Before my UK driving test, I’ve had approximately 10 years of driving experience in Malaysia, mostly automatic but occasionally some manual driving.
I failed my first test due to a silly mistake and a lot of pressure on myself to pass first time. Truth is, sometimes long term driving experience brings about bad habits, which can impact your performance on the test.
The UK’s pass standards are extremely high compared to other countries, and the roads are sometimes a lot narrower as well. I passed it the second time, and I found that I had a lot more confidence and indeed better skill to drive a manual now, regardless of whatever country I find myself in.
Don’t give up, practice and you’ll eventually get there, and all the best!
Thank you very much for your kind reply! I really touched🥹
Yh one of my main reasons for keeping fail is extreme exam nerves, so it caused me for failed twice. As you know, UK driving test is expensive and extremely hard to book, so the pressure I don’t want to do this stuff again, I put myself on perfectionism(?) and it led me to be failed twice.
So after I thought, I decided to get manual test in South Korea, where is much easier to book the test and more familiar environment, and update it to my UK license, and getting training from driving class in UK! It could be much better decision!
Anyway, I got a LOT of confident and comfort after reading ur comment bro :) Thank you! And hope u enjoy ur day!
If you get extreme test anxiety it may be worth speaking to your GP about it as they can prescribe medication to help with acute anxiety (such as beta blockers).
For me personally I did about 25 hours of lessons before my test. But it helped that my dad taught me how to drive a car and clutch control when I was 7/8 years old, so I already knew how to control the clutch before my first ever lesson.
If it's possible, maybe find a friend who is over 21 and has had a licence for 3 years. You can get insured as a learner on their car and take you out on drives down queit roads just so you can get more practice in without spending thousands on lessons.
About 20 lessons at the time and practiced in my own car so that helped. Passing the test is not difficult really, drive safely, plan ahead and keep an eye out for random stuff (there was a horse and cart on my test!). Make the assumption everyone else is a terrible driver.
Same. Passed first time. Think I had 17hrs of lessons.
Failed my theory first time though due to that stupid bloody Hazard Perception element that was almost a brand new thing at the time. Failed that by like 2 marks.
r/learnerdriveruk might be useful for you. It varies from person to person, some pass first time and some take 5 tests to finally pass.
There is a degree of randomness to a driving test where other drivers dangerous driving could actually end up failing you. What faults have you been getting on your test? Is it car control or is rules of the road too?
Simple answer is to take more lessons in a manual until you are very confident. Then you can take that confidence to the test.
Took me 2 goes after driving automatic In the UK for 5 years. I probably spent way more on lessons than is recommended for a conversion and I stalled twice on the test I passed, but I still passed.
It’s much easier the second time around, you’ve done the hardest bit which is learning to share the road safely. You got this.
Yh it also the reason I require more training for my condition for re-programming my driving rhd familiar, practicing multitasking for clutch control, and getting used to UK road environment because I might not 100% get used to in UK environment, so when I’m driving automatic, I can take care of surroundings, but when I also have to take care of clutch control, it’s impossible.
So I need much more time training then beginners🫠😂
And thank you for ur comment! I really appreciate!
Honestly you really don’t!! Getting used to the clutch isn’t anywhere near as stressful as you think it is. Beginners are learning to be on the road from scratch while trying to operate a car and all we’re doing is trying to operate a new car.
Took me from Feb till June and that includes trying to find tests at this time.
I learnt manual, as most folks here do, so learning clutch control was part and parcel of learning to drive
However - it turns out both our cars are now automatic. And with the future being EV, I'd say in 20 years manual cars will be for enthusiasts. So don't beat yourself up about only driving automatic.
Is there a reason, like a works vehicle, that needs a manual licence?
I've only ever driven manual. Failed first time, for taking the wrong lane on a roundabout. Passed second time. I had lessons, but I mostly practiced in my parents car. I did my test in the same car. I think that helped.
I can only suggest that you just drive around more outside of lessons with a family member ( if you can). Even just going to an empty car park and getting used to the clutch, master the very basics of driving a manual.
It's normal to be nervous in tests. Eventually when you practice enough, muscle memory will kick in and it'll become second nature when changing gears, using the clutch etc.
One. But I was already a licensed driver where I moved here from. Passing the test was just a formality.
When I was 17, on the other hand, I took it twice. So don't stress.
Test was cancelled twice due to snow (despite driving to the test centre) third time I nearly ran over another instructor and spent 25 mins in a traffic jam.... Steady afternoon!
Passed on the third attempt. I've never driven an automatic - to be honest I find that gears/clutch control is the easiest part, and is probably one of the most enjoyable aspects of driving (other than when you're crawling along in traffic). It's all the other shit that caused me to fail.
