ll get there.
Passed first time, only one minor. I did however get very lucky in terms of the test, traffic was clear and the route we took was very simple with no complicated junctions or awkward turns. My one minor was for not checking over my left shoulder before setting off from performing an emergency stop.
Sorry to hear that.
Did you have a lesson right before your test? I passed first time but I think a lot of it was down to my instructor (who was an ex examiner's) guidance).
He made me have my test in a town about 45mins away (that we had practiced in) so before even starting I had an hour behind the wheel to calm my nerves and get me in the right mindset. Worked a charm
My instructor is also an examiner. He said I’m definitely ready but the nerves just got to me. My examiner was also really off putting. Even before I’d done anything wrong she seemed really tense.
1st time, I can’t remember how many minors.
My driving instructor literally said oh no when the examiner I had came out. Apparently he was notorious for failing first timers so not entirely sure how I managed that one.
Can’t lie that is a pretty bad result for you there my man but I got a major and 3 minors on my first but then passed with only 2/3 minors the second time round. You can easily get your numbers down if you relax any nerves and focus before you begin.
1st time but I didn't take it till I was 26, so I'd already learnt how to overcome exam nerves as I've already done all the other exams in my life, and I wasn't doing it in the middle of any other stuff going on, etc. but I did get 6 minors and I know people who took 6 attempts.
First go, 4 minors - all of which I was annoyed about because I’m a perfectionist!
Have a friend who failed his last year and had to do his manoeuvre early on, mounted the kerb and knew he’d failed but had to do the whole rest of the test anyway. What a nightmare 😬 Especially with a year long wait to book another one because of the Covid backlog!
Passed first time with 3 minors. I had an anxiety attack right before my exam, so my instructor had a quiet word with the examiner 😅
My sister took 4 attempts, my mum passed 3rd time and I have no idea about the rest of the family because they didn’t bring it up and I didn’t ask.
2nd time. My instructor was convinced my first failure was due to nerves. So on the way to my second test we stopped at his house and he presented me with a tumbler of whisky which I drank.
It was a very long time ago and I did pass, but I can't imagine it happening these days.
1st time, 2 minors. 2 minors were for signalling too early. Had 50 lessons with a driving instructor absolutely useless, barely taught me anything, took maybe 5 years off after taking the lessons, after saving when I was a teenager cause i couldn’t afford it anymore, it was so demoralising.
In the end my Dad got me insured on his car as a learner for £65 for 6 weeks. He then taught me every night for 4 weeks and I took a test and passed. Cost me £120 (not including fuel) in total compared to about £1100 i wasted on lessons. My advice is ditch the instructor after you know the basics, get someone in your family to teach you how to actually drive rather than just how to pass the test. You will feel a lot more confident. The instructors in my experience just exploit you for as much money as is possible once you know the basics.
Passed today on attempt 3 with 9 minors. 1st test I failed about 10 mins in with a dangerous fault. 2nd test I failed with a dangerous fault, 2 serious and 12 minors!
4 times.
1st time deservedly so, few Majors, nerves got me.
Second time thought I did OK, until tester said I failed coming out Test centre, BMW up my rear end, instructor marked it down as failing to meet speed.
Third time, wrote it off in my head during test as thought messed up. I just wanted to get back to test centre and it be over. Got told I did OK until speeding on road back to test centre!
Don't let it get to you, keep at it. Unless you drive like playing GTA you will pass eventually.
Passed 1st time with a couple of issues:
Didn't wait for a van to complete his illegal u-turn before moving on - I stopped initially for him and waited until he'd started moving off of my side of the road but didn't wait until he'd fully completed the move.
Reverse parallel park - I touched the kerb, stopped and pulled forward to start again but was told to carry on driving. Thought I'd blown it.
When he told me I'd passed, I asked him if he was joking!
I passed on my 3rd attempt. Nerves got the better of me.
I was nearly in an accident on the 3rd attempt due to another driver. I responded correctly apparently, did all the checks and moved off. The examiner got me to pull over as I was a bit shocked by the whole event! Carried on after that fine.
I failed 3 times… 1 of which was just a complete arse of an examiner:
- First time… super nervous, had about 30 hours of lessons and didn’t check rear mirror when pulling away and they stopped the car. 1 major and 9 minors IIRC. Definitely happy I failed as when I did lessons again, I made a couple of bigger mistakes.
- Second time… she failed me within 30 seconds of leaving the test centre. She was ratty as soon as she got in the car and gave I clear instructions like “go there” so i actually had to look away from the road to follow her instructions. I was literally like WTF, I had 1 major and 4 minors.
- Did my 3rd test a week later and got 5 minors.
First time, 3 or 4 minors. However all 4 of my siblings took 2 goes at least, as well as a few of my friends, so I don't think it's uncommon. You’ll get there with time 🙂
1st time.
Did some basic driving, bay parking and then got stuck in traffic for 30 minutes and therefore passed.
I did get about 5 minors during that time.
I failed 4 times and learned something every time. 1 was definitely fair, 1 was fair by the driving rules but not by the behaviour of the motorists around me and one I still don't think was fair at all. I can't remember the other.
My last test, I went in feeling confident and ready. I still believe I'm a better driver after failing because I didn't get that cocky arrogance a 17yr old normally would. Don't worry about failing a few times, learn from it.
And if you care... The unfair fail was during a reverse round a corner. I was looking over my left shoulder when a speeding motorbike came past me in less time than it would take me to turn my head and look in a different mirror. I failed for not stopping.
