No regrets about choosing this driving school

I took the decision to choose a driving school very seriously, spending a lot of time researching, comparing, and monitoring reviews. In 2019, I paid 32,000 rubles for evening classes. It wasn't the cheapest option in St. Petersburg, but they didn't hit me with any hidden fees. I chose this school based on its convenient location, a dedicated practice area, and reviews that seemed too good to be true. I approached those glowing reviews on their website and social media with a healthy dose of skepticism. I dug deeper, looking for information on other websites, where students praised the instructors for being practical and the cars for being reliable. A high percentage of students passed the exam on their first try - I was hoping to be one of them. I want to give a shout-out to the school's punctuality - classes started right on time, even when our group was small. It's weird to read about students saying they only learned theory in class, but I was the opposite - I missed only one class in 1.5 months. Classes started on the last week of August, and the exam at the traffic police was scheduled for exactly two months later. I couldn't get a tax refund for the classes, but I could get one for the theory portion (6,400 rubles), while the remaining 25,500 rubles for driving lessons were paid to the instructor on a contract basis. They're all individual entrepreneurs. On the first class, the instructor suggested buying two books - the rules and the current exam questions. I bought them, but in hindsight, I only needed the rules. I studied the exam questions in apps on my commute to work because it was more convenient. All theory classes were held on schedule, twice a week, and were well-organized. A few classes before the exam, we just practiced solving the exam questions and reviewing our mistakes. Attendance at theory classes was optional - you could attend or pay and study on your own. Driving lessons started three weeks later and ended just before the exam at the traffic police. The instructor is the key person for any future driver. I was lucky to have a good one. He taught me seriously, and classes were never cancelled or rescheduled. We covered all the required hours on schedule. Of course, it's just a small part of the learning process, and you can't learn to drive in such a short time. Everything was well-organized and on schedule, which suited me just fine. I kept track of my progress in a logbook. When I signed the contract, the administrator warned me that the driving schedule would be tailored to my needs. Given my work schedule, that was a huge plus. In our group, students would share their experiences with their instructors, who often cancelled or rescheduled classes and didn't cover the required hours. They also mentioned 'backups' - I'm not sure what that means. But I didn't hear any negative comments about the school's instructors. The school on Vasilevsky Island has two practice areas, and we used them a lot to practice our skills. When I finished my classes, one of the areas was closed. The school exam went smoothly - we took the theory test on paper, practiced on the practice area, and drove in the city. The atmosphere was friendly, but I was nervous. On the day of the exam at the traffic police, the school's administrator accompanied us. They even offered to rent a bus to avoid waiting for hours on the street. We were envied by other students from other driving schools who had to wait for hours. The procedure for taking the driving exam on Revolution Street in St. Petersburg is a whole different story - I've been through it, and I'm not even going to mention it. We arrived at 8 am, and the theory test started around 11 am. The logical conclusion of any driving school is getting your driver's license. From our group of around 20 people, 5 of us passed the exam on our first try (which is about 25%). Everyone passed the theory test, but only 9 people passed the driving test. After each exam at the traffic police, the driving school posts photos of happy license holders on their website. The number 5 is pretty stable for the past year. Everyone knows that getting your license on the first try requires a lot of effort. My instructor never offered any specific advice or guidance, and I had to ask him directly about my chances of passing the exam on my first try. He just said 'don't mess it up, and everything will be okay.' It was hard for me to stay positive, knowing that I wouldn't pass the exam on my first try. My goal was to pass the theory test and try to pass the driving test. But on the day of the exam, I definitely had a few gray hairs. In the end, I passed all the stages, successfully passed the theory test, and failed the driving test. After failing the exam, I picked up my documents from the driving school. They didn't ask any questions, just handed me a complete package for retaking the exam. You can retake the exam with your driving school at an additional cost - they'll include you in the next available group and provide an instructor's car. I don't know the exact cost, as I retook the exam without the school. After all, the driving school isn't meant to get you your license, but to teach you how to drive.