I also agree that shifting is fun during driving, but doing it in high pressure environment, such as driving test, it’s 💀. It’s totally opposite with me and you😂
Thanks! I agree for that I need more time, but what does ‘bit of tarmac’ mean?🤔 I searched in the dictionary, but I couldn’t find any information of this🥺
I passed the first time but I learned to drive in a manual. You probably rushed scheduling your exam and should have taken more time driving around in the manual to get used to it.
Yh as you said, I still need to be get used to manual cars, because everyone’s skill and ability to getting used to in manual car is different and for me, I need more time to learn it!
So I’ll invest more time to get used to how to get familiar to manual cars, and I won’t rush to take the test! Thanks and have a nice day :)
I passed in the first try down in Guildford, but I’ve had 80 hours worth driving lessons.
Stalled once on a right turn with a car coming towards me, but it was minor, since I hit the break in time.
Nah man, I had the unfortunate circumstance to travel all the time and had a lot of interruptions for months. So had to re-learn things like parallel parking and such. It was such a shitty situation.
But 20 to 30 hours consistent weekly lessons should be more than enough.
Im partially paralysed on the right side of my body which made doing the clutch and observation way too difficult haha. With auto that problem went away .
Kinda annoyed I can’t drive manual but at least I get a blue badge!
Learning how to drive is just a process of training your brain to do 4 or 5 fairly straight-forward things at once. it's 10% knowledge and 90% habit forming.
You already have the habits learnt, but with a key element missing from them. So, it's just going to take you a while to integrate this new technique into everything you already know. It shouldn't take that long as you can focus solely on that aspect whilst your instincts take care of the rest.
Everyone learns at a different pace - it took me 100 lessons and 6 tests over 7 years before i passed (there were long gaps in that).
I took my test exactly one year after my first lesson (each lesson being an hour long). I probably missed about four or five lessons in that time. I passed both my theory test and my practical test first time.
I learnt manual but then didn't drive for a year, then used automatic for 4 years.
Going back to manual, I was iffy with hills and stop/starting on them, but overtime I just got better at it.
However, I'm not sure why you're finding it super confusing observing the road. That's primarily the no.1 thing you need to be doing, and a clutch shouldn't make any difference, as it's relatively easy to understand. Lowering your speed = lower gear, speeding up = higher gear.
I presume you've passed a manual test already?
I passed first try after 64 hours of driving lessons, from zero driving experience. Manual is a fair bit more to think about along with all your observations and plans, but with more experience you'll get the muscle memory and intuition for it, and it just becomes a different control scheme for getting what you want out of the engine. At this point I prefer driving manual because I know what my control inputs are going to do, I don't have to anticipate what an auto box might decide to do with my inputs.
Passed 35 days after turning 17 after 8 2 hour lessons. Had never driven a car before I turned 17. Never heard of anyone quicker than me so I’d love to hear from someone who passed sooner than me!
Passed on second attempt failed the first as I learnt some bad habits from my father teaching me, which I had to 'unlearn'.
I.e:
Crossing my arms turning a corner.
Resting my hand on the gearstick.
Hands in the wrong postion (when both were actually on the steering wheel)
And riding the clutch pedal
Also the fact the Examiner banged his head pretty badly getting into the car probably did not help either.
Other than that 😏
Second attempt I forgot to slow down a little at intersections but I realised I had done so and appologised as soon as we got back to the test center. I think if you know you did something wrong mention it before the examiner does.
it took me 2 tries to pass my manual test, but i started learning in manual so it may have been easier, as i never knew driving without having the clutch and gears!
I passed my first test in Southern California in 1981 driving a 5.7 litre Chevy Montecarlo. I then passed an automatic test back in the U.K. and after about another four years, I took my manual test after having six lessons. Passed first time.
Road sense is very important and even though it was partially in the USA, it was valuable to build up the experience.
I have almost 10 years of driving experience from New Zealand and learning manual has being doing my head in! I’m waiting to do my third test at the minute but i wanna throw it in so bad but need manual for the job i do in the uk so have no choice but to just get it
Got caught speeding at 16. Couldn’t afford to insure till I was 19 (points removed after 3 years, was quoted over £3k for third party on a Peugeot 205 👀). Did a block of 10 1hour lessons, booked my test by lesson 7/8 and passed with 4 minors. No previous experience apart from motorcycle (hence the points at 16).
Stick to automatic, there’s really no need for manuals these days. Too many cars on the road, traffic lights and roundabouts fucking everywhere. Start, stop. Start, stop. If I were to buy a new car, I’d get an automatic now but I’ve never owned one.