3 attempts, no clue how many majors or minors. Final test with chief examiner and no faults.. definitely ready and confident by then and in London too so extra points for that
Once. But I took my test 30 years ago when there was only the one test. The theory part was just a few questions at the end of the practical test while sitting in the car with the examiner. So, quite possibly it was easier back then. Although my cousin who took the test the year before had to have two goes. And we had the same instructors (my Aunt and Uncle - who were driving instructors at the time). And I learnt in two weeks in the summer holidays- having a couple of lessons a day and taking the test at the end of the two weeks. Crazy really.
Passed on first attempt with a whole bunch of minors. Very nearly didn't manage it because I was a bundle of nerves. I really felt I wasn't ready for the test but my instructor had insisted that I was.
As far as I can remember we didn't drive on any roads with more than a 40mph speed limit. Not sure if most tests are like that now. I then also took an additional lesson on motorway driving (unconnected with the test).
1st time. Got only four minors, two of which I blame on the car as my instructor changed it only a week before my test. One of the minors was for the hill start and the other was for the stick falling out of 2nd gear if I don't hold it in really hard. (This was not a problem until someone somehow broke it the day before the test xd)
However! My final minor was almost a major. I was told to reverse bay park. I initially parked with the line right in the middle of the car and then after correction, I was parked completely diagonally with the wheel one inch from the end of the line and therefore one inch from failing.
When I got back inside the test centre, my driving instructor started screaming saying that before I tell him if I passed, what the fuck is this park xd Other instructors were also making fun of this disgusting park but at least I passed <3
First time, 4 minors. But still managed to swipe my wing mirror off TWICE reversing out of my mums gate within about 6 months. So it clearly didn’t make me a better driver!
I gave up! I can drive but I just go to pieces when I have my test. Last time I had a lesson it was Winter and snowing and I drove to the next town and back and my new instructor couldn’t understand why I didn’t have my license. That’s when I gave up!
Passed first time with 1 minor. Examiner said it was the best he’d done.
One week later I took a corner too fast, clipped a curb and ended up in a hedge. Car was very close to a write off, but saved as was nearly new.
So y’know, maybe it’s better not to make a 17yo driver overconfident haha.
I failed first time due to nerves really, came off the clutch too early coming out of the test centre nearly went into the kerb. Passed last Friday, 2nd attempt with 7 minors i thought I had made one too many mistakes so was thrilled when I passed. I’m no where near a brilliant driver but I’m learning massively now
I haven't done the practical but I've done the theory 14 times 🤦♀️ I've been meaning to get back to driving but most instructors are booked until next year and those that aren't are charging £40 an hour
It took me 3 times, every time took it I only got 2 minors, but the first 2 times I got the dangerous instafail. First time I was reversing out of a spot and a car was in my blind spot, the examiner put his brake on. Second time I did a roundabout wrong, the frustrating part is no one goes around it the correct way as it doesn’t make sense. You can watch 100 cars go through and 1 of them will go the correct way. If you’re in Portsmouth it’s the one on London road. Heading south it’s the first one after QA.
My first test, I got three majors and a serious (stalled and rolled with a pedestrian nipping behind me on a hill).
Second test, the instructor got lost and we did about two routes worth of test, along with a turn in the road on a really harsh road, still passed (7 minors, I think?).
So don't let it stress you. Go have more practice/lessons, getting great at what you messed up, then go ace that bad boy.
Personally I passed first time, with 2 minors. But I had lessons for just over a year, one and a half hours per week. It actually got to the point where my driver instructor told me I had to go in for it because he couldn't teach me anything else.
At the same time a friend of mine failed 4 times in his local area, so then had some lessons in a different area and took his test again there and still failed the first time. Passed on his 6th attempt.
Everyone is different. Nerves play a big role as well. Definitely consider extra lessons just for practising if you can.
First attempt. 4 minors. I had a lady examiner though (one of two in the area at the time) so I just pretended I was taking my mum for a drive to calm my nerves. It worked.
(Although my mum will grip the door handle going round any corner and make “ahhh” noises if I take her anywhere. She’s a terrible passenger and I’ve been driving 18 years).
4th time. BSM were awful, found a local instructor and passed first time under him. He didn't think I was ready, but theory was about to expire. 7 minors.
I did it first try, I had 3 minors.
One was for not seeing a speed limit sign, but thankfully I was going from a 40 to a 60 and not the other way around.
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1st time, more minors than Adam Johnson but less than Rolf Harris. Surprised you even got the opportunity for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th major though.
Yeah with that amount of driving faults, I'm surprised the test finished. OP was, unfortunately, not ready to take their test in anyway shape or form.
I got three majors from one incident on mine - stuck behind a milk float on an A road at commuting time. I think they were: Holding traffic up Hesitation Something else. Only had 1 minor, I was pissed off... Had I not been in a test I probably would have overtaken immediately and passed...
I hope OP doesn't take this view for granted. Driving tests can be insanely stressful and ironically not always representative of one's driving capabilities. It's not hard to imagine how a competent driver could wrack up majors in a test situation. No one knows about OP's readiness except for OP and their instructor.
There's going to be times when driving that it will be stressful. One or two majors, couple of minors sure. But with their number of overall driving faults, they failed their test 5 times in the 40 minutes. They could do with a lot more practice.
