Another bit of nonsense that comes up is using the park brake between forward and reverse gears eg at the start of the reverse ex at cones A and A1. Worse still if you start using it when shunting.
Remember it’s a PARK brake - not a handbrake.
Pete 
Well sorry to say I failed , nerves got better of me.
In the morning had a mock test and didn’t do a single thing wrong , best drive all week , then as soon as examiner said my name the shakes started , passed the questions and on the reverse I could feel my left leg shaking on the clutch I was that nervous, anyway did the reverse ok and was told to carry on.
Then stopped at side of road forgot blind spot check because of the nerves so great start, so carried on wondering which way I would go at the roundabout ( I did have a preferred route) so what happened , my luck straight across and not my preferred route , now heading to what I call the clock tower if you go right here no bus lane and left bus lane so again preferred would have been right at this point but no left I went ( other way more practiced and confortable with ) so ended up at a traffic controlled cross roads where I had to turn right with one car in front of me , lights green and car went into turning space and therefore there was no room for me, now I know I should have stayed behind the lights until the car had cleared the space, but stupidly didn’t and moved forward until I was just past the lights car went and so did I but the light had changed and examiner stopped me , I knew that was an instant fail.
Then later on at the sainsbury roundabout middle lane goes in too directions I forgot and started to indicate right on the roundabout instead of before I entered the roundabout so that was serious as well.
Pick up a serious for moving off safely as well which I assume is either blind spots or to do with the traffic lights.
So in all
2 minors gears, 2 minors move off safety with a serious, 1 minor for moving off control, 2 minors mirrors change of direction, serious for signal on roundabout, serious for traffic lights, 2 minors for undue hesitation ( t- junction where have to go on other side of road into yellow box to turn left , clear on right but cars constantly coming from left was told by examiner should have move out to force sorry persuade them to allow me to turn however I thought that would be classed as bullying) , 2 minors for lane discipline ( two lane road which merges into one lane twice up hill , was told to stop other vehicles passing as it would cause problems when it merges and to just keep a single line up the hill, examiner said should of pulled in and then out when lanes merge) , 3 minors for awareness/planning.
All told 14 minors and 3 serious ( seriously stupid mistakes)
Anyway am sorting a retest out tomorrow , just hoping I can keep nerves in check this time.
Examiner = George or Ivan ?
Examiner was Ivan rog
fredandginger:
Examiner was Ivan rog
He is better at putting trainees at ease than George IMO
On the positive side no minors for handbrake use lol 
Better luck next time. Pete
Sounds like you had a bit of a 'mare. Want a tip? Don’t think of preferred routes as it seems like you’re thinking more about these and when asked to go a different way it seems to throw you.
Just remember to breath nice and deep and stay as relaxed as you can, a little bit of nerves helps keep you alert!! And remember that you CAN drive, just think and deal about what’s in front of you, not about a certain route that you may go down. The examiner can take you anywhere. To cover and remember all test routes on any given LGV course is virtually impossible. Keep a clear mind and concerntrate on what’s in front/around the next corner and deal with each situation seperately, don’t worry if you think you’ve failed, just keep going.
As for the box junction or similar, if the exit isn’t clear then stay behind the white line.
Good luck with the next test.
Tarrman:
Sounds like you had a bit of a 'mare. Want a tip? Don’t think of preferred routes as it seems like you’re thinking more about these and when asked to go a different way it seems to throw you.Just remember to breath nice and deep and stay as relaxed as you can, a little bit of nerves helps keep you alert!! And remember that you CAN drive, just think and deal about what’s in front of you, not about a certain route that you may go down. The examiner can take you anywhere. To cover and remember all test routes on any given LGV course is virtually impossible. Keep a clear mind and concerntrate on what’s in front/around the next corner and deal with each situation seperately, don’t worry if you think you’ve failed, just keep going.
As for the box junction or similar, if the exit isn’t clear then stay behind the white line.
Good luck with the next test.
Agreed.
Remember. When you go out on the road on your own, you’ll be expected to take the optimum route, not necessarily the preferred route. The preferred routes may have been easier, but you are demonstrating to the examiner you can cope with anything thrown at you.