It's a matter of practice. Keep driving and soon you won't need to spend your attention on shifting.
I learned on a manual and passed on my second try, the first one I failed by being overly nervous and making stupid little mistakes. Shifting wasn't an issue.
Past second time, and that’s only because someone cut me up at a crossroads.
Only driven an auto about 2 miles. You’ll get more familiar with a manual and before long you won’t even realise.
I passed second time, first time i ran into two cyclists riding abreast just over the crest of a narrow humpback bridge and the tester decided I tucked in too close to the side of the bridge and put it down as a 'dangerous'. Such is life.
I imagine going from automatic to manual when you already have all the other parts of driving automised must be more challenging than learning from scratch.
The vast majority of people in the UK take a manual test, so I don't know how many people you will find who have 'upgraded'.
I passed my test first time, after about 8 lessons, but that was 30 years ago. I also had my own car too practise in and off been driving off road for eight years.
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passed theory first time and passed driving test first time. i had a fantastic driving instructor and my dad who is a lorry driver with 25+ of experience.
single road test, no need to do any written test
maybe just stick to automatic cars
if you have not passed a manual test, then you should not be driving manual cars
Then why does the country allow people to take re-exams after they failed the driving test, without trial limits? If it’s really dangerous to drive manually after I fail, then they must suspend my further exams. You are just feeling elitism for passing manual exam well and being sarcastic to other people who are not, and it seems like your ONLY achievement in ur life is passing the driving test in first trial🤡
Seems I am down posted for not lying. I never took any theory test, just a road test. Legally you are not allowed to drive a manual car if you took test in automatic Not my rules. I passed first time, why would I want to take the test again The theory test was a later development Not being sarcastic This is being sarcastic: not my fault that you are such a failure at driving that you can't manage to coordinate a clutch and a stick Keep using auto cars where you seem safe and avoid manual cars where you have proven yourself NOT to be safe 😜😅
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Before my UK driving test, I’ve had approximately 10 years of driving experience in Malaysia, mostly automatic but occasionally some manual driving. I failed my first test due to a silly mistake and a lot of pressure on myself to pass first time. Truth is, sometimes long term driving experience brings about bad habits, which can impact your performance on the test. The UK’s pass standards are extremely high compared to other countries, and the roads are sometimes a lot narrower as well. I passed it the second time, and I found that I had a lot more confidence and indeed better skill to drive a manual now, regardless of whatever country I find myself in. Don’t give up, practice and you’ll eventually get there, and all the best!
Thank you very much for your kind reply! I really touched🥹 Yh one of my main reasons for keeping fail is extreme exam nerves, so it caused me for failed twice. As you know, UK driving test is expensive and extremely hard to book, so the pressure I don’t want to do this stuff again, I put myself on perfectionism(?) and it led me to be failed twice. So after I thought, I decided to get manual test in South Korea, where is much easier to book the test and more familiar environment, and update it to my UK license, and getting training from driving class in UK! It could be much better decision! Anyway, I got a LOT of confident and comfort after reading ur comment bro :) Thank you! And hope u enjoy ur day!
If you get extreme test anxiety it may be worth speaking to your GP about it as they can prescribe medication to help with acute anxiety (such as beta blockers).
One and done.
I passed first time twice
Snap! Also, both times before my 18th birthday.
So you passed twice not once
First time twice
so you took two different tests ?
No, I got banned from driving and lost my license
fair enough, did you learn what not to do ?
Was about to say same here but actually three times Car Light motorbike (A1) Motorbike (A) I should do my C class next for a bit of fun…
WOW… How did you do that? How many hours of training had you done?
For me personally I did about 25 hours of lessons before my test. But it helped that my dad taught me how to drive a car and clutch control when I was 7/8 years old, so I already knew how to control the clutch before my first ever lesson. If it's possible, maybe find a friend who is over 21 and has had a licence for 3 years. You can get insured as a learner on their car and take you out on drives down queit roads just so you can get more practice in without spending thousands on lessons.
About 20 lessons at the time and practiced in my own car so that helped. Passing the test is not difficult really, drive safely, plan ahead and keep an eye out for random stuff (there was a horse and cart on my test!). Make the assumption everyone else is a terrible driver.
Same. Passed first time. Think I had 17hrs of lessons. Failed my theory first time though due to that stupid bloody Hazard Perception element that was almost a brand new thing at the time. Failed that by like 2 marks.
r/learnerdriveruk might be useful for you. It varies from person to person, some pass first time and some take 5 tests to finally pass. There is a degree of randomness to a driving test where other drivers dangerous driving could actually end up failing you. What faults have you been getting on your test? Is it car control or is rules of the road too? Simple answer is to take more lessons in a manual until you are very confident. Then you can take that confidence to the test.