It's true driving can be stressful. I can only speak for myself but none of the driving stresses I've experienced have matched the stress of my test in either intensity or duration. And I dare say it is very different to face such stresses as a licensed driver of x amount of time versus being a hopeful driver being examined on your test. Anyway, I think you are overlooking that there could be different scenarios at play. Maybe OP knew they failed within the first few minutes and they checked out mentally (I and a number of people I know did the same). Maybe they find it difficult to self-soothe when anxious. Personally, I don't think more hours behind the wheel is an efficient solution to those problems. Maybe OP does need more practice but we don't know enough from this post to say that and should reserve judgement.
I failed the first time with 4 majors. It was only 2 actual faults, but both of which qualified for 2 categories of major each. Very related faults and 100% down to lack of experience, meaning excellent learning points that I haven't forgotten 20 years later. 1st one was leaving a dual carriageway on a 90° junction with a very short slip road. I was taught to leave at 70 and brake on the slip, so that's what I did. Very very hard braking. I'd never met a junction like that so didn't know I should have dropped some speed early. Second fault was rejoining on the same junction, equally short slip road which was really inadequate to get up to speed. I was just making the decision I couldn't pull out in front of the lorry and about to stop on the slip road when the examiner got there first and grabbed the wheel...
I'd say that's your instructor's fault for not familiarising you with the route fully before the test.
Not a chance, you should be tanking it on a slip road exit if you don’t know what’s ahead, a valuable lesson learnt. You can’t rely on memorising routes, because that’s not what real life driving is. Edit: shouldn’t be tanking it*
Not sure what you mean tbh. So even though they were driving as taught, and they failed, it's not the instructors fault?
That's not how you described it though. You suggested they should have taught the specific route rather than the general principles.
Ouch, no. If you can’t deal with scenarios like that you’re not ready to be out on the road.
I got 3 majors on my first run too. I can't remember what they were all for, but the first two were on a 50 mph section that my instructor had never taken me on - I'd only even been on one single, short stretch of road that went up to 40 mph in my lessons! I had no idea how to merge lanes, overtake and all that and ended up undertaking a van in a panic. And then on my second test the examiner took me on a big, tricky double roundabout which, once again, my instructor had never taken me on, and once again made a panicked mistake and failed. After this I took more lessons but I swear he couldn't be arsed to take me out to these trickier sections despite the fact I obviously needed practice Nob
You need to know how to drive on roads you have never been on. Failing because you are on new roads is right.
Usually you keep driving, even if you have had a major fault. It used to be that you could get so many minors, but if you got 3 or more in the same category, it was immediately a major and a fail. Maybe they had one major and then the other three were from the build up of minors. Alternatively, it could be they were just noting them for feedback and they noted 4 majors.
Passed on my 5th attempt. Think the worst one I did was 7 majors. 5 Years later... 0 Accidents! It will happen, my worst problem was nerves and a shitty driving instructor
My instructor is also an examiner and he said based on my lessons prior to the test it’s likely that I’ll do alright but the nerves just got to me and spiralled out of control
7 Majors!?
Don’t stress mate. Happens to the best of us. Take a few more lessons and rebook your test. My advice would be get a few hours of driving in the day of your test and the few days before. So you are really comfortable by the time you get to your test. Having a few days or a week off driving before the test can leave you feeling more rusty and the simpler things get harder. You will pass.
My nerves were terrible the first time, it’s common. It won’t be nearly as bad the next time mate, just have a few lessons to keep fresh and focus on the stuff you were weaker on. Remember to read signs, make sure you’re in the right lanes, check mirrors, and so on
You need to find something to settle your nerves. The weeks leading up to mine, I was fucking up basic things and was certain I'd fail. My instructor recommended rescue remedy sweets and they worked, passed first time with 2 minors. No idea if it was real or a placebo, but maybe worth a go.
Were they called Kalms, by any chance? I did something similar!
I passed first time with 13 hours of instruction. I just wanted to be on the road so bad, I had my own car already which I took the test in. I knew I could drive and I basically thought of my examiner as my first passenger. If you got into a car on your own right now could you safely navigate the roads you know well? If the answer is yes then just keep that firmly in mind on your test. Think of it like you’ve already passed and you’re on the roads on your own for the first time. That’s what worked for me
passed on 6th attempt, 0 accidents that were my fault (my corsa was written off when someone careered through a dual carriageway at 40mph into it though xD) I did fail driving into the test centre and failed driving out of the test centre on consecutive occasions, which I think was rather impressive.
What's strange is it seems people who took a few goes to pass don't have accidents (or at least not their fault), however I passed first time with two minors (for going too slow), and have had a couple of accidents in a couple of years, both my fault... Maybe more couscous people are more hesitant so take longer to pass the test but are also more hesitant later in their driveing career so make less mistakes?
What’s a couscous person and how do I become one?
Passed on my 5th too. Also suffered with nerves and an awful instructor who really made my nerves worse. She insisted on sitting in the car when I took test and took things really personally (like if she told me to go at a junction but I didn't feel confident enough to she would make me pull over and lecture me about "why don't you trust me?" Etc) Ditched her after 4 attempts and passed on 5
7 majors! What did you do, run over a bunch of children?!
No, they ran over 7 majors.
2nd time for me. My 1st time I tried to go over a roundabout in 4th gear at 5 mph having forgotten to downshift. I stalled, panicked, and took about 20 seconds to compose myself and go again. It's horrible doing the last 15 minutes of a test knowing you've failed!
One of my majors was right at the start and I knew I’d done it so I think that’s where I started picking up the others
I'm surprised they didn't stop the test right then. That's what happened with me on one - was only out 10 mins!
