quick-pass driving course

Savvy_Sue

zodiac wrote:

Thanks for the info on surepass Spikey, okay then, if i was gonna take my test in either the Oxford / High Wycombe area or the Lowestoft area which would other MSEs recomend?

(Ive been driving for a few years now and have taken my test 3 times, all with the same examiner, all failed by her:doh: )

Well, I definitely wouldn't take it in the same place as the last three, in that case!

Agree with Spikey, and I'd also say it's good to take it in an area you're roughly familiar with, ie where you've had lessons. The instructors usually know where examiners take you for three point turns etc. Having said that I'm sure I went to places I'd never been before on the day I passed my test!

And I failed in London and passed in Durham. Long time ago now, I know, but there's a lot less traffic in Durham than there is in London, and I think that helps!

johnbhoy

Hi am in Oxford area any info on these intensive driving courses? My son who will be turning 17 in a couple of weeks time has been out with me in an unused car park about 4 times, just more or less pulling away and getting used to the gear/gas/clutch controls, as the car park was small he only got into second gear, so apart from that has no other driving experience, he has his prov license and as he has some savings which we kept by for him till he was 17 we said he could use this money for one of these courses so any info please from anyone who knows where he can take these courses local to us or near to local??

carbonmonoxide

Hi - I am currently having lessons at £20 a time. That seems quite pricey but I get on well with my instructor and I feel he is teaching me to be a better driver and pushing me all the time.

Someone I know did an intensive course while pregnant and passed and seems to be a perfectly good driver, but I don't think that applies to everyone - some people take longer than others (like myself) and need more time in the car. Maybe book a few free introductory lessons and see how she gets on before deciding?

The_Undercover_ADI

I used to work for an intensive course company (and no longer do) and they are not effective in any way.

A1 value has outlined the positives and all of them are valid, though the reality is that the majority of these courses are designed to earn money from people who are impatient and/or desperate to get through their driving test. They sell a promise, which is rarely fulfilled. Companies mentioned on this thread are very effective at selling this promise and part of this is making the driving test look easy.

There is a big problem with the psychology of learning, which essentially means that the majority of people will not be able to take in more than around 5 hours of new information a day. This learning time needs to be very carefully structured to be effective and as the majority of instructors dislike doing these courses - the instructors who do them tend not to have these skills. Over 5 days this means that you may get around 22 hours of effective training (mon-thurs, 5 hours - fri 2hours in the morning before your test).

Considering that the DSA's own figures state that the average test pass has had 45 hours of paid instruction as well as 22 hours of private practice, there isn't a hope that a novice will be able to pass in a week, unless they are exceptional. Learners with some experience may be capable of passing in a week, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Be realistic about learning to drive. Join the 2pass forum (http://2passforum.co.uk/ - not connected btw) and ask on there to get some informed opinions from people who have both instructed and taken such courses.

Inactive

Spikey wrote: »

Hope that helps as where I live has the highest failure rate in the country beacuse of the sheer volume of traffic, $%^#@ examiners, and the bloody (mountian) hills.

Spikey

...and probably quite a few poor Instructors taking their badly trained pupils there for test's.

moneysaver

The_Undercover_ADI wrote: »

I used to work for an intensive course company (and no longer do) and they are not effective in any way.

A1 value has outlined the positives and all of them are valid, though the reality is that the majority of these courses are designed to earn money from people who are impatient and/or desperate to get through their driving test. They sell a promise, which is rarely fulfilled. Companies mentioned on this thread are very effective at selling this promise and part of this is making the driving test look easy.

There is a big problem with the psychology of learning, which essentially means that the majority of people will not be able to take in more than around 5 hours of new information a day. This learning time needs to be very carefully structured to be effective and as the majority of instructors dislike doing these courses - the instructors who do them tend not to have these skills. Over 5 days this means that you may get around 22 hours of effective training (mon-thurs, 5 hours - fri 2hours in the morning before your test).

Considering that the DSA's own figures state that the average test pass has had 45 hours of paid instruction as well as 22 hours of private practice, there isn't a hope that a novice will be able to pass in a week, unless they are exceptional. Learners with some experience may be capable of passing in a week, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Be realistic about learning to drive. Join the 2pass forum (http://2passforum.co.uk/ - not connected btw) and ask on there to get some informed opinions from people who have both instructed and taken such courses.

I totally agree with you.

Some of these Intensive courses are quoting first time pass rates of 74%, which is a lot of bull***t. If you read on some of their websites they make it all sound too good to be true. I would not waste my money on this kind of tuition. If you work out the cost against the amount of hours(22) you are driving for it works out a lot more than the average price per lesson from a standard instructor lesson, with no guarantee of a pass.

You also might not even get to take your test if you are not up to standard at the end of your course.(is that correct a1value)? You could be sent home without a test.

Moneysaver

The_Undercover_ADI

I'm sure A1 will be back, but from my experience - yes, many candidates are refused the use of the instructor's car for the test. With good reason - they're not safe.

Very good point about pass rates (another one which can be twisted - I worked out one year that I could advertise and justify 6 different pass rates, from 37% to 91% - guess which one I would've used if I had no morals!).

Just a quick word of warning, you mentioned "no guarantee of a pass" - this is also something which is searched for regularly and is a great advertising ploy.

Sounds fab, but it really means nothing - all they'll usually give you is a free re-test, but only if you trawl all the way back to where you did the intensive and pay for more training.

Many instructors will do "semi-intensive" courses, involving several 2 hour sessions a week. It will often be cheaper and it is more likely to result in success.

moneysaver

The_Undercover_ADI wrote: »

I'm sure A1 will be back, but from my experience - yes, many candidates are refused the use of the instructor's car for the test. With good reason - they're not safe.

I agree with not taking the test if the pupil is unsafe. But in all the websites I have looked at, not one of them has mentioned this important point. The pupil believes he/she will get a shot at the test no matter what.
They should be told before they book the course that they may not get to take the test.(in bold writing)


Moneysaver

The_Undercover_ADI

Nearly all of the intensive sites will tell you this because without it they could have their wrists slapped for legal stuff.

However as it is not exactly a unique selling point they tend not to highlight it.

As with all things, buyer beware. If it looks too good to be true - it probably is.