My Wild Ride to Getting My Driver's License

Hello everyone!

I'm finally sharing my epic story of getting my driver's license.

It all started with buying a car, which coincidentally had the right price and met my requirements! We bought it with the intention of getting my license later. Meanwhile, my father-in-law was driving it, and I decided to go for it. I chose the driving school based on good reviews and its proximity to my home. Atlant-M was the most expensive option, but the reviews were great. I made up my mind! I passed the medical checkup and off I went.

Where it all began.

2015.

THEORY. 170 hours.

We studied on weekends, from 9 am to 3 pm. The school was located on Yanovsky Street.

On the first lesson, we were given a CD with tests and a book on traffic rules.

I found the theory lessons really interesting, with a lecturer who used examples, scared us, and even answered the most ridiculous questions. Our group was friendly, and we organized a community on social media to share lectures for those who missed a lesson and discuss study topics.

I missed a few lessons while I was in the hospital. I studied the material myself and asked the teacher if I had any questions.

We had regular tests on specific topics. You had to read and memorize the notes and prepare for the tests. There were 40 questions on the computer and 20 on paper. The paper tests were old and worn out, and it was hard to read some of the drawings. You were allowed one mistake on the computer and one on the paper.

If you didn't pass, you could come back for a retake at 8 am on the next weekend. Retakes were free at the time.

I had some 'tails' but managed to pass them all at once when I decided to take a GABA supplement for memory.

The first control, in the form of a computer test, was taken after closing the first four exams. There were 40 questions, and you could make one mistake.

The second control was taken after all the exams. The conditions were the same.

The theory exam! This was 60 questions with no mistakes allowed. Once you passed it, you could take the internal exam. I passed it on my third attempt, making just one mistake...

The internal exam consisted of 30 questions. I missed it due to illness and took it in the office of the school's management. I passed it without any mistakes!

The theory lessons were engaging, of high quality, and had such great examples that they stuck in my memory forever.

Memorization!

If the stick looks into your mouth, make a right turn.
If it looks to the left, drive like a queen.
If it's behind you, don't get upset and stay still.Part two. 2016.

PRACTICE. 50 HOURS.

40 hours in the city, 10 on the racing track.

I'll start with the fact that I'd never driven a car before! I was a complete zero when it came to driving, so I chose this driving school!

CITY.

My first lesson was a total shock! It started with an hour of lectures, where they explained the basics, and then we headed out to the city for a 20-minute drive. Yeah, I was under the instructor's supervision, but for the most part, they were in control. I was a nervous wreck for a week, and I spent the whole day in a state of stress... I just couldn't wrap my head around how to simultaneously shift gears, look at the road, signs, traffic lights, and other cars. It was a lot to take in.

I decided to put my training on hold until spring because I just couldn't handle the stress.

By the spring of 2016, I had recovered, and I decided to resume my training.

The cars weren't new, of course, but they were quietly updated to similar models. I had to drive the old ones.

And then there were these:

The instructor was a big mistake on my part. I thought they were all the same, but nope. At first, the city drives were okay, but the more I went, the more I realized something was off! We just cruised around the city, and in two hours of lessons, I made three turns, got a ton of criticism, and even heard that women belong in the kitchen... Let's just say it was a shock! The instructor's job is to teach someone from scratch, and that's exactly what I got. The turning point in our interaction was one of our last city drives, when the instructor's psychological vampirism went beyond all limits. I came home broken, my hands were shaking, and I spent the whole weekend in bed. On Monday, I asked the management for a replacement, and they accommodated me.

I went on a paid lesson with a new instructor for an hour, and he explained everything, drew the intersections, and walked me through how to navigate them. We even drove through all those intersections. At the end of the lesson, he even asked if I was okay because I was shaking from habit... He told me that I'd get the hang of it!

I learned a lot from the new instructor, and I had to relearn and correct the misunderstandings of his predecessor. It was a breeze for him.

DRIVING SCHOOL.

Na Semashko, driving school of the GAI.

The driving school lessons take place at the end of the training. It's 10 hours long. We learn to navigate the ramp, diagonal, and garage.

The cars are just puffing away on the ramp! For me, it was the most terrifying experience.

I picked up the diagonal quickly.

The garage was tough, though. I had to take the car from a paid instructor, and he explained it to me again, his way, and left me to struggle with it. After an hour, I got it!