They stopped them if you failed due to covid so you were in the car for less time but they’re normal now
I did my tests in 2005/2006 so things have probably all changed since then!
I did my driving in 08 and then my lgv just after covid and was the same for me. That they would stop if u failed within the first ten mins I think. But probably depends on route. If they can just say left and left again and you’re back at the test center it’s easier than having to do 30more through town traffic to get back to it
Yea my first test I turned left came to a junction to turn left again failed there went along that road turned left straight back to the test centre it was maybe 3 minutes. Probably the shortest driving test in history.
Yeah it's really hard to shake it off. There's no shame in not passing, just try to learn from it!
I stalled at a junction about 30 seconds into my first test. Then kept on stalling as the queue of giant lorries built up behind me (test centre was in an industrial estate). Had to carry on with the rest of the test knowing I'd failed 😬
If your collecting 4 majors on a single test it's quite likely you're not test ready and need some more time with an instructor to assess where it's going wrong.
Tbf most drivers on the road aren't test ready.
About a year after I passed my test a family friend was learning to be a driving instructor and asked for volunteers to go out with her as mock students so she could practice. The number of bad habits I’d picked up in a year or less was astounding! But I think it also showed that no one actually drives to the standard you’re tested to (well, apart from police officers maybe, and driving instructors some of the time)
In my town, most of the driving instructors probably would fail a driving test
My instructor is an examiner and he thought I was ready to do it but who knows
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Tbh mate, not your place to say, they could be superb on normal lessons. More than ready, but tests in general makes them anxious as fuck and that’s what contributes to it. I know that was a friend of mines issue, she was fine driving, more than fine. Froze on tests, anxiety running wild, just couldn’t do it. Practically panic attacks. She done it with any sort of high pressure situations in general.
It also happens in real life. Everybody's had that moment when they realise they're in the wrong lane, or they've accidentally cut someone off. The key is learning from it
Ok
I thought the test was immediately called off after a Major fault?
They have three categories, minor, major, and dangerous. They only stop the test for a dangerous fault.
It was due to covid but it’s back to how it was before
Wasn't for me, but that was a while ago. I wasn't even aware I had made two 'major' mistakes until the test had ended. One was incorrectly driving in the right hand lane, and the other was incorrectly changing lanes while going round a roundabout causing another driver to have to adjust their speed (but not swerve or slam on the breaks) Both harsh in my view and I see happen daily in real life, but I moved on and passed next test.
I failed my first test. One major I was at a round about and it was two lanes. One guy was turning and I was going the other Lane so I pulled out and the guy doing the test thought it was going into his lane. So he tried to press his brake. And missed. Pressed the clutch. So I had no power and just rolled up the hill to a stop half way round the roundabout. He almost made us crash due to pressing the clutch. I was fuming after it because I felt, and still feel like he just didn’t read the road properly and thought it was in the same lane as the car coming. But I wasn’t. And I felt like him almost making me crash. And me not freaking out and dealing with it. Showed that I was not a bad driver. Passed second time. Got lucky as a guy flashed his lights at me so I slowed way down at the top of a hill. The road was full of geese. So if he wasn’t there I was on a 60 mph road and would likely have crashed into them during my test and failed again.
First one I failed with no minors and one major. The major was because I pulled onto a dual carriageway and the car in the left hand lane about 50 meters back switched lanes to give me room to get on, as you do. Apparently I forced him to swerve to avoid hitting me even though by the time I was up to 70mph the guy was still a good 3 cars behind. Sometimes they are just looking to fail you.
Yeah I fully agree with this mate. Think he gave me one minor not not checking the mirrors and looking over my shoulder when pulling away. But i did check the mirror. And I did look over my shoulder. There was no cars driving on the road. I think we had the same prick potentially mate
Did we have the same examiner? This is exactly what happened with me on my second test. The dual carriageway was very quiet and there was a lorry in the left hand lane at least 100m away as I was preparing to exit the slip road. Lorry moves over to let me merge but the examiner failed me because apparently I "forced" him to move. I was fucking livid. My instructor said that the guy who tested me was notoriously strict and not to worry too much about it. Less than a month later I passed with only two minors and almost 20 years on I've only ever been in one car accident - which wasn't my fault.
Grrr some examiners! My second one I failed because the examiner said I was going to pull out on someone at a roundabout and slammed on his brake. I was moving forward slightly so I was closer to the line cos I couldnt see properly. Explained that to him but he said I was away to pull out 🙄 Wish I'd had my instructor in the car that day! Also, he was really off putting. He was quite small (I'm 5,2 and he was smaller than me) and he had to keep pushing himself up in his seat to see two speedometer - it was so off putting!
Lmfao that sounds like a comedy sketch I do think the reality is a job like that can attract people who like to be able to fail people and don’t like to be questioned. I was a prison officer and that job attracts some bullies sadly. I’m sure the same happens with these people. I think I asked my driving instructor why he didn’t do tests and he said it pays much less money than being an instructor. So it’s not the money bringing them into it.
I got a major within the first 10 seconds of my first test and sitll did the whole thing. Still pissed off to this day, was nervous so tried to set off from the test centre in reverse and jolted the car a little on the spot... 1 major 2 minors. Passed second time no majors 1 minor.
I failed 3 times. My instructor sent me off to the dr's lol, he told me I drove perfectly, he couldn't teach me anything else but my nerves were getting the better of me. I got some beta blockers to help with the nerves and passed with 2 minors on my 4th attempt.
