Ok. I suspect I’m risking a kicking, but…
Today I failed my HPT for the second time. the first time I scored 64/100 with two ‘disqualified’ sections, this time 55/100 with one disqualification [but it was the double hazard]. I have NO IDEA what I’m doing wrong. I can see the hazards - I’ve had a bike and car licence for 30 years - and my last two scores on the mock test software were 87 and 92. There is no feedback from the actual test at all, and so I feel totally frustrated. I’d happily give a running commentary on what I perceive during the test, but it seems as though it’s a video game with different rules from the mock test software. I’d appreciate any constructive/supportive comments from those of you who’ve taken the HPT!
I don’t know if it was ever really properly explained to you, but there’s three stages. You must click the minute you see the hazard, click again until you’re half way away from it, and click right again just before the hazard happens.
But I’m guessing the ‘cheat detection’ software’ on the real test must be different from that in the ‘Driving Test Success’ DVD that I’ve been using to practise on? As I said, my last 2 tests on that were 92 and 87/100. Yet on the second real test, I scored just 55. And trust me, it’s not because I can’t see the hazards! I’m now nervous about clicking more than once on each hazard in the real test because then it seems I’m ‘disqualified’. I’m not even sure if I’m clicking too early, meaning that I’ve missed the ‘window’. It’s really getting me down, as it seems more like a video game than a test of driving skill, and there is no way of getting feedback about what you’ve done wrong.
Hi,
Don’t know if this will help you, but i was told at the test centre by one of the staff “click as manys times as you like during each video clip, but don’t double click!” Don’t think he was puposed to tell me that? 
But it worked! All the best mate, you’ll nail it next time.
ericonabike:
But I’m guessing the ‘cheat detection’ software’ on the real test must be different from that in the ‘Driving Test Success’ DVD that I’ve been using to practise on? As I said, my last 2 tests on that were 92 and 87/100. Yet on the second real test, I scored just 55. And trust me, it’s not because I can’t see the hazards! I’m now nervous about clicking more than once on each hazard in the real test because then it seems I’m ‘disqualified’. I’m not even sure if I’m clicking too early, meaning that I’ve missed the ‘window’. It’s really getting me down, as it seems more like a video game than a test of driving skill, and there is no way of getting feedback about what you’ve done wrong.
to be honest, it is a bit of luck with the hp test, it’s utter mince. it’s never had any problems with it but i do love gaming. i can’t really give you any advice on it it’s a bit hit and miss which is a shame 
I did the HPT in March this year. All I did to prepare was to ‘do’ 2 full mock tests per day until I was scoring over 90% on each test. Once I hit that target I put in for my test and kept at 2 tests per day right up to my test.
You are clearly capable of passing the test, maybe test nerves are making you a little eager with the mouse?
Keep at it, it is just a comuter game…the more you do it the better you get at it 
Tazbug
The game is easy if you understand the rules.
Don’t click unnecessarily.
When you see the hazard, click once then click again very soon after to make sure that at least one click gets in the scoring zone.
As licence holders of a few years for most of us, it’s easy to think everything is potentially a hazard. You will normally find one part of the clip that sticks out like a sore thumb as the intended part for you to react to.
Don’t forget to keep looking as one clip has 2 hazards.
Unfortunately I cannot offer any magic trick to getting a pass. I passed HPT for car lorry and bus first time. You just have to know how to play the game
So…I went back to my training DVD [Driving Test Success, sent as part of my ‘intro package’ from J.Coates] and checked my previous results. I’d taken three mock tests, with an average result of 90%. It occurred to me that I might have been clicking too early on the real test, rather than waiting for hazards to develop. And so on this mock test I deliberately held off for a moment until I was sure hazard was actual not potential. Result? 65% and fail! Reviewing the examples it was clear that this software package expects you to click the instant a potential hazard appears [woman going to car door - she may or may not open it - I waited until she did and scored just 2] Seems that theory’s shot - unless the rules built into Driving Test Success differ from those in the test itself.
Sorry to go on about this, but I’m really not used to failing, especially when I can’t work out why!
Is the Driving Test Success DVD the industry standard, or are there others you would recommend?
Try “The complete LGV & PCV theory and hazard perception tests” it’s a PC DVD-ROM by Focus Multimedia, much better than the DSA dvd, i got it from either play.com or amazon, can’t remember?
dar1976:
The game is easy if you understand the rules.Don’t click unnecessarily.
When you see the hazard, click once then click again very soon after to make sure that at least one click gets in the scoring zone.
As licence holders of a few years for most of us, it’s easy to think everything is potentially a hazard. You will normally find one part of the clip that sticks out like a sore thumb as the intended part for you to react to
^
this is a good way of doing the hp , this test is designed to make new drivers aware of potential hazards on the road , personaly I dont think drivers who have driven for years need this part to go on to hgv training as you have been driving for years you see the hazards long before the computer thinks you should be , so a click when you see the hazard and then another a moments later should get you scoring , when i did my hp i found i saw hazard then just hesitated for a second and clicked then clicked again (not a double click) and got my pass , as people of said its just managing the game ,
good luck keep trying
jen x
Its based on developing hazards. To use your example, when you saw the woman at the car door…click then click again shortly after. Its likely she is going to open the door so that makes it a developing hazard, hence the 1st click.
Keep at it, you need to get the practice in, the more you do it the quicker you will get the hang of it
I used the complete LGV and PCV dvd from Focus, I found it excellent, but, as I said earlier, I didn’t put in for my tests until I was scoring over 90% in every mock test I took.
Best of luck
Tazbug
Bumped to report, after four attempts, eventual success! My scores were 64, 55, 66 and 74 [with a pass being 67]. I have no idea what I was doing on test four that was better than the others [on my first attempt I was ‘disqualified’ on two of the 19 scenarios for inappropriate clicking]. Overall it was a frustrating experience and one which has not made me a better driver - which I had assumed to be the purpose? Still, onwards and upwards - assessment drive now booked for next month on return from holiday.
Well Done. Onwards and Upwards
Champion, well done. I assume you’ve breezed the theory and are now up for the practical training (which is much better )
Tazbug