Unsuccessful - post here

Galbin

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

is the instructor not allowed to accompany you on the test now? I know they trialed it a couple of years ago.

I don't think so. You can have an instructor in the car, but only after you've failed three tests, I believe.

CurryFlavoured

I have a dliemma..

I'm preparing to take my test for the first time, before mid Feb when I moving abroad for the year. It has long been my goal to sort my licence before heading away.

My options are: a) take the test in late January, which would mean that if I'm unsuccessful I should hopefully be able to re-take it before I leave (as I believe you can re-take after 2 weeks). Or b) take it once, about a week before I leave. Realistically I'll be best prepared at that stage.

The reason for wanting 2 potential goes at it is to have a feel for the test should I need to re-take, and that I've heard that on your first test certain instructors can be extremely strict. The major drawback of this is, if I take a test in late Jan/early Feb, then look to re-take it, I might not even necessarily get a booking in time. That risk is leaning me towards booking just once in Feb.

So I guess what I'm asking people is - is it true that testers can be particularly strict on your first go, and would it benefit me enough to have the experience of giving the actual test a go (rather than a pre-test run)? Thanks.

ohnonotgmail

i think you have to wait 3 weeks between tests. If you have the time by all means do it in january and leave yourself the option to do it again if you dont pass. You might be a bit more relaxed if you know you have another chance which can only help.

CurryFlavoured

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

i think you have to wait 3 weeks between tests. If you have the time by all means do it in january and leave yourself the option to do it again if you dont pass. You might be a bit more relaxed if you know you have another chance which can only help.

Are you certain it's 3 weeks? I thought it was 2 for some reason, but I can't find any info online. A 3 week wait would leave it very tight with available days to do each test.

caldew

Testers have no idea if it is your 1st test. All they have is your name, sex, address, dob and date of application.

spurious

caldew wrote: »

Testers have no idea if it is your 1st test. All they have is your name, sex, address, dob and date of application.

Unless they have tested you before.

J_R

Galbin wrote: »

Of course I would have time constraints. There always are unless you can see each client for your entire work day.




Again, tough luck on him. It should just be an essential part of the job when the failure rate is so high.



Actually, I met an ex tester once and he told me he would be on and off the panel. So clearly they are not all permanent jobs there.

What do foreigners have to do with the failure rates?!

How on earth do people find good ones then if they are all so bad? I had a great instructor in Dublin, but I live far from there now. And the local ones I have had since have either screamed at me to go over the speed limit (yep, over it when I was just on it - I was not given any marks for progress in my test; it's not an issue for me) or just sat there saying nothing.

Examiner:-

1.
a person whose job is to inspect something; an inspector.
"a police vehicle examiner"
synonyms: assessor, questioner, interviewer, tester, appraiser, marker, inspector;
2.
a person who administers and grades examinations to test people's knowledge or proficiency.

It is simply not in the RSA examiners job description to also act as an instructor. simply put, not in his pay scale.

Instructor:-

a person whose job is to teach people a skill: a driving/ski/swimming instructor.

The reason the failure rate is so high is because people are not being prepared properly for the test. Fault lies fairly and squarely on either an incompetent instructor or the candidate for not taking sufficient lessons.

There are several reasons why the examiner will not and can not act as an instructor.
1. Not being paid to do it.
2. Insufficient time, if they were to allow time to give all the reasons and full explanations to all failed candidate this would more than half the number of tests conducted each day. (at a rough guess). Which would immediately double the waiting times for all tests.
3. If they gave a detailed explanation this could very likely conflict with something the candidate had been taught by their instructor. That candidate could then go out, confront their instructor who could then go barging into the test centre spoiling for a fight.
4. It would decimate the driving instructor industry. Especially the "pretest specialists" who rely on their repeat fail victims. sorry pupils for their livelihood.

Galbin

caldew wrote: »

Testers have no idea if it is your 1st test. All they have is your name, sex, address, dob and date of application.

