The point I am making about the downhill start is that it really is not a key moment on the test and certainly not something to worry about. For the sake of closing this point the correct procedure when moving away downhill is to apply the footbrake and release the handbrake. Perform all observation checks and when appropriate give a signal to inform others of your intention to move away. Release the clutch to the biting point and move the right foot from brake to accelerator and drive the vehicle away under power. The objective is to not allow the vehicle to roll away but be driven. Alternatively move away the same way as every other time on the test. You will not get marked down for it.
As for the Mod 4 Sam. Download a list of questions from several places on this board and learn them off by heart. There are only about 20 seperate questions and you will be asked 5. 3 of the questions appear on all 8 different question papers. Each question (except 1) has 4 parts to the answer and you need to get at least 3 of them to pass. The daily walkround check question has 10 parts to the answer but the good news here is that you can carry a checklist on the test and read from it. Seems strange, but true.
animal:
As some on here know I had my test for CE in Dec few years back when got to test centre was all ready for reverse but had that knock on the door to say it was canceled then tried several times more sometimes didnt evern get out the yard & test was called off eventually taken on 23 fed
Who did you use for your training if you went to Newcastle test centre there are at least 2 ladies examiners both called Linda
Hi Animal ,
I trained with Tyne & Wear Lgv , i have to say they were great. I really should have passed 1st time but i knew i made silly mistakes like pulling out in front of cars on Blue house roundabout, lol .
I did do my test at Gosforth , 3 tests and 3 different examiners . the 2 Linda’s & Ken and none of them bite too hard lol.
Excellent first drive, everything fell back into place, it was a long one though. Second drive was all going well until he threw his hands up in the air to wave at someone going past while I was looking in my mirror and I completely got ■■■■■■ over by flipping the paddle down without knowing it and when i changed it went into 3rd or some ■■■■■■■■, not to mention there was a transporter right up my arse who had to brake harshly. “That was a fail” yes, but it’s not a test. “It wasn’t a fail because of the paddle switch, it was a fail because he nearly crashed into you.” Yep, not my problem, he shouldn’t be so close, it’s a learner vehicle isn’t it? it says ‘driver under instruction, please stay back’. So anyway he goes on about how that just cost me my test on Friday and it would have to be postponed or some ■■■■■■■■. “That’s a stupid mistake, you should of stopped doing that from day 1, and it also cost you your test on Friday probably because now I need to say you don’t know your way around the gearbox.” Well clearly I know my way around a gearbox, i just made a mistake in day 3 of an intensive course.
Anyway, in an absolute ■■■■ of a mood now and really not looking forward to tomorrow.
Cheer up Sam. it’s all in a day’s work to the trainer and he has long forgotten about it by now. Some of the best learning comes from making mistakes and being determined to not make them again.
Tomorrow is another day and you will probably make a few more mistakes before test day.
Forward planning, concentration and attention to small details are some of the keys to passing this.
The problem is that the vehicle will slow rapidly without showing brake lights. This would sometimes be marked as a minor if no other vehicle is affected by it and if you corrected it quickly and without fuss. Otherwise, it’s a serious (fail).
Most candidates think they know their way around the gearbox until there is an interesting set of circumstances - then it can all fall apart very quickly. It is only a matter of perserverance and patience - for both candidate and instructor.
I think it’s a bit of “driving instructor psychology” designed to increase your determination level. I expect he says that to everybody.
Just glad I never had that psychological training then!! It clearly hasn’t worked for Sam. IMO, the error should be pointed out, then the remedy followed by bucketfulls of encouragement. (I’m not actually sure I would have allowed the error to happen in the first place with a car transporter close up behind - but that’s a different subject).
But everyone’s got their own ways I suppose. And Sam will be fine as long as the lesson is learned. Pete
Surely the instructor should be building up sams confidence not knocking him down , And sam if you read this your test should already be booked, so he’s talking ■■■■■■■■ .
Yes, mistake was 100% my fault no doubt about it but it was just the reaction it got that got me down.
Something else that annoys me, “if there’s no one behind, it’s a minor. If there is someone behind (up your arse in other words!!) then its a serious”. You can’t help who is and isn’t behind you therefore they should make up their mind weather its a serious or minor.
animal:
As some on here know I had my test for CE in Dec few years back when got to test centre was all ready for reverse but had that knock on the door to say it was canceled then tried several times more sometimes didnt evern get out the yard & test was called off eventually taken on 23 fed
Who did you use for your training if you went to Newcastle test centre there are at least 2 ladies examiners both called Linda
Hi Animal ,
I trained with Tyne & Wear Lgv , i have to say they were great. I really should have passed 1st time but i knew i made silly mistakes like pulling out in front of cars on Blue house roundabout, lol .