THE THEORY EXAM.

THEORY.

You'll need the materials you got at the beginning of your training. You can also buy an additional disk, but mine malfunctioned and stopped working.

I took the theory exam a few months after my training, and I only studied using the "New Turn" disk and questions from the traffic rules website. I just had to review the material.

The instructor went over everything one more time before the exam.

I had 10 questions on the computer, and I was allowed one mistake. But I aced it without any errors.

DRIVING SCHOOL.

I paid the price for the machine.

I headed back to it as soon as I finished my hour.

There are two elements to choose from for the receiver.

Whoa! This isn't the kind of ramp we learned on! We've got a whole runway right in front of us, five meters long! And you need to figure out how to get onto it. The slope itself is already a challenge.

Attempt number one.

I had to take a different car because the one I was trained on was sent to the city. I had to sit in another one. The steering wheel was really easy to turn, not like my little machine. I veered off to the side of the slope and was sent home due to an emergency situation.

I decided to take the next exam with a paid instructor, but he was on vacation! My classmates recommended a guy with a diesel-powered car. I decided to practice, and we went to a completely different racing track, where you can get onto the slope from any angle. The Opel is tiny, but it gets up the slope on one gear, without gas! Minimal effort required.

Options for the retest location:

Entering the ramp:

The ramp and the diagonal, the ones that are closer.

Attempt number two.

I failed my second attempt on the Opel due to my own nervousness! My foot was shaking on the clutch... So much so that I couldn't control it.

Attempt number three.

Once again, after a week, we practiced on the racing track, and I went for the retest!

I barely shook my foot. I did the ramp perfectly, and the garage on my second try. The garage on the retest has some different features than the one we learned on, but my second attempt saved me.

THE CITY.

You can buy a disc that simulates driving. But considering my topographical ignorance, it didn't help me at all!

I decided to head to the city three weeks later, just as my paid instructor got back from vacation. We drove for eight hours on the GAI routes. You could say he pounded some sense into me, showing me the most challenging parts of the routes! He was just as sneaky as the examiners, catching me on the tough spots. I wasn't shaking behind the wheel anymore, and he'd tell me that I'd do great and that I was awesome every time! The psychological mindset is also super important here. He recommended taking the same Opel that we used on the racing track.

I was ready to win! I got into the driver's seat first. My trusty sponsor, Adaptol. As soon as the receiver told me to turn right, all my doubts about not passing disappeared. I drove smoothly and stopped at the designated stop (with the caveat that we were taught to do so).

I PASSED! YAY!

Getting a driver's license in Minsk is super tough, and many people study here, but they take the exam in the region. 80% of people fail on their first try! And sometimes even 85! In the city, you're only allowed three minor mistakes, whether it's a turn or a gear shift. They catch you on the tough spots.

Advice for students. Want to pass on your first try?

1 Don't stop there! Most instructors will prep you for the exam the old-school way, and everyone's got their own take on the road.

2 Study the routes from the DMV. Ask your instructor to show you the toughest parts!

3 Stopping is key. I saw a lot of people fail the exam right there at the stop signs! My instructor did a great job teaching me that one.

4 Not happy with your instructor? Switch!

5 The car. Some people can handle any car, but I only felt confident in the Opel. Choose a car that feels natural to you.

6 Stay calm. I've seen people flunk the exam before they even got five feet down the road! Take some Adapto, and calm down. Make a 'brick face'! The examiners hate seeing scared eyes in the headlights.

7 Comfortable shoes. You need shoes with a thin sole to feel the right moment. I bought my first pair of sneakers for practice, and I took the exam barefoot – lucky it was summer! Every time I managed to pass, I was barefoot. The examiners must have loved seeing my face

8 Pay attention and know your stuff!

####################### FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE DRIVING SCHOOL ####################

I was thoroughly prepared for the theory part – no complaints there! I remembered everything, even months after the course. The instructor's teaching style was engaging, and the real-life examples stuck with me.

Unfortunately, the practical part didn't go so well for me... I know others had it better.

The course fee was steep.

Out of our group of twenty, only two people passed on the first try. I've heard similar stories from other driving schools.

Would I recommend it? I wouldn't want to go through that again, unless it's just for the theory. If you get a good instructor, you're golden.

I'd give it a thumbs down, because my instructor was the most expensive one I've ever had. Now, whenever I see the yellow car, I react like this: