Keep failing mod 2

[sam-bliss]

Okay so I failed my SECOND mod two today and its getting close to that time where the laws change, I'm ****ed off and worried that all the money I spent on a bike and the £300 odd pound I've spent atleast getting to my mod 2 will be in vein, I need somewhere to vent my frustration

[sam-bliss]

And in venting my anger, I mean in my examiners face

[Lazadude]

Failed on..? Serious, dangerous or totting minors?

[DJ123]

i'm guessing you get back the marked sheet each time. What did you fail on each time?

[Fraser1200]

u doing your tests in aberdeen mate? maybe its just nerves, nerves can make u do silly things

[Bibio]

i'm going to play devils advocate here.

if you fail a driving examination it's for a reason. contrary to popular belief examiners don't want to fail people they do so because your not good enough.

so how can you be annoyed that you have failed as it's your doing that has failed you.

[Fallout]

Here's a bit of advice that may or may not help. Ignore or take on board as you see fit.

I believe examiners judge the person as much as their riding. If you turn up with all the gear, with a really mature attitude (a bit of confidence but no fun and games), it's a good first impression. They're instantly going to think you are the 'right sort' for riding. If you're turning up in trainers or jeans, that's not going to help that first impression. If you're acting really nervous or overly confident, see above.

After that as Bibio said, it's your riding. You're doing something wrong. Take a few more seconds to think and do it right. You won't fail on hesitancy unless it's ridiculous. You may get a few minors, but no big deal.

Lastly, take the pressure off yourself. Don't make such a big deal out of it. Don't tell anyone when you're taking your next test. That'll load you up with pressure. When you get there, don't make passing the only option. It's not the end of the world if you fail, even if the new rules come in, there are options. Just try your best to chill. And don't over think all those positional manoeuvres etc. Safety first. You won't fail from not being in the perfect position all the time. So long as your ride is sensible and safe and you make your observations obvious, you have a good chance of passing.

Good luck.

[Thunderace]

Bibio and Fallout are spot on, not sure what the mod 2 entails as I did my test many years ago, but here is a good example of what may be happening,

Recently I did my Bus license along with a few other lads from work, we all did our tests the same day one after the other with two different examiners, I passed with one minor for lane discipline on a roundabout, my mate failed with one major for lane discipline on the same roundabout, we had different examiners and when we'd finished my examiner asked the other why he had failed him, and he said if there had been more traffic it would have caused an accident, to which my examiner said he gave me a minor as there was only light traffic and assumed I'd used more of the road simply because I had the space and posed no danger to others.

Now whether this is down to bearing/attitude/confidence or down to the perception and judgement of the examiner is beyond me, but maybe a change of testing station is in order?

[Bibio]

when i done my test i got the examiner from hell. he was notorious for failing people or giving out lots of minors. we got back to the centre and he asked how i think i done and my reply was i've passed to which he replied yes but you have one minor, i then told him exactly where and when that minor was. he said yes that's where it was but i'm still giving you a minor as i never seen the check as he turned his head at the same time as me.

i got back to the training centre and showed them my pass to which they were gobsmacked at only 1 minor with that examiner.

i turned up in full leathers and done what was required. i had a little chat in the office with the examiner about turning up in full gear and he said that he has turned people away due to them not wearing what he considered to be proper and safe gear and it was very rare for people to turn up in the gear that i had. he admitted that i gave a positive perspective straight from the off.

i don't get it when people moan about failing a driving test as you only have yourself to blame for not being good enough on the day.

[missyburd]

After that as Bibio said, it's your riding. You're doing something wrong. Take a few more seconds to think and do it right. You won't fail on hesitancy unless it's ridiculous. You may get a few minors, but no big deal.

Lastly, take the pressure off yourself. Don't make such a big deal out of it. Don't tell anyone when you're taking your next test. That'll load you up with pressure. When you get there, don't make passing the only option. It's not the end of the world if you fail, even if the new rules come in, there are options. Just try your best to chill. And don't over think all those positional manoeuvres etc. Safety first. You won't fail from not being in the perfect position all the time. So long as your ride is sensible and safe and you make your observations obvious, you have a good chance of passing.

Good luck.

Very well said. Definitely don't tell anyone when you have your test and take deep breaths throughout. It's not the end of the world, if it's your nerves letting you down which it more than likely is then there's only you who can stop them from affecting you so badly, a nervous rider is a dangerous rider and your examiner won't thank you for doing owt daft. On the same token, the examiners are so used to seeing the nerves take over that they will gloss over certain daft stuff you've done if you can remain calm and composed for the rest of the ride. Remember, just because you think you might have failed on one thing doesn't automatically mean you have so don't give up halfway through. If you did something daft within the first 5 minutes of the ride say, but an otherwise alright ride after then the examiner will likely forget or ignore it and put it down to nerves.

