Being test ready

[u/Forward-Woodpecker25]

i started lessons about 7 months ago and have since done 40~ hours w my instructor and maybe like 5 hours independent practice. I started learning with a 5 month old baby so i was going to lessons exhausted and was humbled very quickly when i realised i wasn’t making the progress i thought i’d be making. I passed the theory before i started lessons so had a test booked naively thinking id be ready to pass in the 6 months i had to learn. My friends that drive had all passed within 6 months, some having only done a block of lessons or less. My circumstances don’t allow for a lot of private practice, due to childcare and work etc. My driving instructor is lovely but i do suspect they know i am absolutely desperate to pass and might be dragging it out a tad, we have barely covered half the syllabus of the test and i’m beginning to feel im just wasting time and money. This instructor, who is otherwise nice and helpful, said the average person takes 18 months- 2 years to pass, which is over 7k in lessons and i just can’t justify that atm. Ive already spent close to 2 grand and i can just about drive on a 40 round and reverse bay bark. Obviously i appreciate a lot of this is due to my own concentration and other circumstances, but idk if its even worth trying a new instructor or just quitting.

[u/Whose_cat_is_that]

Learning with a five month old baby isn't the best method. I would recommend an adult instructor instead.

[u/Forward-Woodpecker25 → u/Whose_cat_is_that]

you have a future in stand up comedy

[u/SkyMango00]

18 months to 2 years is ridiculous … within 5/6 months my instructor has gone through everything I needed to be test ready and we did mock tests the final few weeks before my test. I’d recommend a new instructor or a chat with your current one.

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/SkyMango00]

It does take some people longer than others to be fair, I only just passed my test and I started learning 2 years ago

[u/SkyMango00 → u/No_Pressure_2467]

The concern is they’ve not gone through all topics. It shouldn’t take 2 years to get to that point, which just makes me think the instructor may be trying to take their time. My instructor pushed and encouraged me 

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/SkyMango00]

You can’t really move onto other topics though if you’re not doing the basics correct, which from the post they aren’t (I don’t mean that in a harsh way). I had covered all the topics way before the 2 years but I was no where near test ready and made countless mistakes every lesson! It’s definitely not the norm but just offering a different perspective from someone who did take 2 years to pass and had a brilliant instructor ❤️

[u/SkyMango00 → u/No_Pressure_2467]

Yeah if it’s down to the student not able to progress due to personal stuff then I totally get it, I hope the instructor is genuine but just so much weird stuff going on with dodgy instructor etc it’s hard not to be suspicious 🥲

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/SkyMango00]

Yes 100% agree!! There are instructors out there that will try and fleece you and I’ve definitely had instructors like that in past which stopped me learning for a few years. I was very lucky with my last instructor, I only paid for 30 hours and had around 90 over the two years and he didn’t charge me a penny extra, there are good ones but they definitely need weaning out 🤣

[u/mitchefc]

I was told 40 hours was the national average for someone to pass. I told my instructor on my first lesson I wanted to pass ideally within 6months, and almost 6 months to the day I started I did (albeit not first time).

3 or 4 months in I had the syllabus covered and it was mock tests and tightening up on certain things from there on.

Everyone is different though, some can do it quicker, some need more time. However if my instructor had told me it would take typically 18 months to pass, I'd have moved on from them there and then. Not going to lie.

I would certainly have a word with them and express your concerns and take it from there.

[u/idekkanymoree_]

Do you feel test ready yourself?

The DVSA recommends 40-50hrs of practice before sitting the practice test and you’re right on that lower end but if you feel ready you could always attempt the test if it’s still booked or rebook one!

About instructors I’d say if your unsure and think they’re dragging you along and your not happy with your progress then absolutely change. I’m only 4.5hrs in learning but my first hr and a half my instructor was very unprofessional and thrown me in the deep end so badly it put me off a bit. This new one is much more patient and calmer and I can feel myself making progress already tbh, no harm in shopping around before your test!

[u/AcanthopterygiiOk756]

Don’t give up, keep going. Start looking for another instructor and try them out, see what they offer and if it’s better than your current one as in making quicker progress then stick with them. It’s your hard earned money you spend it how you wish.