Took me 2 goes after driving automatic In the UK for 5 years. I probably spent way more on lessons than is recommended for a conversion and I stalled twice on the test I passed, but I still passed. It’s much easier the second time around, you’ve done the hardest bit which is learning to share the road safely. You got this.
Yh it also the reason I require more training for my condition for re-programming my driving rhd familiar, practicing multitasking for clutch control, and getting used to UK road environment because I might not 100% get used to in UK environment, so when I’m driving automatic, I can take care of surroundings, but when I also have to take care of clutch control, it’s impossible. So I need much more time training then beginners🫠😂 And thank you for ur comment! I really appreciate!
Honestly you really don’t!! Getting used to the clutch isn’t anywhere near as stressful as you think it is. Beginners are learning to be on the road from scratch while trying to operate a car and all we’re doing is trying to operate a new car. Took me from Feb till June and that includes trying to find tests at this time.
I learnt manual, as most folks here do, so learning clutch control was part and parcel of learning to drive However - it turns out both our cars are now automatic. And with the future being EV, I'd say in 20 years manual cars will be for enthusiasts. So don't beat yourself up about only driving automatic. Is there a reason, like a works vehicle, that needs a manual licence?
I've only ever driven manual. Failed first time, for taking the wrong lane on a roundabout. Passed second time. I had lessons, but I mostly practiced in my parents car. I did my test in the same car. I think that helped. I can only suggest that you just drive around more outside of lessons with a family member ( if you can). Even just going to an empty car park and getting used to the clutch, master the very basics of driving a manual. It's normal to be nervous in tests. Eventually when you practice enough, muscle memory will kick in and it'll become second nature when changing gears, using the clutch etc.
One. But I was already a licensed driver where I moved here from. Passing the test was just a formality. When I was 17, on the other hand, I took it twice. So don't stress.
Test was cancelled twice due to snow (despite driving to the test centre) third time I nearly ran over another instructor and spent 25 mins in a traffic jam.... Steady afternoon!
😬😬😬
Passed on the third attempt. I've never driven an automatic - to be honest I find that gears/clutch control is the easiest part, and is probably one of the most enjoyable aspects of driving (other than when you're crawling along in traffic). It's all the other shit that caused me to fail.
I also agree that shifting is fun during driving, but doing it in high pressure environment, such as driving test, it’s 💀. It’s totally opposite with me and you😂
You need a flat bit of tarmac, and some time
Thanks! I agree for that I need more time, but what does ‘bit of tarmac’ mean?🤔 I searched in the dictionary, but I couldn’t find any information of this🥺
I passed the first time but I learned to drive in a manual. You probably rushed scheduling your exam and should have taken more time driving around in the manual to get used to it.
Yh as you said, I still need to be get used to manual cars, because everyone’s skill and ability to getting used to in manual car is different and for me, I need more time to learn it! So I’ll invest more time to get used to how to get familiar to manual cars, and I won’t rush to take the test! Thanks and have a nice day :)
I passed in the first try down in Guildford, but I’ve had 80 hours worth driving lessons. Stalled once on a right turn with a car coming towards me, but it was minor, since I hit the break in time.
80 HOURS before doing a test? Your instructor was robbing you 😂 Surely you should have done a test after 20
Nah man, I had the unfortunate circumstance to travel all the time and had a lot of interruptions for months. So had to re-learn things like parallel parking and such. It was such a shitty situation. But 20 to 30 hours consistent weekly lessons should be more than enough.
I tried and failed 5 times then switched to automatic
How do you fail 5 times bruh
Im partially paralysed on the right side of my body which made doing the clutch and observation way too difficult haha. With auto that problem went away . Kinda annoyed I can’t drive manual but at least I get a blue badge!
I failed 6 times and I don't even have a disability, I just suck! 😅
Learning how to drive is just a process of training your brain to do 4 or 5 fairly straight-forward things at once. it's 10% knowledge and 90% habit forming. You already have the habits learnt, but with a key element missing from them. So, it's just going to take you a while to integrate this new technique into everything you already know. It shouldn't take that long as you can focus solely on that aspect whilst your instincts take care of the rest. Everyone learns at a different pace - it took me 100 lessons and 6 tests over 7 years before i passed (there were long gaps in that).
I took my test exactly one year after my first lesson (each lesson being an hour long). I probably missed about four or five lessons in that time. I passed both my theory test and my practical test first time.