[sam-bliss]

I can't get all the details of why I failed at the moment (I'm not at home) but the first time I failed, it was because I was going down a one way following a lorry, I could see his mirrors so he could see me. He put on his hazards and about 15meters further stopped, and started reversing into a parking space on the left. I was atleast 2m behind the closest white dashed lines that mark the space (the side that would be behind it if it were parked) if you catch my drift. So I assumed he had enough room, then over the radio I hear, "you'll need to push back more Sam" So I did and eventually got passed him, but I was flustered from then in, stalling, wrong lanes... Proper woman driver (pardon the sexism) but from what he said, it was the lorry incident that I failed for. Now my local area isn't a big city or HGV central, I can literally go down that street 100 times and 99 times not see a lorry. Do I'm blaming both myself and sheer bad luck for the first fail. But now that you mention nerves. I almost failed the eyesight test!!! It was until the last attempt, when he actually measured it that I could see it, I rushed it, misread a G for an S, everything. So I do need to calm down, and I appreciate that it's my own doing, but this examiner just seems like that kind of person who was bullied in school and now pleasures himself over failing others, ****. But I'm sure he's a nice guy really ;)

[missyburd]

Is it just coincidence that you've had the same examiner twice or, as I'd imagine, are there not many up there in that Aberdeen?

Trust me, nerves are responsible for too much! On my mod 2 I panicked a little on a massive roundabout and missed a tiny sign for the lane I should have been in...this resulted in me losing my examiner in trying to find somewhere safe to stop so we could get back on track...she found me 10-15 mins later but the test ended up being an hour long instead of the allotted 40 mins...yet I still passed...got a couple of minors for travel directions and speed (going too slow when we set out from the test centre - cos i was nervous!) so I figured my riding can't have been so bad if she couldn't fail me with 10 mins extra examining!

Do you ride a 125 already?

[chezvegas85]

i did see a post about singing to yourself something calming. Not too sure about that but i used something called 'kalms' for my car test to keep the nerves at bay, worked well for me. I found the bike test less stressful though as i just treated it like a rideout on my 'best behaviour' so didn't want/need anything for nerves on that un (although i was bricking it prior to setting off, but i hate exams of every nature)

[Fallout]

I slightly rolled back on my hill start and missed a life safer but still passed! I was amazed tbh. I put it down to the fact I did a couple of really sensible major things. At one point someone was sat in the slow lane with their right indicator on. I didn't overtake as that would be dangerous. Then on the next roundabout he told me the wrong exit then quickly changed his mind! I had to recover quickly, change indicator, check my shoulder then tighten my turn.

I don't know but at the time I felt like those two things showed a lot of control and sense and made up for silly mistakes early on. So I agree with Missyburd! If you think you've failed, don't count on it. Stick with it to the end. It's the safety aspect they care about the most. Plus like Bibio I turned up with full textiles and a calm confident attitude.

[Sir Trev]

Do you have the option of a different centre? I lived half way between two and after a totally disinterested tester failing me at one I went to the other and passed without a problem. Moving site helped my nerves and put the bad experience behind me.

[craig dow]

hi i did my test in aberdeen in feb this year , there are three examiners at the centre , yes one is known to fail a lot of people , he failed me on my first attempt on mod two , for driveing to close behind a lorry on a dual carrige at 65mph , said i sould of been at least three car back not two , i was going to over take , but seen a car shooting up the out side lane , so as i was watching the car i got a bit close , so failed , second time i did test , no lorry on dual so passed with one minnor , it is hard with nerves , it cost me almost a grand to do my bike test from start to finnish , and i did think of giveing up more than once , but im now so glad i didnt , all i can say is take it easy , just think your out for a slow ride yourself , you dont need to do speed limit on test , but dont go to slow either , and just try and plan a head all the time , and remember your life saver , its there fav to give you points , hope you pass next time , and stick in , might help getting an extra lesson to go over the stuff you failed on , i had a hour lesson befor my test , it did help

[Shawthing]

Some time after you have passed you will eventually recognise that the failures only went on to make you a better rider.

[missyburd]

, it is hard with nerves , it cost me almost a grand to do my bike test from start to finnish , and i did think of giveing up more than once , but im now so glad i didnt
Yep, nerves do make it so much harder to get but the victory is oh so much sweeter when you do Sam, believe me. It's worth every penny, think I must have spent nearly £600 on mine what with fuel getting to and from the riding school too. Keep at it, you'll get it :)

[Thunderace]

£600 Feck me! Back when I did it, it cost £80, why is it so expensive now?:confused:

[metalmonkey]

I got my licence before the current change to MOD 2 ect...

