Pass Predictions

I have had one of my most unpredictable passes today!

Over the last four weeks I have had the dubious pleasure of teaching a chap in Tunbridge Wells. We have had 4-6 hours of lessons each week, with this week culminating in a 3-hour lesson on Wednesday and 2 hours before his test today.

On Wednesday, we had a Mock Test to see what he could remember and then to polish up on the one or two things that may be a little under par. Well, within the first 10 minutes of the 'test', I had recorded about 5 reasons why he would fail. By the time we finished, I had written down over 12 different major problems with his driving!!!

Afterwards, I pulled him over and asked him if he thought he had done a good job and he thought he had! I talked to him, saying that the test was a disaster and we should seriously consider not wasting each other's time and not turn up for the test as I didn't want his confidence knocked or my own humiliation of having to face the examiner afterwards.
He promised me that he would seriously consider everything I had told him overnight and would let me know the following day what he had decided.

We met again today for the two hours before the test to hear what his decision was. He had decided that he would go for it but I said that I would still not take him to the test if I did not see any improvement in his driving in the next two hours. In those preceding hours, I saw a little improvement and decided that I would agree to his taking of the test in my car. I did consider going with him, if for no other reason other than when the examiner had decided that he could cope with no more poor driving and was going to walk back to the centre, I would be there to take my pupil home. My pupil decided that he did not want me to come with him saying that he would be more nervous with me in the back of the car.

Needless to say, the 40 minutes of the test was one of the most agonising I have had to endure, wondering if my car would come back in one piece at the very least.
When the car came back, I hovered nervously around the rear of the car, waiting for the inevitable beckoning of the examiner to come and listen to the list of disasters that he had had to endure. Instead, my pupil appeared to reach to the rear seat of the car to give his provisional licence to the examiner - he has PASSED !!!!!!!

I think he was as amazed as I was at the result and all he wanted to do was cheer and jump in the air. He had passed with 10 driver faults (6 more and he would have failed). He had indicated incorrectly at a roundabout, stopped badly before conducting a left reverse manoeuvre and had not checked his mirrors correctly! It appears that the examiner had taken pity on my pupil and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

As a result, I cannot now say that I know who is likely to pass and who is likely to fail - it is entirely in the lap of the gods (and the benevolence of the examiner).
I'll make sure to have a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine for the examiner next time I have a questionable pupil taking the test!

For more information, please go to http://www/gtdrivingschool.net