I am going to book my test tomoz and wondered if anyone has any opinions on what day of the week and what time is best - I am aware you need to be able to drive to pass obviously but any hints would be gratefully received!! :D :o :cool: ;) :hihi: :love:

Well normally you have to wait 12 weeks to be given a date, I didn't get the luxury of choosing a day to have my test.

Sunday at 7am may be fairly clear.

:( I need useful advice! I can book my test online now, you get a choice of times and dates you see! Some people reckon some days are easier than others, is there any truth in this?

Doesn’t really matter. Personally I use to take my lessons during peak traffic and in the winter so that I was use to the roads and other peoples driving... If your taking your test it’s totally up2 you, as there's only you who knows your abilities on the road,

If you're comfortable driving in traffic I'd say book it for about 9am You'll be sat in traffic for most of your test.

I was jinxed by rainy Tuesday mornings on my first 2 tests and finally passed on my 3rd test, which was a sunny Tuesday morning :)

I've taken 2, both at 13:40 hours, idea being most people would be back from lunch and school run traffic wouldnt have started for the pick up of kids from school.Wrong idea - for me anyway! I was right in thinking there would be less traffic around BUT it gave me all morning to worry about it. SO..... this time I've booked it for 8:20 ........AND ITS THIS FRIDAY! Eeeeeek!!! :)

As tempted as I am to say "when you're good enough to pass!"... ;)

If you want to avoid traffic (so you've got more 'chance' to get out easily at junctions and so on - avoiding the pressure of being sat there for aaages on your test and making a mistake) then I'd avoid Mondays and Fridays entirely as they're usually subject to increased traffic rates, and I'd avoid anything before 09:30, between 12:00 and 14:00, and anything after 15:30.

If you fail, don't sweat it, just rebook and try again - someone must think you're ready for your test else you wouldn't be doing it. Most people don't pass first time (IIRC just 40% do), so expect to fail - it will reduce the nerves and you can only be pleasantly surprised if you're wrong.

HTH. :)

I honestly think that if you're relying on a particular set of traffic conditions for your test to pass, you aren't ready.

Sorry!

Keep looking in mirrors (every couple of lamp posts)

It toke me 3 trys. I would say the best time to passing would be just after dinner time if this time is available to you. because you've eaten and feel less stressed about the test.

VERY BEST OF LOOK WITH IT, HOPE YOU PASS!

I honestly think that if you're relying on a particular set of traffic conditions for your test to pass, you aren't ready.

Sorry!

On test day you'll typically be about a thousand times more nervous than usual though. Passing your driving test is like passing a Microsoft exam. If might not make much sense what you have to do to pass, but it's the way the instructors (or Microsoft) want you drive on the test. Learning to drive is the easy part, learning to pass your test is a different matter!

:rolleyes: I am ready to take my test I just thought I may as well book it at a good time - my instructor reckons early on a Friday as there is a certain quota instructors have to fill on how many people they pass, she said this is speculation mind...:hihi: imagine having a driving licence....:hihi: :hihi:

my instructor reckons early on a Friday as there is a certain quota instructors have to fill on how many people they pass, she said this is speculation mind

No truth in that at all :|

I wouldn't go for early, they may have had a bad nights sleep! Wait till after lunch when they are happy and comfortable :hihi:

imagine having a driving licence....:hihi: :hihi:

I don't have to imagine, because I have one. I did a fair few tests to get it, though, and really I don't remember any time being any better than any other. I would suggest avoiding the rush "hour", which is between about 7:30-9ish and 3:00-6ish, but, other than that, I can't see it making any difference.

On any given day, it only takes one car to do something stupid and your test is up the kyber anyway, so I think it really doesn't matter.

No truth in that at all :|

I'd heard similiar.

I'd also heard that they're more likely to pass you if you have the last slot of the day as they have to fill out more paperwork detailing why you failed instead of going home for their tea :)

I'd heard similiar.

I'd also heard that they're more likely to pass you if you have the last slot of the day as they have to fill out more paperwork detailing why you failed instead of going home for their tea :)

I've heard all this, still never believed it. But in saying that it is a government operation so you never know do you :suspect:

I don't think there is a quota, but you would expect each test centre to broadly mirror the next for the % of passes/fails. I have no doubt that this will be interpretted by a (hopefully a) minority of examiners as a quota - i.e. if I pass this many people each week/month then I'm unlikely to raise suspicion at driving test HQ ;) and get investigated/potentially be told off/lose my job/whatever.

However, even if some people do this you don't know if they've 'filled' their supposed 'quota' or not - so book your test for whenever and ignore their foolishness. Drive to the best of your ability and be assessed on that alone. If you don't make mistakes then they can't fail you - simple as. :nod:
If the worst happens and you fail (and let's face it, it's not the end of the world!), take on board everything they say and come back when you've addressed their issues. :thumbsup:

I took my test at 8.40am ish at Handsworth about 4 years ago. The examiner took me down all the back routes and only along the parkway (towards catcliffe) after 9am - towards the end of my test, so all the busy roads etc were avoided but I still managed to show them that I could drive as I wasn't just stuck in traffic.. although there were a few cars on the road obviously as with any time of the day.

Obviously everyone is different but I would be quite happy to recommend the morning slots if you can stomach getting up at the crack of dawn!!