Anyways I didn't pass first time, I did pass but each time I had the same guy. It wasn't personal even though it felt like it, he just wanted to see that I was safe enough to be let lose on the road with a licence and big bike.

What did I do pass? I went and road 2500 miles on a 125, you have to put the work in yes some people are a natural, I suck at tests so I just put the work in. Learn to keep a clear head, getting red mist or going into full panic oh ****!!! mode just won't reflect you properly. Bascially it affects your higher brian functions, sliding into flight or fight which isn't good for controling a motorcycle. Chin up, get back on the bike learn to ride it and keep a clear head. Best of all do that, you get ride whatever you want afterwards:cool:

P.S Oh make sure you have good bike gear, if you haven't why not? I saved up months to get my licence ect, it was worth even if I'm broke now.

[Sir Trev]

£600 Feck me! Back when I did it, it cost £80, why is it so expensive now?:confused:

Did you (like me) do a part one round cones on a school playground then a part two with a tester stood at the roadside watching you go round the bits of the block he could see? We had no CBT* and the tester did not have to be equipped with a Panny and full kit plus one way radio, that's why it was so much cheaper. I did a training course a few months after getting on the road, which moved me from capable to test capable but only because I wanted to.


*for those youngsters that cannot get their head around this just imagine being legally allowed to go out on your low mileage, one owner, L-plated Honda H100 on your 17th birthday without a single lesson and with nobody supervising you (as long as your provisional licence had turned up in the post). And if I'd been a bit older I could have gone out likewise on a 250!

[ben1989]

I failed twice, the first time was a really unlucky and weird situation which he said he didn't like to fail me on (but still did) and the second time I was probably a bit over-confident and rode like a normal ride, failing for going through an amber light and rushing over a zebra crossing.

Anyway I changed site for the third try and passed without any faults, it was in an area I knew better which helped and the instructor was a decent, normal guy who warned before the test about doing *too many* lifesavers. So I guess it does have a bit to do with your examiner, but either way you do benefit from having your riding critiqued by someone much more experienced than yourself.

[Thunderace]

Did you (like me) do a part one round cones on a school playground then a part two with a tester stood at the roadside watching you go round the bits of the block he could see? We had no CBT

No I'm not quite that antiquated!:rolleyes: Had to do a CBT at 16 and my test was being chased round Kings Lynn for 20 mins by a lunatic!

[Lozzo]

£600 Feck me! Back when I did it, it cost £80, why is it so expensive now?:confused:

£80.00 is more than ten times more expensive than my bike test cost me. In 1979 it was £7.00.

[muzikill]

when i done my test i got the examiner from hell. he was notorious for failing people or giving out lots of minors. we got back to the centre and he asked how i think i done and my reply was i've passed to which he replied yes but you have one minor, i then told him exactly where and when that minor was. he said yes that's where it was but i'm still giving you a minor as i never seen the check as he turned his head at the same time as me.

i got back to the training centre and showed them my pass to which they were gobsmacked at only 1 minor with that examiner.

i turned up in full leathers and done what was required. i had a little chat in the office with the examiner about turning up in full gear and he said that he has turned people away due to them not wearing what he considered to be proper and safe gear and it was very rare for people to turn up in the gear that i had. he admitted that i gave a positive perspective straight from the off.

i don't get it when people moan about failing a driving test as you only have yourself to blame for not being good enough on the day.

Examiner in kirkcaldy perhaps?

[Runako]

hi i did my test in aberdeen in feb this year , there are three examiners at the centre , yes one is known to fail a lot of people , he failed me on my first attempt on mod two , for driveing to close behind a lorry on a dual carrige at 65mph , said i sould of been at least three car back not two , i was going to over take , but seen a car shooting up the out side lane , so as i was watching the car i got a bit close , so failed , second time i did test , no lorry on dual so passed with one minnor , it is hard with nerves , it cost me almost a grand to do my bike test from start to finnish , and i did think of giveing up more than once , but im now so glad i didnt , all i can say is take it easy , just think your out for a slow ride yourself , you dont need to do speed limit on test , but dont go to slow either , and just try and plan a head all the time , and remember your life saver , its there fav to give you points , hope you pass next time , and stick in , might help getting an extra lesson to go over the stuff you failed on , i had a hour lesson befor my test , it did help

This.

I believe all the advice here will be useful to you. But you'll have to find your own way. What I can guarantee is that the moment you pass is the same moment when everything will just "click" and after that you'll be asking yourself what all the fuss is about.

