If you have read my most recent thread you will know i failed my c+e road test yesterday quite badly. I am entitled to a free retest but no more free lessons. The company i did the course with only do lessons in three hour blocks @ £300 and speaking to other training providers i am down aprox 6 hours on what they would recomend if i did the training with them (from start to finish). I would have to have a 3 hour lesson on one day then a 3 hour lesson before the test if i wanted a warm up period before my test.
I have spoken to 3 local companies about doing adhoc lessons with them but they basicly arent intrested even if i could wait till september they want me to do the whole thing with them. at the cost of 1000’s
I’d say you should keep at it, and stay with your original training provider. They are the ones who are offering the free retest, no one else will give you that, and that alone will save a few hundred quid. That and you know their vehicles so won’t have to get familiar with something different, adding to the stress.
More importantly though, they will know you, what you’re good at, where you need work, and why you failed, so they can target training to work on your weaknesses.
It might cost you a few hundred quid, maybe even a bit more, but look at the difference in wage between class 2 and class 1 work, you will easily make that money back within a few months.
Based on your other thread, it looks like you had bad luck on your last test, it’s unlikely that will happen again so things can only be better. The other thing you seemed to suffer from was nerves, there are ways to reduce this as well. If you do book another test, DON’T TELL ANYONE! Sounds daft, but if people don’t know they can’t keep asking, which adds unnecessary pressure and expectation. Also, on test day, take some chewing gum. It’s been proven that focusing on chewing cas reduce stress and help keep you calm.
cooper1203:
If you have read my most recent thread you will know i failed my c+e road test yesterday quite badly. I am entitled to a free retest but no more free lessons. The company i did the course with only do lessons in three hour blocks @ £300 and speaking to other training providers i am down aprox 6 hours on what they would recomend if i did the training with them (from start to finish). I would have to have a 3 hour lesson on one day then a 3 hour lesson before the test if i wanted a warm up period before my test.
I have spoken to 3 local companies about doing adhoc lessons with them but they basicly arent intrested even if i could wait till september they want me to do the whole thing with them. at the cost of 1000’s
any advice welcome
I know it wont help, but you should make sure you have enough money behind you for extra training and retests etc before you even think about trying to get your license, the advice is too late for you but it might help someone else.
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
As been said above when I done my lessons I factored in at least one extra test and a couple of days of lessons.
I dont know your history or why you failed it but if its something you know you won’t mess up again go for it again.
Have a early night before, take a calms, get up early the day of the test so your not rushed, don’t tell anyone your plans as adds pressure and remember it’s a test and no need to rush. Think about what’s being asked of you and do it in a rational manner
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
If you’ve been driving class 2 your not inexperienced.
Was it just nerves or what? What was your experience like getting class 2 licence did you also screw that up big time?
At the very least you need to give a safe & secure drive… nearly driving into a parked van? We’re you just trying to squeeze pay it with on coming traffic or just didn’t see it until the last minute?? If the latter its more worrying.
As for hitting curbs well it won’t automatically fail you, i know i hit one on my class 1 test however i only got 1 other minor so either he let me off or didn’t see it!
Anyway if you have a free re-test absolutely no point wasting it, it’s good just for the experience. Like someone else said don’t tell everybody until after the test = less pressure on you. Only tell people if you pass
i have some money to pay for 2 3 hour blocks but may need more . I dont have 2 grand to start over nor do i see why i should as i have already passed the 3a and had some lessons.
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
If you’ve been driving class 2 your not inexperienced.
Was it just nerves or what? What was your experience like getting class 2 licence did you also screw that up big time?
At the very least you need to give a safe & secure drive… nearly driving into a parked van? We’re you just trying to squeeze pay it with on coming traffic or just didn’t see it until the last minute?? If the latter its more worrying.
As for hitting curbs well it won’t automatically fail you, i know i hit one on my class 1 test however i only got 1 other minor so either he let me off or didn’t see it!
