Hi guys unfortunately I didn’t pass my test today. I feel pretty down over this , not sure what to do should I bother with a manual anymore?

50 comments

  4. In this day and age manual is overrated. Build up a ton of experience in an automatic and then move to manual when you feel confident. But an automatic car may cost you more.

  5. Only three of your faults relate to operating a manual transmission. You do have ten related to progression though, which suggests you were just nervous and being overly cautious and apprehensive. Most people fail their first test. You just need more hours on the road to become more comfortable. And you’ll be less nervous second time round having gone through the experience once already.

  9. Take it on the chin and work on the stuff to pass next time dude !

    I would say to anyone try drive manual if possible unless you really really can’t.

    Just give you more options in the long run with cars etc especially used cars which most of us use !

    Also try a different instructor for a mock test not saying you had a bad one but they might pick up on things that the other did not.

  10. Here,I was driving since I was 10 years old and I failed the dam thing on my 1st time round. Try again and get plenty of practice in. Keep calm and focused.

  12. Pfff. One test and already looking at an automatic…..took me 4 times to pass! I know a few that took 8! Just keep going, you’ll get it eventually!

  13. Check out Dan tyghe on YouTube, hel help you with the technical aspects . Just focus on one section over 2 or 3 days see where your going wrong , it can be such slight little things thatl catch you. It’s okay to fail it’s part of learning a large portion of people do , relax and go at it again youl get there:)

  14. You’ve only been driving 7 months! You’d be some sort of a wunderkind if you passed after just 7 months! Rebook and you’ll get it next time around. Just don’t get discouraged and let all your progress go to waste, keep up the momentum with regular practice.

  15. Failure rates are around 50% OP so I wouldnt worry about it. Most people pass the second time out but you have to study where you went wrong and focus on fixing it.

    I wouldnt give up on a manual as there will be occasions where you need to rent a car abroad and an automatic might be harder to get. By all means buy an automatic car but make sure your license lets you drive manuals.

  16. Man, testers are hard going, I passed my test in December after about a year and 3 months of driving including about 2 months of driving alone on a learners.

    Even after I passed my test the tester was still reluctant to pass me despite my driving being to a pretty high standard at that stage, and as he gave me my passing cert he said “The safest I felt in that car with you was when we were stuck behind that truck going 40.”
    I just stood up, said cheers and walked out. You’ll get there and the tester still wont think you’re good enough, but fuck them.

    Don’t let it get to you, I failed 2 times and passed on my 3rd, most people do fail at least once. Keep it up, you’ll whittle those blue marks down as you go and you’ll pass eventually.

  17. Don’t worry about it. I failed my first one, practiced as much as I could before the next one and passed! What killed me in the first one was nerves.

    Don’t give up on the manual, it’s nice having that control over the car. With a manual you can switch to automatic easier too.

    Just a bit more practice, clear the head, and there’s some great videos on YouTube on stuff you need to practice on passing your test.

    You got this!

  18. This can be positive as it identifies where you need to improve. Also a pretest a night before is useless. You need one a week or so before and a follow up to see if you’ve corrected stuff they’ve ask you to focus on. If In Dublin I’d recommend alpha driving.

  20. My first test looked like that…two month later passed with only two marks. Felt like I would never be able to learn. You can do it. Practice is the key. And be patient with yourself.

  22. Don’t take it personally. You have experience of the test now. Build up your time behind the wheel. Practice the things you’re weaker on, keep doing the things you’re good at. You’ll pass next time. You got this.

  23. Dane tyghe YouTube videos are all you need !!

    I had similar results , spent some time watching him he gives super easy step by step formulas to cover everything you literally couldn’t fail unless seriously unlucky or incompetent

  24. No offence buddy? But looking at this you would have failed in an automatic as well. Your observations are the issues, it’s the when’s rather than the how’s. Take it from a driving instructor 🙌🏻

  25. You got 23 blue marks. I got 20 my first time. 2 months later I did it again and got 3.

    You can do it! I believe in you.

    If it’s too costly then maybe you should. But otherwise it’s pretty much up to whether you want to bother or not.