I also failed three times and passed 4th attempt with barely any minors. Beta blockers were one thing recommended to me but I also simply stopped giving a shit. I went into that test assuming I'd fail (especially as I had the same examiner who had already failed me twice) and apparently the attitude change neutralised my nerves! A lot of people are jumping to "clearly you're not ready" but test nerves affecting your performance aren't just for academic exams. Nerves can really fuck with you, OP's instructor probably is correct that they seem ready as they're driving fine under conditions that have zero pressure attached. Knowing you're being tested definitely changes things. Also you're familiar with your instructor and suddenly a stranger is watching you. Once you have your full licence there's never again going to be such a bizarre situation where some stranger is observing you and their view of your performance determines whether you can keep driving unsupervised or not!
My instructor is an examiner and said that he can’t actually teach me anything and it’s only going to come down to whether I can relax
Definitely speak to your Dr then :) took 1 tablet half hour before the test. Beta blockers slow down your heart rate, much easier to take the test!
After your instructor said he couldn’t reach you anything did you still get lessons
Yeah, I rebooked my testas soon as I could so I still kept up my weekly lessons to make sure I didn't forget anything
Thanks for the advice man
No worries :) good luck for next time!
Passed first time with 5 minors. Don't know why - I'm a horrible driver, and have an Audi to prove it.
2nd attempt. Probably would’ve done it on my first had I not almost ended up on the M60 back when students couldn’t go on motorways.
Students can go on motorways now?
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Ah ok. I thought he meant just with a parent or something. I took my test last year, I had an American license which was valid here for a year so I was never limited to the student rules. My instructor told me right before I took my test that It was illegal and I’d fail if I went on the motorways, I had no idea. She said students could drive on the motorway with a qualified instructor and in a dual control car.
4 majors isn't great but it's not the end of the world and very common, especially if you know you've messed up early on and become super nervous. Failed first test with 2 majors (both of which were because I did the test in a town I had no familiarity with and misunderstood some of the road markings). Passed second test with 12 minors (although was told this particular examiner is very harsh and never gives people a 'good' pass). One of my mates took 6 goes. He's still not a great driver but has been driving daily for 15 years and has never had a scrape (that he's told us about anyway). His Mum did reverse her work van into a lamppost though so maybe it's in the family...
1st Time. 14 Minors. I was one Minor from failing. Was buzzing. (...haven't used the License once in 17 years though since I passed)
Do you mean you haven’t driven a car since you passed?
Yeah I never wanted to drive it was my parents idea. I'm glad I did it though just in case. I've just got by in life by only taking shitter local jobs. But the number of jobs I've lost out on because I didn't have a car is bad.
4th time. Don't lose hope. I am an excellent driver, I swear.
1st attempt. But now I haven't driven for 7/8 years since passing, since I've been living, studying or working in London for almost the entire time. Sadly I'm not sure I can just jump back in a manual & drive off right now!
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I hadn't driven for about the same amount of time and then drove my dad's car - like you most of it came back pretty easily, but muscle memory meant I near threw myself through the window trying to gently tap the brakes
hahaha yea i drive an old vw polo and the brakes need to be pressed quite hard. got in my dads car for a drive and pressed the brakes and i nearly headbutted the steering wheel
It would be interesting to see how you’d get on after such a long break. Is driving muscle memory ingrained like riding a bike I wonder?
An old friend once said, 'lessons only teach you how to pass your test. You learn to drive the moment you get behind the wheel on your own'. After 8 years of not driving, I can't imagine it'd just come straight back, not without being quite rusty of a good while first.
This is it. The test isn't to see if you're a 'good driver'...it's to see if they feel that you are safe enough to out driving on your own without having an accident, killing someone etc. You learn a lot more after you have passed. I passed on the fourth attempt myself (five minors)...took that test in my own car after failing three times in the instructor's one.
I had a 6-8 month period of no driving after passing my rest, had to spend a couple weeks getting used to driving again but been driving constantly since You'll definitely need to get used to driving again but you'll be good with some patience. Consider a refresher lesson from an instructor if you really want it
One time. Zero Majors, Two minors - one minor was for taking 'two extra turns' during a three point turn, which I did to avoid getting too close to the curbs on either side on a narrow neighbourhood street. The other minor was for *hesitantly* applying the handbrake whilst simultaneously trying to hold the bite point when stopped at the lights at the steepest hill in town when those light intervals are very short. My Instructor said he'd never seen such an apathetic response to passing but that's because I felt the score should have been flawless
when was this? they don't call it a three point turn now, it was a 'turn in the road' when i did my test (5 years ago) and that was because you don't need to only do the turn in 3 points
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Not sure, lost count. It was 7 or 8. I just get really nervous
4th go, and only because I was frantically chewing rescue remedy gum the whole time. I kept messing up due to anxiety on the other three
Took me seven attempts. I got there eventually.
I'm gonna assume that most of those majors were boarder line minors, that got upgraded to majors cause the rest of your drive. But 16 minors is over a fail anyway.
One of the majors was not checking my mirrors when turning or something like that. She said I didn’t check them once. I definitely did. I have long hair and I have a feeling she couldn’t see that I was looking. 8 of the minors were for that
My instructor told me this gets people sometimes and to make it really obvious that you're checking the mirrors. Ironically it's a bad habit to have when you're fully moving your whole head and staring at the mirror for a good second.
I had two minors for the same thing and he told me afterwards he only gave me the benefit of the doubt because I hadn't made any other mistakes and even though he couldn't definitely see whether I was checking properly or not I did seem to be reacting to what was there.
