SSDC TP experience 2020

Enrollment

Finally reached the age where I'm legal to sign up for driving! Everyone around me knows how much I love driving and have been waiting for so long for this day to come. 

Enrolled on 5th Jan at SSDC at the crack of dawn. Paid $174.09 which includes taking 1x photo (for license), enrollment fees and lastly, theory lessons (which you can take online). 

TTT/BTT/FTT

After the 4 lessons of online theory lessons, I happily booked for 2x Trial Theory Test on 19th Jan (one for practice, the 2nd one which you would need to get 46/50 IIRC to book your Basic Theory Test (BTT)).

Upon passing the TTT, I booked my BTT for 6th Feb! Passed with 49/50. 

Tips would be memorise the signs! (Most of it would be on signs). 

Upon passing my BTT, I proceeded to apply for my Provisional Driving License (PDL). Keep the screenshot that shows your IC/Name! Your instructor would ask for it on the first lesson and also during your Traffic Police Test which I will explain later on. 

For FTT, you would also have to go through 2x TTT. I passed with 48/50! 

Both on first try. 

Practical Lessons

The waiting time was about 2 whole months which meant that I started my practical lessons in early April. However, there are trysell slots that people would put up for sale if they could not make it for the lesson. (Usually 1-2 days before the actual lesson day). 

The first lesson was okay and the instructor was great too. Wanted to book him for the rest of my lessons but to my dismay, he only teach manual and was on overtime shift that day, thus I got him. 

I went for all my lessons diligently as I wanted my license as soon as possible. However, just when i was at subject 22 (end of stage 2), circuit breaker happened and I had to stop lessons for ~2.5 months. 

After circuit breaker ended, I was still on holiday thus, I booked my lessons daily and completed all of the modules in 18 lessons! 

Pricing: $77.04 for non peak (815am, 1030am, 105pm slots) 

$85.60 for peak (SAT, SUN FULL DAY and weekdays 320pm, 610pm and 820pm slots)

* Proceed to LV3 and check for your car number on the screen before going inside! However, because of Covid-19, they will tell you your car number online under "training info" when you login. 

Simulator

After I finished stage 2 of lessons, I proceeded to book my simulator lessons. Was slightly frustrated as you could only book one at a time and they would not allow you to see the page again as soon as you book a date! :< 

I got a little motion sickness and felt like puking as it felt like I was playing an arcade game. (Drive slower if you're prone to motion sickness like me) 

Each lesson was about 15-25 minutes for me. Nevertheless, I took about 2 weeks to finish 3 lessons due to the waiting time. (Remember to bring your pink/blue book and wear shoes!) ✌

* Proceed to LV4 simulator room and sit on the chairs inside! The instructor will call you over when it is your time. 

Traffic Police Test  😪

At the end of Subject 30 which I completed on Jun 29th, I booked my TP test for 12th August, 1145am! Was drizzling when I left my house but thankfully it stopped. 

For the warm up, proceed to the warm up room and wait for them to give you instructions. They would ask for your pink/blue book, IC and PDL. 

My warm up was at 1050am, where the instructor would let you do 1x circuit and 1x road. After you're done with the warm up, you would have ~5 minutes to go to the toilet or you can just stand outside at the parking lots behind your car and wait for the tester.  

Once the tester arrives at your car, you would have to pass them your IC and they would ask you to recite your number. Thereafter, proceed to the car and *DO NOT ADJUST ANYTHING* (just fake fake adjust haha!) as the car is the same as your warm up car. 

After your test, proceed to LV3 counter to collect back your book and student balance if you pass. (Might be in cash/cheque depending on the counter) 

My TP test results 

I ended up with 1 immediate failure and 28 demerit points. (To my horror.)

The instructors around me was confident that I could pass in 1 try. Let me explain what went wrong. 

1. 1 immediate failure - failure to give right of way 

2. 4 pts - fail to look out for traffic 

3. 2x2pts - turned steering wheel whilst car stationary (which I disgaree)

4. 4 pts - failure to confirm safety (vertical parking, which I disagree)

5. 4 pts - incorrect technique at platform ramp

6. 2 pts - incorrect technique e-brake 

7. 10 pts - strike kerb at S course 

I started with ramp and proceeded to parallel parking, after parallel parking, I stopped at the stop line where the tester asked me to turn right. I checked both sides, and it was clear to go. However, just when I let go of my brake, the lorry opposite came out and the tester braked for me. (I believe I could have braked myself.) Hence, he gave me an IF for that. No. 4,6,7 was accumulated after I have gotten the IF. 

For now, I have booked 2 lessons prior to my 2nd TP Test on 4th sept. *Fingers Crossed* I'll pass this time because I cannot deal with failure especially in driving where I was so confident of. I was not even nervous during the warm up or test. :< 

Till date, I have spent about 2.9K on TTT/BTT/FTT, 24 lessons (6 revision lessons including upcoming 2) and 2 TP tests. 

UPDATE 4/9/2020

I am officially legal to be driving on the road! At circuit, I cleared all stations with 0 demerit points. However, on the road i accumulated 18 points. Advice of course, would be to get 0 points in circuit because the road circumstances might be different from usual! The tester asked me to turn right but the cars didn't give way to me.. I had to slow down (almost to a complete stop) to be able to turn right as the road itself was already short. 

Any questions, please comment! I'll do my best to help :)