{"id":1672,"date":"2014-09-23T11:01:19","date_gmt":"2014-09-23T10:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.ingenie.com\/young-drivers-guide\/?p=1672"},"modified":"2014-09-23T11:01:19","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T10:01:19","slug":"taking-my-theory-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ingenie.com\/young-drivers-guide\/taking-my-theory-test","title":{"rendered":"Taking my theory test"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On Saturday morning, I took my driving theory test.<\/p>\n\n

There was a fair amount of pressure on me to pass the theory test first time (this stuff is technically my job) but I felt oddly calm about it.<\/p>\n\n

Possibly because I'd already decided that I would fail.<\/p>\n\n

I had put in quite a lot of work - ramping up last week with my poor boyfriend testing me every night - and I do write about driving every single day, so it's strange that I didn't feel more prepared.<\/p>\n\n

I'm quite a nervous learner driver, so I think that had spilled over into my confidence with taking the theory test.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

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The big day<\/h2>\n\n

Preparation<\/h3>\n\n

Saturday came and I double-checked I had my driving licence photocard, then set off. I knew from years of my friends taking their theories that the local test centre was quite hard to find (up a poorly labelled alley) so I left extra time.<\/p>\n\n\n

Signing in<\/h3>\n\n

I went up to the reception with 20 minutes to spare and signed in for my 'Car Theory Test'. I was asked for my licence and told to take a blue folder which explained the rules of the test - like no phones in the test room.<\/p>\n\n

3 people<\/strong> were turned away for not having their licence while I was waiting<\/blockquote>\n\n

This is NOT a joke: you must must must must double-check you have it! One girl had sent her boyfriend home to get hers and was still waiting as her slot came and went.<\/p>\n\n

Last checks<\/h3>\n\n

Before I went into the test room, I was given a locker for all my stuff. Make sure you turn off your phone! A lady then checked behind my ears (no one warned me of this) to make sure I wasn't concealing any spy devices. Yep, people have really done that<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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Test time!<\/h2>\n\n

Introduction<\/h3>\n\n

I went into the test room and sat at the computer I'd been pointed to. There was a short run-through of what would happen on the screen, and a few practice questions.<\/p>\n\n

Multiple choice<\/h3>\n\n

I found the questions OK, with only a few OMG moments. As you're going through, you can flag questions to return to if you're not sure. I flagged about 7, which scared me a bit as that's the maximum you're allowed to get wrong for a pass.<\/p>\n\n

Use all your time for this bit - something might suddenly come back to you!<\/blockquote>\n\n

I tried to read every question really carefully, even if I instantly recognised it from practising online<\/a>. I did the whole cycle of 50 questions about 10 times I think - you have 57 minutes so it's REALLY worth using the time for checking and checking again.<\/p>\n\n

Before I clicked to end the test, I made sure I didn't have any 'unanswered' questions (because these are automatically marked as wrong!) and counted how many I thought I'd got right. I felt fairly good about it but thought it would be a close call.<\/p>\n\n

Break<\/h3>\n\n

I took the option to have a 3-minute break in between the multiple choice and the second bit, so I could rest my poor old eyes. I should point out here that I'm nearly a decade older than most of the people who were taking the test with me. Bit of a late starter at 25.<\/p>\n\n

Hazard perception<\/h3>\n\n

I'd been dreading this bit. I did the practice run (DO IT) and listened to the whole explanation of what I'd see and when to click.<\/p>\n\n

I then did the 14 clips, one of which I got a zero for because I accidentally did a weird spasm of clicks, which I guess was interpreted as cheating.<\/p>\n\n

In the pub on Friday, my mate had told me 'Just click every time you see a horse'. This actually turned out to be a good tip as one clip had a sign for a riding school, which I would have missed as a potential hazard otherwise.<\/p>\n\n

Note:<\/strong> drinking the night before could slow your reactions - not great for hazard perception!<\/blockquote>\n\n

Please, PLEASE do some hazard perception practice online<\/a> or with your instructor before your test. I had done a bit ages ago but didn't have time in the week before so I was really on edge for that part of the test. The videos aren't great quality so you need to be extra prepared.<\/p>\n\n

It helped me to imagine that my driving instructor was next to me, reminding me what kind of hazards there might be in a particular kind of area. Thanks Pete, you've done yourself proud.<\/p>\n\n

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Results<\/h2>\n\n

So you've probably guessed: I passed. I walked out of the room a bit annoyed by the hazard perception and thinking I'd failed. I got my stuff out of the locker and went to give the key back, trying to plan what I'd say to my colleagues when I got into work on Monday...<\/p>\n\t\n

Then the guy at the desk said 'Well done Honor' and slid my results across the desk. It took me a few seconds to understand what that meant, but then I saw the word 'Congratulations' on the paper and realised I'd passed!<\/p>\n\n

Phew.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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How I passed my theory test:<\/h2>\n \n\n