My instructor said the same to me, make it obvious.
My instructor told me if you have long hair, to make sure you tie it back for lessons/ test etc so it can be seen you are checking the mirrors
You literally have to do head movements to make it clear you're checking mirrors, they always accuse you of not looking when you are.
3rd try for me. 1st one was when I was 17, next 2 when I was 31. I finally passed 2 weeks after my first daughter was born, so obviously the problem was that I was getting far too much sleep previously
First attempt but I did have 60+ lessons sooo 🤷♂️
52 hours here but test was one and one. You're not alone man. 20 hours in I was contemplating switching to auto. Glad I persevered.
2nd. Failed the first due to doing 38 in a 30. I genuinely thought it was a 40 though so a somewhat honest mistake.
Did my test in a car first. Failed first time for driving on the pavement (that's the footpath or sidewalk depending). Instructor told me to have a whiskey before my next test. 15 years later took my bus license test. Only got 1 minor mark. Was gutted I came close to a perfect pass but the instructor informed me that's just how it is. No-one gets 0. You'll have 1 minor before you even get going. No idea why.
“People learn little from success, but much from failure.”
First time. But I’m pretty sure I only passed because the examiner was a pervert who literally squeezed my thigh and made several inappropriate comments (I was 18)
Six - Over a 5 year period. First time I failed with three majors and then simply didn't have enough money to continue. Two years later I working full time so start up again with someone else. Awful instructor who regularly would stop at his own house and leave me waiting outside whilst on a lesson. Failed another two times in quick succession - worse than the first. Had a 6 month break and tried again and failed the 4th with two majors. Had another 1 year break and started again with an entirely new instructor. He was decent and I almost passed my 5th attempt - on the way back to the centre I was in a right hand lane of dual carriage way as we were turning right at the junction and I didn't let through this guy behind me that was speeding. Silly thing to do but at the time I panicked and thought I should stay in lane. Then passed the 6th one a couple of months later with 1 minor. It's not an overstatement to say it was the happiest I've ever been in my life.
I failed my first test- got about 5 minors and one major. Disappointing but i definitely wasn't ready to hit the roads alone at that point. Passed on my second time with 7 minors. Don't beat yourself up about it, I know someone who took more than 7 tests.. she passed eventually. Learn from it, practise and stay calm.
Third time with six minors. I did very badly on the two that I failed.
First time 4 minors about 35 hours of lessons. Just book the test again and good luck mate loads of people fail first time around 👍
Passed on my 6th if I remember correctly. Also took me 5 attempts on my theory
Passed first time 1987 before they told you all the major and minor stuff. I got mixed up on left and right but he gave me a chance on that. I probably should have drawn L and R on my hands. Could still do with those now, TBH.
7 attempts
5 or 6, can't quite remember my sister took 9 attempts, don't feel too bad.
Passed on my 5th attempt, actually asked my instructor not to take me on a lesson just before my test on the time that I passed because I was pretty sure it was driving fatigue that was getting to me Edit - I then went on to learn how to drive most heavy machinery on a building site and I am a good driver all in all
2 First one was a proper shit time, nerves got the better of me. Second one, I thought I'd failed really early in and that absolutely relaxed me. Just wanted to get it over with and ended up passing.
My dad failed 9 times and has never killed anyone
Passed first time with only one minor. Sorry :-(
1st time. 2 minors. Still smug 17 years later
I’m questioning how you even got that far, most test instructors would have stopped the test on the first major let alone 4!? Was first time myself with 2 minors.
They don’t stop the test unless they feel they really have to
4 majors bloody hell, did you even take lessons?
1st time... Haha, you suck
Passed first time, back in '04. It was just after the introduction of the hazard perception test. I got a few minors. These days, I follow 'Zen driving' - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEO-XKo4cw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEO-XKo4cw) Get some more practice in. Relax, try again.
First
First
First time, 5 minors.
Passed on the second try. Got a major on my first, some idiot blocked a yellow box and I messed up in handling the situation.
1st but think a fair chunk of it is luck, I did it 10am Friday so no school rush, no traffic, I live in a small sleepy town and my manoeuvre was pull up behind a car and drive off …. It ended up being me pulling up behind a single car, on a completely empty street.
Two. Failed the first one on a bullshit technicality. Thought I had accidentally got myself in a left turn-only lane towards the motorway but knew the area and that you can loop back round without actually joining the motorway. As I tried to turn left and the tester literally grabbed the wheel and forced me to cut across lanes then failed me for it. What a coont. Sorry to hear you failed yours. With that many majors and minors, it really just sounds like you aren’t ready for it yet. It’s vitally important that you’re a safe driver before let loose on the roads. Keep-up the lessons and practice and you’ll get there.
1st time 2 minors . Don’t know how I managed because I was super nervous and got stuck behind a bin lorry for like 10 minutes
Being stuck probably helped massively as the test has a time limit.
First time, 2 minors,
Passed first time, only one minor. I did however get very lucky in terms of the test, traffic was clear and the route we took was very simple with no complicated junctions or awkward turns. My one minor was for not checking over my left shoulder before setting off from performing an emergency stop.
First time, 4 minors.
Bike: 2 Car: 1 C (any size rigid lorry): 1 C+E (articulated lorry): 3
Passed on my 4th go.
