I understand your point ORC but there’s no justification for swearing at someone who is your customer. If a trainee is that incompatible for a trainer then the trainer should have asked his office to swap students with a different trainer.
ORC:
By coincidence I was doing my cat C test today at Guilford, and passed first time with 4 minor faults.I was with another instructor from the same firm who knows his stuff and clearly did a good job getting me ready for the test, but his training style and my learning style were not a good mix. He struggled to get me ready in the time available, and I know I frustrated the hell out of the poor guy because I was asking questions when he was trying to focus on the foundations of driving skills. When I explained why I was doing what I was doing, I suspect he perceived this as arguing with him when I was merely letting him know why - I am not in a position to argue with someone who has all the experience and qualifications.
Were you in the Axor that finished around 12:30, as I was waiting, with the instructor on crutches?
IndigoJo:
Were you in the Axor that finished around 12:30, as I was waiting, with the instructor on crutches?
No, I was in the 8am early bird slot…
Sounds like you had a bad time.
But on the swearing point dont think thats an issue. I passed my ce today first time with a feared strict examiner. My trainer was old skool. Told it how it is and blunt. Said if your [zb] ill tell you. No point kissing your ■■■ and praising you as youll get complacent. He was hard on me the whole time. But it drilled it in and i passed. Test felt easy as went great. I put it down to his teaching. During breaks and of lesson he was relaxed. Had a laugh an decent.
I passed c+e with EP in march, and can recommend them 100%, had an instructor called John, very calm which in turn makes you calm and comfortable, and tells it like it is. Good luck with whoever you choose to go with and the re test.
Without question, EP is a very good training provider.
Pete 
Incidentally, back to the original question of slow driving…
One of my minor faults was driving too fast in a narrowed section of road which I admitted to the examiner with hindsight felt a bit “adventurous” at the time. I was also feeling intimidated by warnings of hesitancy judgements during training. It is clear, though, that the examiner expected to see greater caution than I displayed in the circumstances.
I am a novice, but I suspect there is a much greater chance of being faulted for driving too fast than for driving too slow in an area where there may be any doubt.
I am a novice, but I suspect there is a much greater chance of being faulted for driving too fast than for driving too slow in an area where there may be any doubt.
You suspect correctly. Always better to get a minor mark for hesitation or normal progress than a serious for rushing about. But we must keep the balance and be very aware that, where it is safe to do so, the examiner is expecting to see the speed limit achieved.
My normal saying is “we drive as fast as we can - all the time - safely and legally”. That’s worked for many years and aint about to change anytime soon!
Generally speaking, in and around hazards, it’s difficult to get marked for hesitation/progress. But, where the road is clear and open, we need to be getting on with it. ie. gently into hazards and then push on with it having dealt with it.
Pete
Peter Smythe:
Without question, EP is a very good training provider.Pete
Just been in contact with them (they called me on a Sunday afternoon!) and sadly they don’t do 1:1 tuition.
Does anyone have anything to say about Group One, at Loxwood? I’ve seen their website but the trucks are Mercs of the same vintage as JC’s, and Ategos and their stiff gearsticks are a pet hate of mine.
Matt
IndigoJo:
Peter Smythe:
Without question, EP is a very good training provider.Pete
Just been in contact with them (they called me on a Sunday afternoon!) and sadly they don’t do 1:1 tuition.
Does anyone have anything to say about Group One, at Loxwood? I’ve seen their website but the trucks are Mercs of the same vintage as JC’s, and Ategos and their stiff gearsticks are a pet hate of mine.
Matt
They aren’t all stiff, the JC atego I used was fine. Wouldn’t let that put you off.
Give lancing driver training a call. He uses a daf cf unit and trailer and a very good rep. It might be worth the extra 30 mins from Loxwood and the tests will be at Lancing where there’s less traffic.