Over the weekend, I had 2 more sessions of lessons. I could definitely see my confidence improve as I got used to the van van and the motorbike controls. I was pleased I had made the decision to sit my test on the 125 as the more I looked at the Honda CB500, the more I thought I don't have the confidence to ride a bike that big at the moment. At the end of the day, I'd much rather pass my test on a 125, even with the restriction, than scare myself witless on the 500 and totally bottle it.
During the weekend's sessions, although there were some problems, they were getting significantly better. I think, as the control of the bike was becoming more automatic, I was then able to better concentrate on road craft and actually riding the machine.
Anyways, my test is tomorrow. Now, the main thing I have a concern with is the u-turn. This is the one thing that most people fail on. Okay, so it demonstrates good machine control at slow speed, but once you've passed your test, you need never do one again. Mmh, let's see. I need to point the bike in the opposite direction. Do I toil performing a u-turn, while riding the bike and keeping both feet on the pegs, or paddle it round...I wonder. It strikes me the later method is safer. My OH said just adopt the "it's now or never" attitude. It worked for him on his test.
All going well, I shall be a very happy chappy tomorrow. Watch this space to see how I got on.
Showing posts with label theory test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theory test. Show all posts
Monday, 30 July 2007
Monday, 16 July 2007
Passed
Well, my theory test, at least...
I got 35/35 for the question part and 55/75 for the hazard perception part of the test, which is, apparently, a high score.
The test was at 8:30 and I had to be at the test centre for 15 minutes before the test started. I thought it would be about a 15 minute drive, so I left the house at 7:50 and got to the test centre just as the news was starting, so I went in once the news had finished. I then had my documents checked, had locked my bag away and read the test centre rules, I was able to begin the test.
This differed from the last time I'd sat a theory test. As it was paper based, and sat in a traditional classroom setting, the test could not begin until all the participants were there. As the new test is computer based and the questions and video clips given to each participant are randomly selected from the database, I didn't have to wait on everyone else or the test start time. Thus, I started the test at 8:20 and was home by about ten past nine, with my pass certificate.
That's not bad going, as there is a practice session before the multiple choice section, to ensure you know what the format is and how to operate the equipment, which should take 15 minutes. There's 40 minutes allocated to sit that part of the test; then a sample video clip, for the hazard perception part, to take you through the way to highlight a potential and developing hazard. This takes about 5 minutes and there is then an option for a 3 minute break (I pushed the wrong button and landed up having to see the sample clip again - doh). Then there's the hazard perception itself; with 14 clips that are 1 minute long. Then, there's the option to answer some new theory test questions and watch a new hazard perception video clip, for possible use with future participants. Finally, there's a "customer satisfaction" questionnaire. I think you can do the sums and see I was quick.
To be fair, at least the DSA can't be criticised for not giving enough time.
So, now it will be on with the new part of getting my bike licence - lessons. They start on the 24th July and my test (yes, for real) is on the 31st. Fingers' crossed, I'll have a bike licence in just over a fortnight...just a wee bit scary, but really quite cool.
I got 35/35 for the question part and 55/75 for the hazard perception part of the test, which is, apparently, a high score.
The test was at 8:30 and I had to be at the test centre for 15 minutes before the test started. I thought it would be about a 15 minute drive, so I left the house at 7:50 and got to the test centre just as the news was starting, so I went in once the news had finished. I then had my documents checked, had locked my bag away and read the test centre rules, I was able to begin the test.
This differed from the last time I'd sat a theory test. As it was paper based, and sat in a traditional classroom setting, the test could not begin until all the participants were there. As the new test is computer based and the questions and video clips given to each participant are randomly selected from the database, I didn't have to wait on everyone else or the test start time. Thus, I started the test at 8:20 and was home by about ten past nine, with my pass certificate.