Anyway if you have a free re-test absolutely no point wasting it, it’s good just for the experience. Like someone else said don’t tell everybody until after the test = less pressure on you. Only tell people if you pass
as i said on my other post leading up to the “van incedent” i had a 4xidiot with a trailer overtake me on an aproach to a rounderbout and cutting infront of me causing me to brake quite hard to avoid the trailer. then in the next road i had a cyclist ride off the nearside kerb across my path and disapear behind a oncoming then swerve around the van and ride between o/s of my lorry and the van turned right into the next road and was asked to pull over where safe after the driveways the entire road was driveways so i said i didnt understand the instruction nd was told by the bit of grass the only place i could see he possibly ment had cars parked opersite so i said i still wasnt sure where he ment. He said oh never mind we will try elsewhere. So im now thinking i have ■■■■■■ the examiner off and made another error and really feeling the pressure. this all happened with in about 1.5 miles (5 mins) round the next corner there was a line of parked cars on both sides of the road the van i nearly hit was parked at the end of the row on the n/s.
As i was going slowly between the parked cars i saw someone walk between two of the cars as i was passing them as if going to walk out into the road and get into a car. so i was watching them in my o/s mirror like a hawk and all my focus was on them and miscalculated how far foward i had traveled.
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
Well ok apart from that it doesnt sound too much like failing that badly. we all go up kerbs at some stage and is actually acceptable in certain situations and as you are new to class 1 it really isnt unnaceptable that you have done so. Don’t dwell on that too much, just use your fail as a lesson and adjust your swing so that you avoid doing that for your next test. OK the van is a bit of an unfortunate circumstance but once again ■■■■ happens. Dust yourself down and get back on the horse and learn from your mistakes.You wil get through your next one because you now know what to expect.
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
If you’ve been driving class 2 your not inexperienced.
Was it just nerves or what? What was your experience like getting class 2 licence did you also screw that up big time?
At the very least you need to give a safe & secure drive… nearly driving into a parked van? We’re you just trying to squeeze pay it with on coming traffic or just didn’t see it until the last minute?? If the latter its more worrying.
As for hitting curbs well it won’t automatically fail you, i know i hit one on my class 1 test however i only got 1 other minor so either he let me off or didn’t see it!
Anyway if you have a free re-test absolutely no point wasting it, it’s good just for the experience. Like someone else said don’t tell everybody until after the test = less pressure on you. Only tell people if you pass
as i said on my other post leading up to the “van incedent” i had a 4xidiot with a trailer overtake me on an aproach to a rounderbout and cutting infront of me causing me to brake quite hard to avoid the trailer. then in the next road i had a cyclist ride off the nearside kerb across my path and disapear behind a oncoming then swerve around the van and ride between o/s of my lorry and the van turned right into the next road and was asked to pull over where safe after the driveways the entire road was driveways so i said i didnt understand the instruction nd was told by the bit of grass the only place i could see he possibly ment had cars parked opersite so i said i still wasnt sure where he ment. He said oh never mind we will try elsewhere. So im now thinking i have ■■■■■■ the examiner off and made another error and really feeling the pressure. this all happened with in about 1.5 miles (5 mins) round the next corner there was a line of parked cars on both sides of the road the van i nearly hit was parked at the end of the row on the n/s.
As i was going slowly between the parked cars i saw someone walk between two of the cars as i was passing them as if going to walk out into the road and get into a car. so i was watching them in my o/s mirror like a hawk and all my focus was on them and miscalculated how far foward i had traveled.