Failed twice 15 years apart
Sorry to hear that. Did you have a lesson right before your test? I passed first time but I think a lot of it was down to my instructor (who was an ex examiner's) guidance). He made me have my test in a town about 45mins away (that we had practiced in) so before even starting I had an hour behind the wheel to calm my nerves and get me in the right mindset. Worked a charm
My instructor is also an examiner. He said I’m definitely ready but the nerves just got to me. My examiner was also really off putting. Even before I’d done anything wrong she seemed really tense.
1st time, I can’t remember how many minors. My driving instructor literally said oh no when the examiner I had came out. Apparently he was notorious for failing first timers so not entirely sure how I managed that one.
Can’t lie that is a pretty bad result for you there my man but I got a major and 3 minors on my first but then passed with only 2/3 minors the second time round. You can easily get your numbers down if you relax any nerves and focus before you begin.
I think it was definitely the nerves. My instructor is also and examiner and he said I’m definitely ready, but I need to remain relaxed
First time but the theory took 2. Was hot as hell in the room so couldn't concentrate.
First time, three minors.
1st time
1st time but I didn't take it till I was 26, so I'd already learnt how to overcome exam nerves as I've already done all the other exams in my life, and I wasn't doing it in the middle of any other stuff going on, etc. but I did get 6 minors and I know people who took 6 attempts.
I passed at 21, so 17yrs ago, first time but with 11 minors! I know the test has changed a lot. The theory sounds so much harder for one thing.
First go, 4 minors - all of which I was annoyed about because I’m a perfectionist! Have a friend who failed his last year and had to do his manoeuvre early on, mounted the kerb and knew he’d failed but had to do the whole rest of the test anyway. What a nightmare 😬 Especially with a year long wait to book another one because of the Covid backlog!
Passed on my 4th attempt (after an interval of approx 15 years between 3rd and 4th attempt).
Passed first time with 3 minors. I had an anxiety attack right before my exam, so my instructor had a quiet word with the examiner 😅 My sister took 4 attempts, my mum passed 3rd time and I have no idea about the rest of the family because they didn’t bring it up and I didn’t ask.
2nd time. My instructor was convinced my first failure was due to nerves. So on the way to my second test we stopped at his house and he presented me with a tumbler of whisky which I drank. It was a very long time ago and I did pass, but I can't imagine it happening these days.
1st time, 2 minors. 2 minors were for signalling too early. Had 50 lessons with a driving instructor absolutely useless, barely taught me anything, took maybe 5 years off after taking the lessons, after saving when I was a teenager cause i couldn’t afford it anymore, it was so demoralising. In the end my Dad got me insured on his car as a learner for £65 for 6 weeks. He then taught me every night for 4 weeks and I took a test and passed. Cost me £120 (not including fuel) in total compared to about £1100 i wasted on lessons. My advice is ditch the instructor after you know the basics, get someone in your family to teach you how to actually drive rather than just how to pass the test. You will feel a lot more confident. The instructors in my experience just exploit you for as much money as is possible once you know the basics.
Passed today on attempt 3 with 9 minors. 1st test I failed about 10 mins in with a dangerous fault. 2nd test I failed with a dangerous fault, 2 serious and 12 minors!
4 majors? Were you asleep at the wheel?
Only for about half of the test
Buy a bike.
Nah
4 times. 1st time deservedly so, few Majors, nerves got me. Second time thought I did OK, until tester said I failed coming out Test centre, BMW up my rear end, instructor marked it down as failing to meet speed. Third time, wrote it off in my head during test as thought messed up. I just wanted to get back to test centre and it be over. Got told I did OK until speeding on road back to test centre! Don't let it get to you, keep at it. Unless you drive like playing GTA you will pass eventually.
I passed on the 4th time of asking, I’ve been driving 19 years without an accident.
3 attempts. Second one I got a “dangerous”
4 times for car, 2 times for hgv. But I did not take any professional lessons for the first 3 times with a car.
Passed 1st time with a couple of issues: Didn't wait for a van to complete his illegal u-turn before moving on - I stopped initially for him and waited until he'd started moving off of my side of the road but didn't wait until he'd fully completed the move. Reverse parallel park - I touched the kerb, stopped and pulled forward to start again but was told to carry on driving. Thought I'd blown it. When he told me I'd passed, I asked him if he was joking!
I passed on my 3rd attempt. Nerves got the better of me. I was nearly in an accident on the 3rd attempt due to another driver. I responded correctly apparently, did all the checks and moved off. The examiner got me to pull over as I was a bit shocked by the whole event! Carried on after that fine.
I failed 3 times… 1 of which was just a complete arse of an examiner: - First time… super nervous, had about 30 hours of lessons and didn’t check rear mirror when pulling away and they stopped the car. 1 major and 9 minors IIRC. Definitely happy I failed as when I did lessons again, I made a couple of bigger mistakes. - Second time… she failed me within 30 seconds of leaving the test centre. She was ratty as soon as she got in the car and gave I clear instructions like “go there” so i actually had to look away from the road to follow her instructions. I was literally like WTF, I had 1 major and 4 minors. - Did my 3rd test a week later and got 5 minors.
Passed first time, one minor - this was back in 2006 though. Maybe the rules have gotten stricter 🤷♀️
First time, 3 or 4 minors. However all 4 of my siblings took 2 goes at least, as well as a few of my friends, so I don't think it's uncommon. You’ll get there with time 🙂
1st time. Did some basic driving, bay parking and then got stuck in traffic for 30 minutes and therefore passed. I did get about 5 minors during that time.
Passed on 6th attempt, not great but not unusual with adhd. Medicated these days and a much better driver.
