Hey!
This is for those who are 18 years of age, have graduated from JC or Poly and waiting to enlist to NS who are thinking of getting a driving license fast.
I just recently obtained my driving license.... after about a year plus of hard work...
Would just like to share some of my experience with you, and some of the pros and cons... hopefully you will be able to benefit from this and complete it faster than I did!
there are mainly two ways to do so. You could sign up at a driving school, of which there are three : Singapore Safety Driving Centre at Yio Chu Kang, Bukit Batok Driving Centre at Bukit Batok, and Comfort Driving Centre at Ubi. Alternatively, you could sign up for a private instructor.
There are two types of car license:
Class 3: Manual (can drive both manual and auto car)
Class 3A: Auto (can drive only auto car)
The Great Debate : School vs. private - which is better?
Advantages of school -
1. can practice at the circuit every lesson.
2. greater exposure to wider range of possible mistakes: being taken by different instructors means that different mistakes can be pointed out to you easily.
3. can book lessons and tests online easily
4. can cancel lessons up to 72 hours in advance for free, and can sell lessons online after 72 hours (drawback: must pay if no one buys your lesson, but that is rarely the case)
Disadvantages:
1. it is more expensive. non peak hour: $58.80 per lesson, peak hour: $67.20 per lesson. (about 1.5 hours). Private lessons: $30/- per hour on average.
2. inconsistent advice given by various instructors at times.
3. need to pay to request for fixed instructor , around SGD$8.00 per lesson.
4. travelling time needed to go to the place
5. must book lessons about two weeks in advance.
6. private has the advantages of more flexibility, and you may acclimatize to outside roads faster as there is practise in public carparks, and not the circuit ones with poles
You need to clear three tests.
1. Basic Theory Test (BTT)
2.Final Theory Test (FTT)
3. Practical Test
The time frame in which you would complete these typically range from about 5 months to a year.
The general route of advance would be as follows:
1. sign up at a driving school - you need a student account (private or public) to sign up for the theory and practical tests.
2. clear the basic theory test : you would be able to obtain a Provisional Driving License (PDL) which would allow you to go onto the road during your lessons.
3. clear the final theory test: you need this to book your Practical Test.
4. clear your practical lessons. 5. clear your Practical Test.
Advice on Clearing the Theory Tests:
you must be able to score 45/50 to pass the theory tests.
the questions will be mainly on interpreting Singapore traffic signs, driving techniques.
The test will be on a computer in MCQ format, in 4 different languages, and lasts about an hour.
You have to book the test date about a month in advance due to overwhelming number of people taking the test.
How to study for the theory test:
1. Read through the guidebooks given by your driving centre.
Warning: the 4 options tend to be quite tricky and close for certain questions, so read through the book more thoroughly. You can only make up to 4 mistakes.
2. Optional way to improve success chances:
attempt a test bank of questions.
it is always good to have an idea of what the test format will be like, and what questions will likely to be asked. You can purchase a book bank of MCQ questions from petrol stations (about SGD$8.00) or Popular book store and attempt the questions. This would focus your mind on what sort of questions would be asked during the test. It would save you valuable time as certain details in the guidebook are unnecessary.
Practical Lessons:
For school, you have to clear approximately 33 subjects for manual car (less for autocar)
you have to clear up to lesson 25 before you can book your TP (practical test).
Typical waiting time is 3 - 5 months for first-timer, and 2 months or so for retest.
During the Practical (TP) Test:
lasts about 20 -40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions...
General Guidelines:
1. Don't be nervous (although it is next to impossible)
2. Always remember to do safety checks when parking or driving... and must emphasize on checking blindspot...
3. travel at the appropriate speed for gear, not too fast, not too slow
4. look out for pedestrians, stopping taxis and other hazards
5. concentrate on passing the stations, not preventing accidents like 'immediate failures' or 'demerit points'- your brain can only focus on so much in such a short period of time
6. Don't speed
7. Don't think of the small mistakes you made
Good luck!
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