Driving Theory Test - appealing a fail
Discussion
My grandson took his driving theory test for the first time this morning. I say first time advisedly.
He is 17 years and 29 days old, but he believes 100% that he has known everything there is to know since he was 3 years old.
On this basis he took the test without doing any revision, passed the hazard awareness part (he saw himself coming, I guess), but failed the main part of the test by 3 marks.
His parents and I have all said "I told you so" as nicely as we could manage, while laughing behind his back at the same time, and have suggested he does some revision next time because, unlike his GCSEs, which he also took without doing any revision, this exam actually matters (if you want a driving licence).
He on the other hand is incensed, and is demanding I go to the highest authority available and find out how he can appeal the clearly incorrect decision of the examiners.
As far as I am aware, there is no higher authority than the SP&L pages of Pistonheads. Mission accepted and accomplished.
He is 17 years and 29 days old, but he believes 100% that he has known everything there is to know since he was 3 years old.
On this basis he took the test without doing any revision, passed the hazard awareness part (he saw himself coming, I guess), but failed the main part of the test by 3 marks.
His parents and I have all said "I told you so" as nicely as we could manage, while laughing behind his back at the same time, and have suggested he does some revision next time because, unlike his GCSEs, which he also took without doing any revision, this exam actually matters (if you want a driving licence).
He on the other hand is incensed, and is demanding I go to the highest authority available and find out how he can appeal the clearly incorrect decision of the examiners.
As far as I am aware, there is no higher authority than the SP&L pages of Pistonheads. Mission accepted and accomplished.
InitialDave said:
Sounds like a teenager alright.
If he really did no revision or dummy tests first, I'm surprised he passed the hazard perception bit.
Any news on which bits he got wrong? Sorry, allegedly got wrong?
Yes the hazard perception is the harder part, it is almost impossible to fail the multiple choice bit.If he really did no revision or dummy tests first, I'm surprised he passed the hazard perception bit.
Any news on which bits he got wrong? Sorry, allegedly got wrong?
You only have to get 43 out of 50 questions correct, if he failed by 3 points he only got 40/50, he failed on 20%, an almost impossible achievement!!
The question are written in such a way that anyone with half a brain can work out the correct answer, even if they've never driven before.
Arrivalist said:
Tell him to grow up and if he really wants to appeal, and believes there is a process to do so, tell him to fill his boots.
Do not enable him, he needs to learn on his own.
This. Tell him to research the process and do his own appeal and to reflect on why he only got 40/50 and not 50/50.Do not enable him, he needs to learn on his own.
Arrogant young male drivers... what could go wrong?
Yellow Lizud said:
Yes the hazard perception is the harder part, it is almost impossible to fail the multiple choice bit.
You only have to get 43 out of 50 questions correct, if he failed by 3 points he only got 40/50, he failed on 20%, an almost impossible achievement!!
The question are written in such a way that anyone with half a brain can work out the correct answer, even if they've never driven before.
There's always a few that I think would be a struggle with no prep.You only have to get 43 out of 50 questions correct, if he failed by 3 points he only got 40/50, he failed on 20%, an almost impossible achievement!!
The question are written in such a way that anyone with half a brain can work out the correct answer, even if they've never driven before.
I seem to recall I had one about what a person carrying a red light might signify (last person at the end of a marching column or other large group of pedestrians), which is certainly an oddity I doubt would be toward the forefront of your mind with zero experience.
And stuff like stopping distances you can calculate, but kind of need similar exposure as learning them by rote.
But broadly, yes, most of it is relatively logical.
Countdown said:
Why is he asking YOU to appeal on his behalf? Surely he s the best person to do that?
Also how did he get on in his GCSEs?
He's asking me to find out how to appeal, not to do it for him. Also how did he get on in his GCSEs?
I have had a TVR since he was 4 years old, so he thinks I know about car matters (deluded, as am I).
GCSEs were a couple of passes and a couple of B Tech passes, and the rest were fails.
He was repeatedly warned by me and his parents about paying attention in lessons and revising for his exams.
We got him extra tuition as did the school, but there are some people who know better than you and he's one of them.
The results were actually better than I expected.
It makes me sad, but it is what it is.
I feel sure that he will also be one of those kids who will wheeler dealer his way through life and do ok.
I have a brother who has done similar and come out ok, so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.
Yellow Lizud said:
You only have to get 43 out of 50 questions correct, if he failed by 3 points he only got 40/50, he failed on 20%, an almost impossible achievement!!
The question are written in such a way that anyone with half a brain can work out the correct answer, even if they've never driven before.
The logic behind his appeal is therefore that he clearly knew the correct answers on order to avoid them The question are written in such a way that anyone with half a brain can work out the correct answer, even if they've never driven before.
(Thanks to my school chemistry master for this insight, when MC was a new thing. Four answers A-D so even a complete dunce can get 25% right. Any lower than that and you must have known the answers, he quipped...)
I also got through O-levels, as they were then, with no revision - but crashed and burned at A-level, so it's a lesson he needs to learn.
Simpo Two said:
The logic behind his appeal is therefore that he clearly knew the correct answers on order to avoid them
(Thanks to my school chemistry master for this insight, when MC was a new thing. Four answers A-D so even a complete dunce can get 25% right. Any lower than that and you must have known the answers, he quipped...)
I also got through O-levels, as they were then, with no revision - but crashed and burned at A-level, so it's a lesson he needs to learn.
He has finished with school at 16, and it has finished with him. (Thanks to my school chemistry master for this insight, when MC was a new thing. Four answers A-D so even a complete dunce can get 25% right. Any lower than that and you must have known the answers, he quipped...)
I also got through O-levels, as they were then, with no revision - but crashed and burned at A-level, so it's a lesson he needs to learn.
A family friend has found him a manual labour job which may lead to an apprenticeship, and he is sticking at it because it means money every week.
I managed to get through both O and A levels thanks to some seriously good teachers and the ability to pack a year's revision into 6 weeks and remeber it.
I crashed and burned at Uni, as at my Uni they made the knowldge available, but didn't teach it. I had a great time for 3 years and managed to scrape a pass, but then went on to study accountancy and passed all exams first time
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