That's not bad going, as there is a practice session before the multiple choice section, to ensure you know what the format is and how to operate the equipment, which should take 15 minutes. There's 40 minutes allocated to sit that part of the test; then a sample video clip, for the hazard perception part, to take you through the way to highlight a potential and developing hazard. This takes about 5 minutes and there is then an option for a 3 minute break (I pushed the wrong button and landed up having to see the sample clip again - doh). Then there's the hazard perception itself; with 14 clips that are 1 minute long. Then, there's the option to answer some new theory test questions and watch a new hazard perception video clip, for possible use with future participants. Finally, there's a "customer satisfaction" questionnaire. I think you can do the sums and see I was quick.
To be fair, at least the DSA can't be criticised for not giving enough time.
So, now it will be on with the new part of getting my bike licence - lessons. They start on the 24th July and my test (yes, for real) is on the 31st. Fingers' crossed, I'll have a bike licence in just over a fortnight...just a wee bit scary, but really quite cool.
Friday, 13 July 2007
Theory Test
Early tomorrow morning, (by early I mean 8:30) I will be sitting the theory test for a motorbike. When I sat my car test, I had to sit a theory test. At the time, it consisted of 40 questions, based on the Highway Code, of which you had to get 35 correct to pass. It was done on paper and took just less than 2 weeks to get the results. I only got 1 wrong. Also, there was only 1 test for everyone, bar HGV and PCV learners and if you already had a licence for another type of vehicle, you didn't have to sit one.
Anyway, now the theory now has different categories, depending on the type of vehicle. So, for example, if you have a moped licence and want to get a car licence, there is another test to sit. However, if you wanted to learn to ride a motorbike, you don't need to re-sit.
The theory test now consists of 2 parts. The first part is more or less like the test I sat, but there are only 35 questions, of which 30 must be answered correctly to pass that part of the test. The DSA have also introduced a hazard perception test. This consists of 13 (I think) video clips played, which have, at some point, as developing hazard. During the course of the clip you click on a mouse when you see a potential developing hazard (e.g. pedestrians, cars at junctions, traffic lights etc) and click again when a hazard changes (e.g. a car indicating to pull out does). In order to pass this element of the theory test, a 59% rate is required. Again, see the DSA website for more info.
On Tuesday night I went to my motorbike training school for a hazard perception class, which went okay and made how the whole process of the theory test runs a lot more clear. For extra practice, I have also sat a mock test from a DVD the motorbike training school. Although the quality of that was quite poor (it's not made by the DSA) I still managed to pass. Also, I have re-read the Highway code and sat some mock tests for question part of the test online. So, fingers crossed, all being well, tomorrow I'll have got that part of the road to getting my motorbike licence out of the way.
Fortunately, as the test is now carried out on PCs, I will find out once I've sat the test whether or not I've passed, so no waiting. Watch this space to see how I got on.
Anyway, now the theory now has different categories, depending on the type of vehicle. So, for example, if you have a moped licence and want to get a car licence, there is another test to sit. However, if you wanted to learn to ride a motorbike, you don't need to re-sit.
The theory test now consists of 2 parts. The first part is more or less like the test I sat, but there are only 35 questions, of which 30 must be answered correctly to pass that part of the test. The DSA have also introduced a hazard perception test. This consists of 13 (I think) video clips played, which have, at some point, as developing hazard. During the course of the clip you click on a mouse when you see a potential developing hazard (e.g. pedestrians, cars at junctions, traffic lights etc) and click again when a hazard changes (e.g. a car indicating to pull out does). In order to pass this element of the theory test, a 59% rate is required. Again, see the DSA website for more info.
On Tuesday night I went to my motorbike training school for a hazard perception class, which went okay and made how the whole process of the theory test runs a lot more clear. For extra practice, I have also sat a mock test from a DVD the motorbike training school. Although the quality of that was quite poor (it's not made by the DSA) I still managed to pass. Also, I have re-read the Highway code and sat some mock tests for question part of the test online. So, fingers crossed, all being well, tomorrow I'll have got that part of the road to getting my motorbike licence out of the way.
Fortunately, as the test is now carried out on PCs, I will find out once I've sat the test whether or not I've passed, so no waiting. Watch this space to see how I got on.
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