Thank you for all your wishes, good lucks, prayers, tips and most importantly, for your ears. I've been ranting about my driving lessons, crazy instructor and my friends have been lovely, just listening and giving me advice where appropriate.
1 attempt at BTT
2 attempts at FTT
3 attempts at TP
If I still fail this attempt and stick with this madman, I'd lose my mind sooner or later. On Sunday, I only reached home about 10 plus since I was on afternoon shift. On Monday, I have a VERY early lesson at 7 a.m. Apparently, some idiot has a test on Monday and would be taking my 8 a.m. slot. Stupid bugger!
I spent $6 on my cab fare to CDC because I was just too tired to rush there. Also good la, you very rarely have so many mad people who'd come for a 7 a.m. lesson, no one fought with me in the circuit. I wanna park, I park, wanna do S course, I do. No time wasted on waiting, I think I did each item like dunno how many times.
I said I was gonna write about my success story when I pass.
Here we go...
1) Look like you're mature enough to handle a car. My first two tests, I wore my normal outdoor clothes and looked like a normal poly kid. The testers were super quiet and looked quite unfriendly. My 3rd test I wore clothes good enough for a job interview. Maybe it was a coincidence but the tester was friendlier, chattier and that decreased my anxiety levels. So yea, they're not young punks, they believe in appropriate clothes and not in fashion.
2) Book 7 a.m. lessons for more practise. That stupid 7 a.m. lesson was a blessing in disguise. Less time spent waiting, more time for practise. Otherwise just book the peak hour lessons. Not many people will wanna spend extra money unless they're really desperate, so chances are, you spend less time waiting. But 7 a.m. lessons are still the best.
3) Practise and just practise. Some people learn fast, others a little slower. Just don't give up, you'll get your license soon. And if your instructor's mad like mine, ask your friends for tips. Helps if you've got funny friends/family who'd tell you to purposely knock down the poles so he'll stop shouting, get out of the car to pick them up and you can drive off with HIS car while he's picking up the poles. :p
4) Every test helps you learn better. Never mind if people laugh at you for taking so many tests. No prizes for passing at first attempt, it doesn't make you a better driver or shorten your probation period. Each failure taught me something, I don't know if I'm a better driver than first-timers but I probably have more confidence in my driving skills. Read: driving skills, not parking skills!
5) Find your own method of agar-ation. My instructor's method worked only to some extent, most of the time I found my own way to agar when to turn the steering, how much to turn. I striked kerb, mount kerb and had my instructor going ballistic almost every circuit lesson but I needed to fail to succeed. No choice lor, let him yell and take his anti-hypertensives, at most I'd call an ambulance if he burst a vessel. But please la, only do funny things in the circuit, nothing much can happen when you're driving at 20km/h. On the roads, listen to your instructor and trust his instincts, you act smart, I don't know how many people will meet their makers because of you.
That's it. I'm waiting for my photocard license to arrive in the post. Went to specially take a picture a few days before my test. I will NOT allow a picture which was haphardly taken to be on a license I worked so hard for.