I did do my test at Gosforth , 3 tests and 3 different examiners . the 2 Linda’s & Ken and none of them bite too hard lol.
Yep I used them for my Cat C & Ce but I think the guy who took me for CE has since moved on they were in there old place then & yep both Linda’s & Ken are fine thought Ken had retired tbh
Surely the instructor should be building up sams confidence not knocking him down
Agree
test should already be booked, so he’s talking ■■■■■■■■ .
Doesn’t mean it can’t be postponed. It would incur a lost fee and we only do this in the case of someone being dangerous. So it’s rare.
IMO if Sam has only made the range change mistake once, there really is no lasting problem. Pete
He was an examiner in the army for 10 years apparently, i was full of confidence this morning, even through the 2nd drive (when it happened) my confidence was really high. He also said that’s twice I made that mistake today when it wasn’t it was only that one time, the other was the other candidate. He’s a great guy don’t get me wrong but after that happened i’m very weary about letting the clutch out after almost every change in-case i’ve hit crawler when pulling away or indeed i’ve flicked the switch and not noticed.
That was also something - I don’t recall hitting the button, no doubt it was down but I don’t consciously remember doing.
Something else that annoys me, “if there’s no one behind, it’s a minor. If there is someone behind (up your arse in other words!!) then its a serious”. You can’t help who is and isn’t behind you therefore they should make up their mind weather its a serious or minor.
Sam, I understand your frustration. But you have to realise that driving isn’t a blame game. People get killed because other people make mistakes. To a point, it doesn’t matter who made the mistake - the tragedy has happened. You need to try and adopt the mindset that although the guy behind has made a mistake in getting too close to you, you must now (as a professional driver) do everything in your power to avoid the situation developing. That’s the difference between a “driver” and a “professional driver”. Sadly, cramming it into 3rd at too high a speed, doesn’t help the issue.
Another point is that in the dim and distant pass, the fault would have been marked as a serious - full stop. They have gone soft in many areas and now allow such things as minor faults provided they had no effect on any other road user at the time. Whether that’s right or wrong is another discussion… but that’s how it is.
Stop beating yourself up and fighting the system; concentrate on getting it sorted. All the best, Pete
He was an examiner in the army for 10 years apparently, i was full of confidence this morning, even through the 2nd drive (when it happened) my confidence was really high. He also said that’s twice I made that mistake today when it wasn’t it was only that one time, the other was the other candidate. He’s a great guy don’t get me wrong but after that happened i’m very weary about letting the clutch out after almost every change in-case i’ve hit crawler when pulling away or indeed i’ve [zb] the switch and not noticed.
That was also something - I don’t recall hitting the button, no doubt it was down but I don’t consciously remember doing.
The army is an interesting background for an instructor. IME some ex-army are absolutely superb - some are the extreme opposite. It’s a different training situation altogether from civvy-street - though the same rules of the road apply. Do you not have a warning light of some sort to tell you what range you’re in? Be careful about messing with the gear stick for no reason - this will sometimes lead to unintended movement of the switch.
He was an examiner in the army for 10 years apparently, i was full of confidence this morning, even through the 2nd drive (when it happened) my confidence was really high. He also said that’s twice I made that mistake today when it wasn’t it was only that one time, the other was the other candidate. He’s a great guy don’t get me wrong but after that happened i’m very weary about letting the clutch out after almost every change in-case i’ve hit crawler when pulling away or indeed i’ve [zb] the switch and not noticed.
That was also something - I don’t recall hitting the button, no doubt it was down but I don’t consciously remember doing.
The army is an interesting background for an instructor. IME some ex-army are absolutely superb - some are the extreme opposite. It’s a different training situation altogether from civvy-street - though the same rules of the road apply. Do you not have a warning light of some sort to tell you what range you’re in? Be careful about messing with the gear stick for no reason - this will sometimes lead to unintended movement of the switch.
Maybe this helps, Pete
There’s a display on the dash, but he says never trust it so meh.
It would be a good idea to simply not allow the truck to engage low range above a certain speed or a loud buzzer to let you know the paddle is down, but the buzzer is only activated above a certain speed (ie so it wouldn’t sound going 6-4 or something like that)
But if in doubt always check before you start like you would do with daily checks or when you start your car
Sam Millar:
It would be a good idea to simply not allow the truck to engage low range above a certain speed or a loud buzzer to let you know the paddle is down, but the buzzer is only activated above a certain speed (ie so it wouldn’t sound going 6-4 or something like that)
But out in the real working world how you gonna know
if you went to Newcastle test centre there are at least 2 ladies examiners both called Linda