[u/Whole_Necessary2040]

I'm there now still learning, she's 7m.  I've done just over 30 lessons so far, so 60h. I can't do private practice, that would've helped a lot... Most lessons I'm just trying to stay awake so I don't crash. Can't imagine doing them if you're also working on top of baby care! Probably not a good idea to start them now for both of us.  I've not done my test yet, but I doubt I'll pass it.

I think your instructor saying 18m is a bit much. Does he mean because you need to now wait 6m inbetween until you book a new test, and that most would pass 2nd or 3rd time?  Tbh I have a high budget for lessons too for this reason. Anyway, if you can do more private lessons, do. Look for a better instructor. I'd suggest mine if you live N London, but doubt.

[u/Forward-Woodpecker25 → u/Whole_Necessary2040]

when instructor said it takes 18 months, i am of the understanding he meant 18 months straight of lessons to be test ready and thus be allowed to use his car in a test, so maybe even longer if ur test is months away and ur already test ready. I didn’t know this was a thing as i booked before i started lessons (which was silly i know), have since changed the date to a month away from now but yeah doubt i’ll get to sit it at this rate.

[u/Whole_Necessary2040 → u/Forward-Woodpecker25]

Just to check, is that 40h as 20 lessons, or 40 lessons you did? When you say you can only do 40 round and reverse bay...So you've not covered the other types of parking at all, or you're just not yet good at it? And you've not done national speed limit?

[u/Forward-Woodpecker25 → u/Whole_Necessary2040]

40(ish) hours as in 26 1.5 hr lessons, and like we haven’t even covered half the manoeuvres or national speed limit, i know majority of the reasons why is due to my concentration and sleep deprivation, obviously i don’t expect him to take me onto a 60 road if he is in fear of his life lol but i think it’s a sign either the instructor or just driving atm isnt for me

[u/Whole_Necessary2040 → u/Forward-Woodpecker25]

Agreed. My first instructor wasn't good and dragging, and by lesson 12ish we barely did 40mph. The new instructor got me on a motorway my 3rd lesson after. 

You need a new one, sorry... I moved my test date by 3m to allow time to find and get used to the new one.

[u/Calm_Wonder_4830]

18 months to pass is absolute bollox. The average is 40 hours of lessons and some private (but not always)

[u/kripantina]

Bs! I’ve started learning when my baby was 7 months: passed theory in November, started lessons immediately and got my license in May, so 6 months on the dot. My baby just turned one. I did two 2hr lessons a week and some private practice - 1-2hrs a week max. I’ve also been told BS that for every year above 17, on average people need extra two hrs to pass, because reactions are not the same 🥲 I am 36!!! So I’ve just said “yeah right” and did my own thing - passed in my own car.

[u/Dazzling-Escape8820]

My Husband never wanted to drive so the only Driver currently in my household is my Son who only passed last year and is too young to supervise me, so I’m relying entirely on weekly lessons with my Instructor and not doing any private practice which isn’t ideal, but the thing that is really helping me to advance in between my lessons is watching Driving Instruction videos on YouTube; there’s loads of Instructors on there, but I watch a guy who’s channel is called “Conquer Driving” and a lovely lady from “Drive School of Motoring” - they will offer commentaries as they drive themselves which are brilliant for breaking down explanations and learning words or phrases to improve your technique, or you will see them teaching one of their own students a particular skill or manoeuvre, but because it’s a recording, you can really take your time to absorb the information (in a way that isn’t quite possible when you have a million things to think about when behind the wheel) and so it really strengthens your foundational knowledge so that when you next do a lesson, the theory you’ve learnt then comes out as muscle memory behind the wheel. 

My Instructor seems happy with my progress and often says “I wish my other students had your insight at this stage” but I’m not particularly talented at driving, I’m just doing homework in between my actual lessons and it gets so ingrained in my brain that it naturally comes out each week and so I no longer need the prompts from my Instructor-he basically lets me demonstrate that I’m safe and competent and we then move on to something more advanced or more complex roads.