This is not true. I had an instructor who used to be a tester, and he told me the folder contained details of your tests.

caldew

Well he is a liar.

crashpilot

J_R wrote: »

The reason the failure rate is so high is because people are not being prepared properly for the test. Fault lies fairly and squarely on either an incompetent instructor or the candidate for not taking sufficient lessons.

I'd disagree with that. I passed my test last year and hadn't had a lesson since 2012.

Keeping the pass/fail quota at a profitable level is the reason for the high fail rate.

notharrypotter

crashpilot wrote: »

I'd disagree with that. I passed my test last year and hadn't had a lesson since 2012.

Keeping the pass/fail quota at a profitable level is the reason for the high fail rate.

And how many hours of accompanied driving did you do between 2012 and 2017?

J_R

Galbin wrote: »

This is not true. I had an instructor who used to be a tester, and he told me the folder contained details of your tests.

Hi,

That explains a lot. I repeat, get lessons with a proper instructor.

ex SGS was he ?

The government had to get rid of the backlog for tests, they could not legally grant an amnesty as they did before, so they hired a sub-contractor to give an appearance of legality to granting a full driving licence to a couple thousand learners.

They were a disaster.

I asked an SGS examiner once for clarification on observation, his reply, "sorry do not know, we received very little training for this job"

I saw a test being conducted, NO L plates on the car.

I was behind a car on test, the driver very dangerously "cut" a right corner. Was outside the test centre when the driver came out - all smiles, they passed.

I had a fail. Young lad, excellent driver, failed for road markings. The examiners guidelines clearly state not to mark if the road markings are not clear. Complained to Ballina, sent photos all no avail.

Could give several examples more but enough for moment

J_R

Galbin wrote: »

I don't think so. You can have an instructor in the car, but only after you've failed three tests, I believe.

You can never have an instructor in the car with you. You can in the UK

J_R

spurious wrote: »

Unless they have tested you before.

Hi,
They may also know if you had applied for a cancellation. I had a pupil who passed and the examiner asked her what was the reason she requested a cancellation.

She told him she would be driving a van for her father during the school holidays. He then gave her a wee bit of a lecture, she had four grade 2 faults which meant she was not that great of a driver and to be very careful.

But now just realised, in applying for a cancellation her father may not have followed normal protocol. He could have made a few phone calls instead.

J_R

CurryFlavoured wrote: »

Are you certain it's 3 weeks? I thought it was 2 for some reason, but I can't find any info online. A 3 week wait would leave it very tight with available days to do each test.

Hi,

Ballina introduced this 3 week gap to try and cut down the waiting list. It was to stop people from immediately repeating the test without any further preparation.

Gives you time to practice what the examiner marked in the previous test or to take more lessons.

However it is not law, if you call, explain your situation they will fit you in (If they can)

J_R

Galbin wrote: »

No it doesn't. For example it has a section entitled, "Hazards." Yet there is no explanation of which hazard or what you did wrong.

Hi,
A hazard is anything that may force you to change speed or course.

A good instructor explains such basics and how to deal with them.

crashpilot

notharrypotter wrote: »

And how many hours of accompanied driving did you do between 2012 and 2017?

A handful; maybe 10/15.

messrs

Failed this morning, v disappointed, tester was really nice and went through everything with me when we came back, said im almost there and not to give up - just very dis heartening. Applied straight away when i got home and requested to go on the cancellation list. Done my test 2 years ago and failed and just gave up driving, i dont have my own car or access to one so only chance of driving is when i get lessons, didnt want to leave it 2 years again so knew if i didnt apply the minute i got home i would leave it and then have to start all over again down the line.

notharrypotter

crashpilot wrote: »

A handful; maybe 10/15.

10 to 15 hours driving over a 5 year period?

crashpilot

notharrypotter wrote: »

10 to 15 hours driving over a 5 year period?