My first CE test had me going round a corner to come head on to a bloke in a van overtaking - how I missed him I don’t know - but it all unravelled from there on in.
cooper1203, you’re too hard on yourself. You didn’t fail badly, you just feel really bad about your driving not meeting the required standard on this occasion. Largeperm passed Cat C on the sixth attempt! Imagine how amazing that felt after all those crushing disappointments. Plus the resilience and determination to keep at it. I bet they are still buzzing. There is a brief thread here you might want to read if you haven’t already:
I know what it’s like - I failed my Cat C last week with 4 serious faults on steering and if I’m honest, it would have been a fluke if I had passed. I didn’t feel ready. I just needed a bit more time. I had an awful first day’s training and was a wreck at the end of it and just couldn’t imagine myself even being able to do my test. I didn’t expect it to be so hard to get used to the size of the vehicle in motion. I did improve massively but I went into my test with a feeling that the penny still hadn’t dropped re:turning/roundabouts. It hadn’t, but I know what my weakness is and what I need to do to overcome it, which is to seriously up my mirrors game basically.
I know the financial aspect is a worry but if you have to adjust your expectations, you have to. It will take as long as it takes and you will get there. Instead of worrying about it, start imagining yourself doing a flawless drive and having a successful second go and keep your eye on the prize.
You have to remember that the test examiners try to keep to a 50% pass rate. Even if you sit the test again you may still fail, its a cruel world. I failed 2 C+E tests so I did the bus test and passed that.
Yorkshire Tramper:
When you say you failed it quite badly? Are you talking failing on different minors which totted up to a fail or are you talking about failing through a major issue?
the majour issues were mounting 2 kerbs (at least) and nearly driving into a parked van
If you’ve been driving class 2 your not inexperienced.
Was it just nerves or what? What was your experience like getting class 2 licence did you also screw that up big time?
At the very least you need to give a safe & secure drive… nearly driving into a parked van? We’re you just trying to squeeze pay it with on coming traffic or just didn’t see it until the last minute?? If the latter its more worrying.
As for hitting curbs well it won’t automatically fail you, i know i hit one on my class 1 test however i only got 1 other minor so either he let me off or didn’t see it!
Anyway if you have a free re-test absolutely no point wasting it, it’s good just for the experience. Like someone else said don’t tell everybody until after the test = less pressure on you. Only tell people if you pass
as i said on my other post leading up to the “van incedent” i had a 4xidiot with a trailer overtake me on an aproach to a rounderbout and cutting infront of me causing me to brake quite hard to avoid the trailer. then in the next road i had a cyclist ride off the nearside kerb across my path and disapear behind a oncoming then swerve around the van and ride between o/s of my lorry and the van turned right into the next road and was asked to pull over where safe after the driveways the entire road was driveways so i said i didnt understand the instruction nd was told by the bit of grass the only place i could see he possibly ment had cars parked opersite so i said i still wasnt sure where he ment. He said oh never mind we will try elsewhere. So im now thinking i have ■■■■■■ the examiner off and made another error and really feeling the pressure. this all happened with in about 1.5 miles (5 mins) round the next corner there was a line of parked cars on both sides of the road the van i nearly hit was parked at the end of the row on the n/s.
As i was going slowly between the parked cars i saw someone walk between two of the cars as i was passing them as if going to walk out into the road and get into a car. so i was watching them in my o/s mirror like a hawk and all my focus was on them and miscalculated how far foward i had traveled.
Reading that honestly mate it sounds like bad luck & obviously you were not paying attention to everything around you. It’s not easy specially when being tested…
I would just put it down to bad luck and go for another test.
alamcculloch:
You have to remember that the test examiners try to keep to a 50% pass rate. Even if you sit the test again you may still fail, its a cruel world. I failed 2 C+E tests so I did the bus test and passed that.
Sorry, but this is one of those much-quoted myths that is utter rubbish. As an ex-examiner I can assure you that the only thing that affects the outcome is the drive! In fact, if anything, the examiner WANTS you to pass. A fail involves a much longer write-up detailing the serious/dangerous faults, where they happened, and if any other road user was affected. A pass is much less work!
There is absolutely no requirement to have any sort of ‘quota’.
I see quite a few artics do it every day as well.
Only takes a moments lapse of concentration approaching a turn or roundabout to leave you out of position and needing a bit of kerb.
Easy done.