At the moment im thinking about 10.30 would be a good kind of time possibly on a thursday lol

My 17 year old brother just passed his test 1st time on tuesday, it was at 10.44 or whatever daft time they gave him and he had no problems, similarly I passed my test 1st time about 3 years ago at a similar time of day but it was snowing when I did mine!! I guess its just down to the individual and what frame of mind you are in, think positive, relax and if you don't pass its not the end of the world

I am going to book my test tomoz and wondered if anyone has any opinions on what day of the week and what time is best - I am aware you need to be able to drive to pass obviously but any hints would be gratefully received!! :D :o :cool: ;) :hihi: :love:

I had one cancelled at 3.30 on Friday afternoon - I was actually waiting in the test centre, and they came out and said the test was cancelled due to "bad light" - It wasnt dark - maybe just a bit dim. i suspect that the examiners wanted to get off early, and have a longer weekend!

On test day you'll typically be about a thousand times more nervous than usual though. Passing your driving test is like passing a Microsoft exam. If might not make much sense what you have to do to pass, but it's the way the instructors (or Microsoft) want you drive on the test. Learning to drive is the easy part, learning to pass your test is a different matter!

Oh I agree, but that's always going to be the case - as for Microsoft Exams, the difference between that and a driving test is that Driving tests tend to reflect the realities of driving rather more than Microsoft exams reflct teh realities of modern IT work. :)

The only thing I would say at this time of year is avoid the early morning slots - low sun is a nightmare. I passed my test on a mid-winter's day with a terribly low sun, and it was dreadful!

Best time to take driving test is begining of week

i passed on my 4th test, it was a saturday morning and the only test where i was actually relaxed! the roads were clear and everthing went fine!
The others were weekdays in the mornings, i would avoid very early morning as due to the traffic they take you to the outskirts and took me on roads i had never seen before! This made it harder as i had no clue where i was.

The fact that there are licensed drivers who are a bundle of nerves under pressure, some of whom need a sedative before taking the driving test and who can only drive well enough to pass it when they are on familiar roads, with only light traffic about... to me, is NOT a comforting thought!

Although it may explain some of the atrocious driving that I've seen...

The fact that there are licensed drivers who are a bundle of nerves under pressure, some of whom need a sedative before taking the driving test and who can only drive well enough to pass it when they are on familiar roads, with only light traffic about... to me, is NOT a comforting thought!

Although it may explain some of the atrocious driving that I've seen...

I think that if someone fails their test 3 times, they shouldn't ever be allowed to drive. And that you should have to be 25 before even being allowed to attempt to drive. Then retested every 5 years.

ash:) (awaits backlash:hihi: )

p.s good luck btw

I think that if someone fails their test 3 times, they shouldn't ever be allowed to drive. And that you should have to be 25 before even being allowed to attempt to drive. Then retested every 5 years.

ash:) (awaits backlash:hihi: )

p.s good luck btw

All i can say is that i'm glad i passed when i did, yes i passed 3rd time lucky :razz: but i'm taking it you drive Mr Ash!? and i'm guessing you past first time huh!?

Typical! :roll:

All i can say is that i'm glad i passed when i did, yes i passed 3rd time lucky :razz: but i'm taking it you drive Mr Ash!? and i'm guessing you past first time huh!?

Typical! :roll:

I drive sometimes yeah. First time pass? oh course.:hihi:

I drive sometimes yeah. First time pass? oh course.:hihi:

Only sometimes? not that good then... :hihi:

Just had to be first time didn't it!? :roll:

Oh and your perfect... right!? :suspect:

Just had to be first time didn't it!? :roll:

Oh and your perfect... right!? :suspect:



Never crashed in 15 years, apart from when I ran into a beautifully restored Mark 1 Escort, when my cig got caught on the inside roof upholstery, and I was trying to put out an internal fire, so that wasn't my fault. Dam ciggys!:rant:

Well, I wouldn't quite go that far djash1000. ;)

If, as I suspect some driving schools teach their pupils to pass the test, rather than to drive in all conditions (evidenced by the large number of L-plated vehicles going around known test routes time after time), then I think that all newly-qualified drivers should carry the green L-Plate for at least twelve months afterwards. That's the time during which they actually learn to DRIVE!

An additional thought is that perhaps all drivers involved in an at-fault accident, should where feasible, be obliged to re-take the test within three months of the date of the accident.

It's been said that the most effective way of preventing accidents would be, not safety-belts, air-bags, ABS or crumple-zones built-in, but a large spike fixed to the centre of the steering-wheel!

Said in jest of course but I think that the driver in the Chelsea-Tractor (considered by some as a relatively safe-to-drive [armoured] vehicle), the driver of the company car who doesn't pay for their own repairs and the commercial vehicle driver who has to get from A to B within a time-limit.... Along with many others.... ALL might think twice about their standard of driving if a prang meant a re-test!

Apologies for hi-jacking the thread, MinxyKitten... I too wish you well in taking the test... (And you too, Ellybum :))... remember, all you need to do is drive safely, you're allowed to make minor mistakes but as long as you correct them and don't go to pieces because of them, you should be ok.

I stalled on both my motorcycle and car tests, recovered correctly each time and passed... The examiners don't expect perfection! :)

Never crashed in 15 years, apart from when I ran into a beautifully restored Mark 1 Escort, when my cig got caught on the inside roof upholstery, and I was trying to put out an internal fire, so that wasn't my fault. Dam ciggys!:rant:

:roll: Excuses excuses!

I stalled on both my motorcycle and car tests, recovered correctly each time and passed... The examiners don't expect perfection! :)

I failed my bike test. (also not my fault of course, but probably a reasonable decision).

For the reason I pointed earlier (3 fails and out), I don't think I could be a responsible/decent biker.

And when you see people you know, or see a silly TV programme on how people are made 'stars' because they failed their test 18 times, just proves some people haven't got the 'mind' to drive.

Sorry for hijacking also, I'l be quiet now.

gl again:hihi:

ash