Accompanied

spurious

messrs wrote: »

Failed this morning, v disappointed, tester was really nice and went through everything with me when we came back, said im almost there and not to give up - just very dis heartening. Applied straight away when i got home and requested to go on the cancellation list. Done my test 2 years ago and failed and just gave up driving, i dont have my own car or access to one so only chance of driving is when i get lessons, didnt want to leave it 2 years again so knew if i didnt apply the minute i got home i would leave it and then have to start all over again down the line.

Don't give up. I know it's hard when you don't have access to a car, but try and get a friend to add you to their insurance even for a month or so and practice as many times as you can, even short little journeys. Once you get your new test date, book a few lessons in the days before hand.
You will pass at some stage. Don't let failure this time put you off.

J_R

Originally Posted by J_R View Post
The reason the failure rate is so high is because people are not being prepared properly for the test. Fault lies fairly and squarely on either an incompetent instructor or the candidate for not taking sufficient lessons.

crashpilot wrote: »

I'd disagree with that. I passed my test last year and hadn't had a lesson since 2012.

Keeping the pass/fail quota at a profitable level is the reason for the high fail rate.

My point, if people are prepared for the test they will pass, If not, they will fail. I gave the reason why they fail above.

Obviously you were at test standard when you passed.

crashpilot wrote: »

A handful; maybe 10/15.

Should be quite sufficient. I had an 18 year old girl who passed with only 11 one hour lessons. NO other driving whatsoever

ironictoaster

Failed in Finglas for the 3rd time. I'm getting very browned off/disheartened with the driving test as I feel there's no way I can improve. I got the grade 3 as the tester believed I didn't yield enough in a blind spot turning left in a 30kmph residential area. 1 grade 1, 6 grade 2s and 1 one grade 3 in total.

I also got a grade 2 for not using the full width of the road doing the turnabout even though the tester said I could do it in as many turns as needed... I'd rather do the turnabout in 4 or 5 turns than hit the kerb.

The insurance renewal is coming soon in April. I have to pass ASAP.

Another 85 quid gone!

caldew

Can't help you with the grade 3 but on the turnabout you only go over and back if it is nessessary ie on a narrow road or if you have a large car. Most roads are wide enough to do it in 3 moves. Your instructor should have told you this. Don't loose heart but keep up with the lessons.

ironictoaster

caldew wrote: »

Can't help you with the grade 3 but on the turnabout you only go over and back if it is nessessary ie on a narrow road or if you have a large car. Most roads are wide enough to do it in 3 moves. Your instructor should have told you this. Don't loose heart but keep up with the lessons.

Thanks caldew. Very frustrating all the same. Can't help but think that grade 3 could been a grade 2 in another testers eyes.

I just need to do it again ASAP. However, the last time I applied they made me wait 3 weeks. I think I'm going have to lie to get the next cancellation.

F1ngers

Failed because I didn't have the original insurance disc - Have the printed disc(which I had the last time I went for my test).

Didn't even do the vehicle safety checks.

cml387

F1ngers wrote: »

Failed because I didn't have the original insurance disc - Have the printed disc(which I had the last time I went for my test).

Didn't even do the vehicle safety checks.

Appeal this!

A lot of companies just send out PDF's of your insurance documents (123 for example). You print out the disk yourself. It should not be a reason for a fail.

Alanstrainor

cml387 wrote: »

Appeal this!

A lot of companies just send out PDF's of your insurance documents (123 for example). You print out the disk yourself. It should not be a reason for a fail.

It is ridiculous that you are expected to print your own insurance disc. Such a joke. Absolute cheapskates.

CoffeeCrap

This happened to me in Churchtown on 3rd of January as well, insurance disk was from AXA and sent via PDF so a printed copy. Tester refused to conduct the test as RSA will only accept originals. I offered to show him my policy online on my phone and he flat out refused.
€85 and 4 pre-tests down the drain because the RSA policy is outdated.

cml387

I don't see how they can tell the difference. It's just ordinary paper they are printed on anyway.