You’ve had a ‘trial run’. Go give the ‘real test’ your best shot 
.
Your right , think about which route didn’t help my nerves so can see where your coming from, just to clarify though it wasn’t that the other routes was easier just more practiced.
But do agree and know where you are both coming from .
At end of the day if I take off the stupid mistakes and the difference in apinions over undue hesitation and lane discipline then it wouldn’t of been as bad, so yes I am treating it as a test run and they are already sorting a retest date out.
In the meantime I am going to work on my pulling off and blind spots.
You could always drive around the test route area in your car if it helps
Re-test date 13th February. 
fredandginger:
Re-test date 13th February.
Not too long to wait then. I suggest an hours refresher out on the road before the test just to warm you up.
Best of luck
Sorry to hear you failed, it always feels different and more relaxed second time.
fredandginger:
nerves got better of me
Nerves are a natural part of every test and probably near to 100% of all candidates experience the feeling. The secret is telling yourself that the feeling will not affect your ability to perform correctly. The nervous feeling will go away after about 5 minutes on the road anyway so dont worry about that.
fredandginger:
In the morning had a mock test and didn’t do a single thing wrong , best drive all week
This clearly means you were ready for the test. Such a good drive might have made you think you had virtually passed already and perhaps made you take your foot off the concentration pedal a bit.
Try to not look at the test route as 1 huge obstacle but instead break it down into lots of little challenges as you go along. The only important part is the next 20 seconds. Get through that with maximum attention to detail then concentrate on the next 20 seconds. If the next 20 seconds means waiting for a gap at a roundabout or waiting at red lights brilliant. Very few people fail when stationary (obviously get going once you can)
Forget about which route or direction you are asked to take What difference does it matter. You are going to be out for an hour whichever route you take so forget about which route and use that time concentrating on how to deal with the next hazard.
Finally try to enjoy the whole test experience as it will most likely be the last time you ever get to try it.
See you in Essex soon for your C+E course
Cheers John , thanks for your advice it is very much appreciated.
Look forward to seeing you for c+e training.
Just a quick question just to clarify my thinking, I am a bit confused because I got a serious for blind spots/ moving off but only had 2 minors, now I know I missed 1st blind spot but the rest I am sure I did, on one moving off instance, from behind a parked car with a bend in the road to the right I checked mirrors and blind spot signalled and moved off but a car started to come round the bend but I was committed so carried on, admittedly the examiner probably saw him first because he was obviously in the passenger seat ( line of sight) , so could this have caused the serious and if so how could I change/ prevent it from happening again?
Also am I right in thinking that if you don’t do a blindspot check everytime you move off from a stopped position ie traffic lights, junctions and waiting to join a roundabout, you will also be penalised?
Detrimentally affecting the progress of another road user is a serious fault and causes a fail. You just have to be extra careful with your observations.
It appears this is where you ay have a slight weakness as you were picked up on blind spots.
Yes you should check your blind spot every time you move away from stationery no matter what the situation.
You may find that in the same situation, had you made efficient use of observations that examiners discretion may have been your friend
Thanks dar1976
Thought so, the problem was when I did the checks the car was still out of my view round the bend, only came into my view when I had started to pull round the parked car, as I said it is possible the examiner saw it first.
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
fredandginger:
Thanks dar1976Thought so, the problem was when I did the checks the car was still out of my view round the bend, only came into my view when I had started to pull round the parked car, as I said it is possible the examiner saw it first.
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
I sometimes wonder if ‘doing the checks’ takes away the concentration fron the ‘driving’ in many circumstances
ROG:
fredandginger:
Thanks dar1976Thought so, the problem was when I did the checks the car was still out of my view round the bend, only came into my view when I had started to pull round the parked car, as I said it is possible the examiner saw it first.
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
I sometimes wonder if ‘doing the checks’ takes away the concentration fron the ‘driving’ in many circumstances
Was that reply for real? From an ex trainer.
You should devote equal time to checking around you as for looking forward.