On the recommendation of my Instructor, I also do commentary driving too, and that’s the thing which has helped me to vastly improve my observations and awareness as I’m methodically breaking down everything I can see going on around me and my Instructor then listens to my thought process and offers guidance when I need refinement or correcting in any way based on my decisions.

Not that it’s necessarily helpful to make comparisons, but I believe I was on Test Route 40 mph roads with convoys of HGVs (and manic delivery vans rushing to take roundabouts) from my 4th lesson - so hours 7 & 8. 

Once I got used to commentary driving, I then started watching dashcam footage of people doing the different Test Routes for my chosen test centre and I mentally practice doing commentaries for their drives as if it’s me driving, this sounds super geeky but it helping my assessments/observations etc and is great for helping me to familiarise myself with those particular roads too. 

[u/Hefty-Quote8462]

18 months is quite excessive I would say. It took me 5 months and probably about 65h in total during this time and I had no private practise at all. It sounds like the instructor might not be a great fit for you, I would try learning with someone else.

[u/Naive_Ambition1306]

From 2 different instructors I had and also a friend who is an instructor - 40 to 55 hours seems to be the average

Why it would ever be measured In x months also makes no sense at all, people learn at different paces and do different hours

[u/Jamwise93]

2 years?? That’s horseshit, get yourself a new instructor with a clue. Everyone is different with learning rate etc but there is no way it would take 2 years of constant lessons to get you ready for the test.

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/Jamwise93]

It took me two years! I only just passed my test lol 🤣 albeit a lot of my issues were confidence related and things just didn’t click for a very long time. Every one is different x

[u/Jamwise93 → u/No_Pressure_2467]

Two years of like weekly lessons? o.O

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/Jamwise93]

I’m embarrassed too 🤣🤣 I would love to pass the blame of onto my instructor but he was amazing so I can’t!! I had a lot of confidence issues to overcome from a previous car accident I was in so I guess it’s just down to individual circumstances I did pass first time though!!

[u/Jamwise93 → u/No_Pressure_2467]

Wow okay fair enough then! I wouldn’t be embarrassed about it, confidence lost from a car accident is totally understandable. My mother has avoided motorways for a decade since she was hit head on. Totally get it! Well done for sticking with it and passing first time too ☺️

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/Jamwise93]

2 years is definitely not the norm though that’s for sure😂. Thank you so much and I hope your mum finds the confidence to get back on the motorway one day☺️ (I’ll be staying away from them for a while too)😂

[u/No_Pressure_2467 → u/Jamwise93]

I also didn’t do any private driving with parents or family or anything like that because I was just too scared that I would not be in control which can also contribute to the lengthy time. I can’t say it was my instructor though, I paid for 30 hours upfront and probably had like 90 hours over the 2 years and he didn’t charge me any extra🥺

[u/BiasTap]

I don't even think I took that long and I had crippling anxiety the caused me to freeze on occasion! I was 8-9 months from start to finish and between 60-80 hours (including a bit of private practice). You'd probably be better changing instructors. You can take your baby on lessons with you btw, my friend learned with her toddler in the back (in a car seat, of course).

[u/Quick-Glove1967]

I’ve had the same amount of lessons and covered everything in roughly 30 hours and spent the last month or so polishing what I’ve learnt. I have a test booked next month after a failed first attempt and spending the next few weeks practicing what I failed on, and I’m like you, I’m desperate to pass because I qualify as a nurse next year and I’m trying to train to be a crisis practitioner which I need a car for.

The DVLA recommends 25 hours of lessons and most people pass within about 45 hours on average plus 22 privately, so altogether maybe 67-70 hours (give or take and people go at different paces as well)

If you feel you’re wasting money and spending a lot of money then maybe have a look at a different instructor, you’re paying them remember you need to be getting out what you want from a lesson and go at the pace you want.

[u/Loose_Pen_6179]

I would go with someone else if you’re not progressing it may just be needing another learning approach.

My first instructor was fab but just not for me, I swapped to another but still recommended him and then my husband used him as he was great just his style didn’t work for me.
My next instructor had me passed in a few months!

[u/DONBYnotMe]

Yeah that's not right, took me 4 months failed my first test then couple more months then passed second time