Hi guys, I finally passed yesterday in Chertsey with 2 minors.
It’s been a very long journey to get here. I did my first practical test back in late 2019 and failed. Then literally right after that Covid happened and driving tests became a complete mess for ages.
When things finally started getting back to normal, I’d graduated and started working, but I honestly wasn’t earning enough to comfortably afford lessons. I could just about manage them, and even getting a test slot after Covid felt impossible half the time.
A couple years later I moved to Bath for work and stayed there for a while. I attempted another test there early last year and failed that too. Looking back, that one was completely my fault. I was stubbornly set on doing manual and I’d spent most of my driving experience on London roads, which are mostly slower, more straightforward roads. Bath completely humbled me with the hills, bends, tight roads and random 50-60mph stretches. I just wasn’t comfortable enough driving there yet.
After that, I waited months again for another test slot and did another one just before Christmas back in London. Failed again. This one annoyed me the most because I actually felt ready. But I went into the test trying too hard to be careful and impress the examiner, and ended up getting failed for undue hesitation because I was overthinking everything.
I’m writing this because I know how draining the whole process can get now, especially for people around my age. I’m 27 and every time people see you it’s “have you passed yet?” as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
What also makes it harder now is the waiting times. When my older brother did his tests years ago, he failed 4 times and it genuinely didn’t matter because he could just rebook the next week. Now if we fail, we’re waiting 5-6 months if we’re lucky, so every single test feels massive. One mistake feels like your life is delayed for another half a year.
So genuinely, please don’t give up. Even if you’ve failed multiple times. Even if you feel embarrassed. Even if you feel behind everyone else.
Just keep going. Your pass will come.
Good luck to everyone with tests coming up.