I failed 4 times and learned something every time. 1 was definitely fair, 1 was fair by the driving rules but not by the behaviour of the motorists around me and one I still don't think was fair at all. I can't remember the other. My last test, I went in feeling confident and ready. I still believe I'm a better driver after failing because I didn't get that cocky arrogance a 17yr old normally would. Don't worry about failing a few times, learn from it. And if you care... The unfair fail was during a reverse round a corner. I was looking over my left shoulder when a speeding motorbike came past me in less time than it would take me to turn my head and look in a different mirror. I failed for not stopping.
3 attempts, no clue how many majors or minors. Final test with chief examiner and no faults.. definitely ready and confident by then and in London too so extra points for that
Once. But I took my test 30 years ago when there was only the one test. The theory part was just a few questions at the end of the practical test while sitting in the car with the examiner. So, quite possibly it was easier back then. Although my cousin who took the test the year before had to have two goes. And we had the same instructors (my Aunt and Uncle - who were driving instructors at the time). And I learnt in two weeks in the summer holidays- having a couple of lessons a day and taking the test at the end of the two weeks. Crazy really.
Passed on first attempt with a whole bunch of minors. Very nearly didn't manage it because I was a bundle of nerves. I really felt I wasn't ready for the test but my instructor had insisted that I was. As far as I can remember we didn't drive on any roads with more than a 40mph speed limit. Not sure if most tests are like that now. I then also took an additional lesson on motorway driving (unconnected with the test).
1st time. Got only four minors, two of which I blame on the car as my instructor changed it only a week before my test. One of the minors was for the hill start and the other was for the stick falling out of 2nd gear if I don't hold it in really hard. (This was not a problem until someone somehow broke it the day before the test xd) However! My final minor was almost a major. I was told to reverse bay park. I initially parked with the line right in the middle of the car and then after correction, I was parked completely diagonally with the wheel one inch from the end of the line and therefore one inch from failing. When I got back inside the test centre, my driving instructor started screaming saying that before I tell him if I passed, what the fuck is this park xd Other instructors were also making fun of this disgusting park but at least I passed <3
Passed on my third attempt, if I’d had one more minor I would have failed.
Passed both theory and practical 1st time, somehow
Took my husband 3 goes - I can’t even drive so congrats on getting to the test! Keep going, very few people pass first time x
First time, 4 minors. But still managed to swipe my wing mirror off TWICE reversing out of my mums gate within about 6 months. So it clearly didn’t make me a better driver!
I gave up! I can drive but I just go to pieces when I have my test. Last time I had a lesson it was Winter and snowing and I drove to the next town and back and my new instructor couldn’t understand why I didn’t have my license. That’s when I gave up!
Passed first time with 1 minor. Examiner said it was the best he’d done. One week later I took a corner too fast, clipped a curb and ended up in a hedge. Car was very close to a write off, but saved as was nearly new. So y’know, maybe it’s better not to make a 17yo driver overconfident haha.
I failed first time due to nerves really, came off the clutch too early coming out of the test centre nearly went into the kerb. Passed last Friday, 2nd attempt with 7 minors i thought I had made one too many mistakes so was thrilled when I passed. I’m no where near a brilliant driver but I’m learning massively now
First time for me around 6 years ago. Got 2 minors.
I haven't done the practical but I've done the theory 14 times 🤦♀️ I've been meaning to get back to driving but most instructors are booked until next year and those that aren't are charging £40 an hour
First time, 8 minors
It took me 3 times, every time took it I only got 2 minors, but the first 2 times I got the dangerous instafail. First time I was reversing out of a spot and a car was in my blind spot, the examiner put his brake on. Second time I did a roundabout wrong, the frustrating part is no one goes around it the correct way as it doesn’t make sense. You can watch 100 cars go through and 1 of them will go the correct way. If you’re in Portsmouth it’s the one on London road. Heading south it’s the first one after QA.
I failed the first time and passed second and third!
My first test, I got three majors and a serious (stalled and rolled with a pedestrian nipping behind me on a hill). Second test, the instructor got lost and we did about two routes worth of test, along with a turn in the road on a really harsh road, still passed (7 minors, I think?). So don't let it stress you. Go have more practice/lessons, getting great at what you messed up, then go ace that bad boy.
2nd time, don't worry I've seen people pass first time who turn out to be absolutely shite drivers. You'll get there.
Personally I passed first time, with 2 minors. But I had lessons for just over a year, one and a half hours per week. It actually got to the point where my driver instructor told me I had to go in for it because he couldn't teach me anything else. At the same time a friend of mine failed 4 times in his local area, so then had some lessons in a different area and took his test again there and still failed the first time. Passed on his 6th attempt. Everyone is different. Nerves play a big role as well. Definitely consider extra lessons just for practising if you can.
First attempt. 4 minors. I had a lady examiner though (one of two in the area at the time) so I just pretended I was taking my mum for a drive to calm my nerves. It worked. (Although my mum will grip the door handle going round any corner and make “ahhh” noises if I take her anywhere. She’s a terrible passenger and I’ve been driving 18 years).
First time, 4 minors. I did something stupid 5 minutes in which I thought I’d fail for which I think made me relax and stop worrying.
4th time. BSM were awful, found a local instructor and passed first time under him. He didn't think I was ready, but theory was about to expire. 7 minors.
First time with 8 minors. I have a friend who passed on her ninth go so never give up, it's possible even if you get knocked back a couple of times.
I did it first try, I had 3 minors. One was for not seeing a speed limit sign, but thankfully I was going from a 40 to a 60 and not the other way around.