  29. Keep driving. Seven months is nothing. I failed two test before I had my own car and then failed a third one after being driving for two years. Eventually aced the fourth one. Manual gears are very enjoyable once you get them down

  30. You’ve got the easy fixes. Observation q lot harder to fix. Just practice as much as you can and you will be fine. Go to car parks etc and just learn your gear box.

    Usually Observation is the worrying one. Progress and gear trouble is much easier to fix.

    Keep it up

  31. Third time was the charm with me. First one I almost killed a person. You’re doing grand so. Chin up. I know it’s disappointing, but it’s likely down to nerves and nothing else.

  32. If you do a test in an auto then you’ll only every be able to buy an automatic car going forward. Preservers and keep practicing and you’ll be grand

  33. Hey at least you didn’t get a grade 3! I did my test about two weeks ago and stopped at a red light for traffic going straight after I had turned right which got me the grade 3.

    The covid restrictions they have right now are nuts. I had to sanitise my license, hand it over, then he sanitises it and hands it back. Had the windows open during the test and had rain lashing me in the face. Had to wear the mask the whole drive too. My L Plate blew away during the test too to make matters worse!

  35. Don’t beat yourself up, apply again immediately.

    It’s scandalous how your driving abilities are judged entirely by an individuals opinion.

    I sat my test in Tallaght, failed twice. Was really upset, my driving instructor asked me to allow her wait with me in the waiting area for my third attempt. I agreed, so when my name was called she stood up and said “he’s one of mine” obviously she knew the Tester bla bla bla. I passed without a mark on the sheet.

    Telling you its a scandal what goes on.

  36. Just keep trying! There’s loads of factors to passing a test. Don’t give up! (I’m driving a manual years, want to change to automatic, I don’t see the point of a manual just more to think about so if you think automatic will help go for it!)

  37. I got a grade three on my first test because I hesitated to over take a pulled in car IN DENSE FOG. Don’t give up, more time on the road & you’ll be fine.

  39. It took me a few tries here. Got different testers who would be picky with different things. You just need to get more mechanical on everything you do for the test.

  40. Failure to make progress is the biggest killer in the driving test. The only way to overcome this is practice. Make sure you’re driving at or near the speed limit in the maximum sustainable gear

    The other stuff seemed to be clutch and handbrake. Clutch is literally just practice, and always remember to engage the handbrake when stopped.

    You can do it, you’re so close friend don’t give up

  41. I failed twice before eventually passing. At least you didn’t run a red light during your test like I did. Don’t stress about it. It’s a sucky feeling when you fail, but you’ll get there, just stick at it.

  43. Not being able to drive has been mentally killing me every single day. It’s the only thing that gives me huge anxiety. There nothing I can do I’m so sorry I’m not able to drive with a family member because they don’t care. I have no choice but to stay at home. I’m 23 years of age I’ve been trying to drive since 2018. I cry myself to sleep at night because I get so scared I will never be able to leave my house. I wish someone could help me but no one cares.

  44. Don’t worry about it. The driving test is a massive scam. You’ll just have to get lucky and hopefully you’re instructor won’t be a cunt.

  45. It’s a horrible feeling I still remember myself nearly 4 months on. If it makes you feel any better, You still did better than me than I did in my first tests…. I had 25 grade 2s, including 7 for gears and 4 for progression. I passed on my second attempt and I think the vast majority of people don’t pass the first time. It’s a very hard test man, don’t get beat up! They’re moving quickly now with candidates, apply straight away as you’ll automatically get offered a test within 6-8 weeks or applying and that gives you plenty time to get things right!

  49. Don’t be too disheartened, you didn’t do anything major. I nearly clipped a van pulling into a space on the side of the road, to the point the examiner grabbed the wheel!

    Have another couple of lessons, and give it another whack, if you know the silly bits you did now you won’t do them next time.

  50. Hi guys, just wanted to update everyone. I got some pm’s and I took the advise to email Dane Tyghe. I now discover that I made a lot of embarrassing mistakes due to nerves and I kinda just ended up bottling it last minute. I have decided to give manual another shot and hopefully it will end up well but I am also open to trying automatic and seeing how I feel. I also feel like I need to get my own car as I can only drive once a week in my moms car so I just don’t have a lot of experience. Thanks for all the encouragement and kind words I feel much better and less alone in my struggle. Thanks a mill guys

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