Don't worry about the money. If you're determined then just focus on acheiving something which is not easy but will give you great satisfaction when you succeed.

And on that note, I wish you the best of luck in the world.

[Thunderace]

£80.00 is more than ten times more expensive than my bike test cost me. In 1979 it was £7.00.

That's because your old!:rolleyes:

[Fallout]

The £600 is referring to the DAS training. I can't remember how much I spent. I think it was £60/session, of which I had 4. Then add on the CBT for about £120, theory tests (yes TESTS in my case), Mod1 and Mod2 tests. So Missyburd's £600 sounds about right.

Cheapest way is obviously to do your CBT, do 2 years then take your tests without tuition. All in that'll still probably cost about £300 these days.

[Thunderace]

The £600 is referring to the DAS training. I can't remember how much I spent. I think it was £60/session, of which I had 4. Then add on the CBT for about £120, theory tests (yes TESTS in my case), Mod1 and Mod2 tests. So Missyburd's £600 sounds about right.

Cheapest way is obviously to do your CBT, do 2 years then take your tests without tuition. All in that'll still probably cost about £300 these days.

Feck me! I did CBT at 16 can't remember what it cost but can't imagine much, then rode illegally for years and did my CBT again at 23 and the instructor said I'll book you in for your test tomorrow, I passed with 2 minors and it cost £80 for CBT and same for the test.

The test was just a lap round town, no manoeuvres or 'owt?

I think I was put in for test so quickly as I turned up for the CBT on my old ZZR11.

EDIT: I must point out I am not condoning such activities or saying it's a good idea!

[disco2]

I had 2 weeks of in August this year and got my cbt theory and mod1 done in those 2 weeks then had to wait till October 26th to do mod 2.
Passed all of them 1st time thankfully no training but i did get 3 minors on the mod 2 my brother in law had his mod 2 15 mins before mine and passed with 2 minors.
I have been driving for the last 18 years so i think that helped a lot.

[missyburd]

£600 Feck me! Back when I did it, it cost £80, why is it so expensive now?:confused:


What did I do pass? I went and road 2500 miles on a 125, you have to put the work in yes some people are a natural, I suck at tests so I just put the work in. Learn to keep a clear head, getting red mist or going into full panic oh ****!!! mode just won't reflect you properly. Bascially it affects your higher brian functions, sliding into flight or fight which isn't good for controling a motorcycle. Chin up, get back on the bike learn to ride it and keep a clear head. Best of all do that, you get ride whatever you want afterwards:cool:

P.S Oh make sure you have good bike gear, if you haven't why not? I saved up months to get my licence ect, it was worth even if I'm broke now.

+1. I rode my 125 for a year before going for the DAS just cos that's what I could afford at the time. It meant I passed my mod2 first time no bother and with next to no nerves because I knew the way the roads worked. Any experience on the road be it in a car or on a bike prior to the test is going to work in your favour, no question.

The £600 is referring to the DAS training. I can't remember how much I spent. I think it was £60/session, of which I had 4. Then add on the CBT for about £120, theory tests (yes TESTS in my case), Mod1 and Mod2 tests. So Missyburd's £600 sounds about right.

Cheapest way is obviously to do your CBT, do 2 years then take your tests without tuition. All in that'll still probably cost about £300 these days.

Aye, I was travelling 20 miles to the test centre and ended up resitting the mod1 (though that's only £15) but the practice sessions soon add up, factoring in bike hire too. It's all about mastering your slow control on a bigger bike but then bigger bikes are more stable anyway so wasn't so bad.

[-Ralph-]

Had you been doing the old style test, I might be asking whether you are cut out for riding a bike (some people, especially women (sorry) are just too cack-handed to manage it).

But you've passed mod 1 already so you can obviously ride/handle the bike to the required standard .

So it's riding on the road and dealing with traffic situations (like your reversing lorry) that is causing you an issue?

Is road sense new to you or do you already hold a car license?

If you already drive a car, then is it just nerves?

If being on the road is new to you then you might want to consider buying a 125 and riding on L-plates for six months before you go back and try again.

[-Ralph-]

especially women (sorry)

And before I get shot down in flames, it's a fact, not an opinion.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driver-and-rider-tests-and-instructor-statistics-supplementary-tables-annual-2011-2012

"At almost every age, male candidates had a higher pass rate than female candidates. The difference tends to be greater for older age groups. Male candidates aged 17 had a 2.9 percentage point higher pass rate than female candidates of the same age."

"Males aged 17 had a 79 per cent pass rate in Module 1 tests in 2011/12; this is considerably higher than the corresponding 58 per cent pass rate for 17-year old females."

79% vs 58% is fairly significant, and the older the women get the bigger the gap vs men of the same age.