I learnt manual but then didn't drive for a year, then used automatic for 4 years. Going back to manual, I was iffy with hills and stop/starting on them, but overtime I just got better at it. However, I'm not sure why you're finding it super confusing observing the road. That's primarily the no.1 thing you need to be doing, and a clutch shouldn't make any difference, as it's relatively easy to understand. Lowering your speed = lower gear, speeding up = higher gear. I presume you've passed a manual test already?
I passed first time in a manual but it did take me like 7 attempts on the theory test
I passed first try after 64 hours of driving lessons, from zero driving experience. Manual is a fair bit more to think about along with all your observations and plans, but with more experience you'll get the muscle memory and intuition for it, and it just becomes a different control scheme for getting what you want out of the engine. At this point I prefer driving manual because I know what my control inputs are going to do, I don't have to anticipate what an auto box might decide to do with my inputs.
1
Passed 35 days after turning 17 after 8 2 hour lessons. Had never driven a car before I turned 17. Never heard of anyone quicker than me so I’d love to hear from someone who passed sooner than me!
1. 28 years ago..
Passed on second attempt failed the first as I learnt some bad habits from my father teaching me, which I had to 'unlearn'. I.e: Crossing my arms turning a corner. Resting my hand on the gearstick. Hands in the wrong postion (when both were actually on the steering wheel) And riding the clutch pedal Also the fact the Examiner banged his head pretty badly getting into the car probably did not help either. Other than that 😏 Second attempt I forgot to slow down a little at intersections but I realised I had done so and appologised as soon as we got back to the test center. I think if you know you did something wrong mention it before the examiner does.
it took me 2 tries to pass my manual test, but i started learning in manual so it may have been easier, as i never knew driving without having the clutch and gears!
nailed it first time
I passed my first test in Southern California in 1981 driving a 5.7 litre Chevy Montecarlo. I then passed an automatic test back in the U.K. and after about another four years, I took my manual test after having six lessons. Passed first time. Road sense is very important and even though it was partially in the USA, it was valuable to build up the experience.
I have almost 10 years of driving experience from New Zealand and learning manual has being doing my head in! I’m waiting to do my third test at the minute but i wanna throw it in so bad but need manual for the job i do in the uk so have no choice but to just get it
Got caught speeding at 16. Couldn’t afford to insure till I was 19 (points removed after 3 years, was quoted over £3k for third party on a Peugeot 205 👀). Did a block of 10 1hour lessons, booked my test by lesson 7/8 and passed with 4 minors. No previous experience apart from motorcycle (hence the points at 16). Stick to automatic, there’s really no need for manuals these days. Too many cars on the road, traffic lights and roundabouts fucking everywhere. Start, stop. Start, stop. If I were to buy a new car, I’d get an automatic now but I’ve never owned one.
It's a matter of practice. Keep driving and soon you won't need to spend your attention on shifting. I learned on a manual and passed on my second try, the first one I failed by being overly nervous and making stupid little mistakes. Shifting wasn't an issue.
Past second time, and that’s only because someone cut me up at a crossroads. Only driven an auto about 2 miles. You’ll get more familiar with a manual and before long you won’t even realise.
I passed second time, first time i ran into two cyclists riding abreast just over the crest of a narrow humpback bridge and the tester decided I tucked in too close to the side of the bridge and put it down as a 'dangerous'. Such is life. I imagine going from automatic to manual when you already have all the other parts of driving automised must be more challenging than learning from scratch.
Passed first time with 40 hours worth of lessons but I was a very anxious learner and 15 hours was basically about confidence building
The vast majority of people in the UK take a manual test, so I don't know how many people you will find who have 'upgraded'. I passed my test first time, after about 8 lessons, but that was 30 years ago. I also had my own car too practise in and off been driving off road for eight years.
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passed theory first time and passed driving test first time. i had a fantastic driving instructor and my dad who is a lorry driver with 25+ of experience.
single road test, no need to do any written test maybe just stick to automatic cars if you have not passed a manual test, then you should not be driving manual cars
Then why does the country allow people to take re-exams after they failed the driving test, without trial limits? If it’s really dangerous to drive manually after I fail, then they must suspend my further exams. You are just feeling elitism for passing manual exam well and being sarcastic to other people who are not, and it seems like your ONLY achievement in ur life is passing the driving test in first trial🤡
Seems I am down posted for not lying. I never took any theory test, just a road test. Legally you are not allowed to drive a manual car if you took test in automatic Not my rules. I passed first time, why would I want to take the test again The theory test was a later development Not being sarcastic This is being sarcastic: not my fault that you are such a failure at driving that you can't manage to coordinate a clutch and a stick Keep using auto cars where you seem safe and avoid manual cars where you have proven yourself NOT to be safe 😜😅
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