4 replies to this topic

[Chris_R]

My lad is 17 in a few months and looking forward to starting lessons and getting his licence. Seeing as a lot has changed in the almost 30 years ( ) since I passed my test I'm starting to research what he needs to do and when.

I think I'm right in saying that we can get his provsional license for him ahead of his birthday so that he's ready to go as soon as he's 17, that he then needs to pass the theory and hazzard tests before he can go on to sit the practical test? I'm considering an intensive driving course for him, does anyone have any experience of these?

Also, does anyone who has passed recently have any recommendations on what I can get for him now to read to get him ready for the theory test? Are there any good CD ROMs with test examples?

We would appreciate any hints or tips from the younger drivers on here!

[lapider]

i passed in september after a week long driving course with 5 minors on my first attempt. you can apply for your provisional within 3 months of your 17th birthday. as soon as you turn 17 providing you have provisional insurance a provisional licence and L plates you can drive with and a driver who is over 21 and has held a lisence for over 3 years. your theory test consists of two parts multipole choice and hazzard warning. to pass this i just got the dsa book of multiple choice questions with a highway code in the back. then i went on line to sample some hazard perception clips. you can book your theory providing you have your provisional licence for after your birthday so you must be 17 to take the theory test. then as soon as you have passed your theory test you can book your practical test.

in relation to the intensive couses they are pretty good for certain types of people. i booked mine to occur over 5 days and i did 5 hours of driving per day in the moarning with the instructor then i went out for another 1-2 hours with my dad in the mini. i did find it mentaly hard as itsl like spending a whole day working so it makes you tired. the other problem that i faced is that the waiting list for a test was weeeks so although i learned to drive within 2 weeks of my birthday on the 28th of july i still didnt get a test till 20th of september. i headr that the waiting list is even longer now. thus defeating the point of learning to drive in a week. i would recomend passing your theory test as soon as you turn 17 (i did mine the day after my birthday) then book your test as soon as possible then do the course or learn to drive very quickly and eaven then it could take 1-2 months dependent on the waiting list.

[the_r_sole]

get a theory test book with a dvd - there's plenty of them out there, would send you mine but a mate has it atm!
the biggest thing in the theory is the hazard perception test, you need to have a good practice at that, the questions are just common sense stuff so should be straight forward enough!
the test is all about control and observation, the set manouvers aren't really that important in getting perfect, as long as you are driving the car safely and know what's happening round about it's fine! - i know my reverse around a corner was out by a bit but didn't even get a minor on it!
from what i've heard 17 year old boys get as tough as test as possible! I would get him a lesson or two with an instructor to judge how ready he is for the test, i thought they were phasing out the intensive courses now as they want a certain number of road hours before sitting the test? I was quite old when i was doing my test so already had lots of time behind the wheel and only needed two lessons (but that was more because there was a cancellation by one of my instructors pupils and i got in there as soon as he said he was withdrawing!)

[iTomKart]

My lad is 17 in a few months and looking forward to starting lessons and getting his licence. Seeing as a lot has changed in the almost 30 years ( ) since I passed my test I'm starting to research what he needs to do and when.

I think I'm right in saying that we can get his provsional license for him ahead of his birthday so that he's ready to go as soon as he's 17, that he then needs to pass the theory and hazzard tests before he can go on to sit the practical test? I'm considering an intensive driving course for him, does anyone have any experience of these?

Also, does anyone who has passed recently have any recommendations on what I can get for him now to read to get him ready for the theory test? Are there any good CD ROMs with test examples?

We would appreciate any hints or tips from the younger drivers on here!

Not sure how relavent it is anymore, but if he still hasn't taken his theory use this for revision for it http://www.driving-test-success.com/
I got full marks in my theory test yesterday purely from using that website

Edited by iTomKart, 10 June 2011 - 03:10 PM.

[Pete93]

I passed my test on monday and it wasn't too bad, you get asked to carry out one manoeuvre and then you have to navigate to a place which the examiner will decide. My test lasted for about 50mins.

It's best to get the theory booked as soon as possible as there is usually a long waiting time for the practical test (I waited 2months) and you need to pass the theory before you can book the test.

I've got some bsm stuff (dvd and a few bsm books) I can send you for the price of postage if needed, as I found them really useful for the theory as it's got mock theory/hazard perception tests on the dvd.

You can get a provisional licence just before your 16 and it takes around 2 weeks to arrive

Edited by Pete93, 10 June 2011 - 09:43 PM.