DSA Theory Test

I took my motorcycle theory test today. This is a computer based test that involves answering multiple choice theory questions and an interactive hazard perception test.

I passed my driving test when I was 17, long before this separate theory test came into existence. As best I can recall, the theory test was the examiner asking a handful of questions at the end of the test just before announcing whether you'd passed or failed. Thankfully I had no problems with that one.

So I turned up first thing this morning to take the test at a Pearson Vue testing centre. I took my Cisco CCNA a few months back, albeit at a different centre, and it felt exactly the same. It's just a small room with a load of computer terminals.

Most of the people in there were taking some type of IT testing. What a joke that was. I overheard the administrator explaining they had to use a text editor, a spreadsheet and a web browser. Unbelievable. I wonder if these same people had training to eat and breathe by themselves. There was one nervous lad in after me, looked about 15, I guess to take his car theory test.

If it helps anyone else, I'll describe the two parts.

Question Part.
No problems really. I'd seen pretty much all the questions before from self studying using the official DSA Biker Pack questions CDROM.
I did stupidly get one question wrong and I have a good suspicion which one it was.
The touch screen CRT works well, but the seating position just feels wrong and my arm ached after a few questions... gave up and used the mouse instead.

Hazard Perception Part.
What a stupid idea this it.
I know everyone classes themselves as a good driver (rider), but after many years of driving and having pre-empted many hazards, I'm certainly reasonable at spotting them, i.e. I'm not a newbie by any means. Having never taken advanced training (IAM), I'm also not arrogant enough to say I'm an expert though.

However, even now I'm still not sure when I was supposed to click, how many times to click for the same hazard, whether to ignore other hazards, whether road signs or other road clues were potential hazards, etc.

I got a reasonable score overall, but on a couple I scored pretty badly. In every clip I spotted the hazards early and certainly didn't miss any. The parked van driver opening the door on a passing cyclist was a good one - although I'd already clicked when the cyclist pulled into my path to overtake the van.

Here's the secret to my (partial) success anyway...
Click when you first see the hazard. Most are obvious, the horse on the bend, the car starting to back out, ambulance appearing.
Click again when the hazard occurs, the horse steps into the road, the car backs into your path, the ambulance pulls out in front of year.
Click yet again for good measure when you've taken avoiding action, i.e. slowed down, moved over, stopped, whatever.

So typically there would usually be at least 1 to 3 seconds between clicks.

I'd guess the system is only looking for 1 or 2 of the above clicks, but the above seemed to satisfy the system without triggering the "too many clicks" screen.

Anyway, I've done it now. That gives me a couple of years to pass my bike test!