Conclusion and final remarks


I definitely want to thank 

1)My family for supporting me all the way, especially my dad for driving me to BBDC and back home when his schedule allowed him to so that I could avoid the 1.5h+ long travelling time and bad weather.

2) Very dedicated instructors (both from my group G8030 and other groups when I go for try sell lessons)! Their commitment and effort in helping me improve and become a safer, more proficient driver is really commendable. Most of them are friendly and are happy to help with my doubts. Tbh I made a lot of mistakes and sometimes they are really silly and unwarranted 🥲but they never gave up on me. I could describe my experience with every instructor if I wanted to but that would be weird so I'll skip that, but....to my tough and sometimes harsh instructors thank you for being strict at the right times so that I will keep the important things in mind and learn well from my mistakes....to my friendly and approachable instructors thanks for breaking the ice and making lessons more fun than stressful....I will always remember the time at BBDC and all the memories I've made!

3)SW: it's cool how after A levels we both thought of learning driving at BBDC, what a ride it has been! It's nice to be able to meet up for meals before lessons, discuss the technical aspects of driving, "gossip" about our instructors (and the funny moments LOL) and joke about how our eyes and limbs are ded tired sometimes ... but then compared to our manual car friends, we actually have it easier 😅 

Others who indirectly supported or helped me along the way. I read a lot of blogs about others' driving experience and got some tips so yay, thank you! 


Some tips/pointers for those intending to enrol for BBDC's 3A course

  • TPDS: Quickly finish 3 practical lessons then book the first traffic police driving simulator (TPDS). As of December 2019, TP has made it mandatory to attend 3 TPDS modules and the waiting time is very long.
  • Practical lessons: Its common to see that the earliest practical lesson is 2-3 months later. But its not impossible to get earlier slots as early as the same day or next day, pick a time of the day and keep refreshing continuously, trysell slots will definitely pop up. I usually check at 9am-11am and in the afternoons around 2pm + but note that its not a guarantee that you will find the slot you want. For me, I have been successful in getting the slot I want 99% of the time. You can still try those time slots I mentioned if you have a very busy schedule and have less free time to camp! *Reminder that sessions 1,4,6,8 are the non peak hour sessions on weekdays. Non peak hour sessions are cheaper so you can save some money by opting for those sessions. *Average number of lessons needed for 3A is around 20-25, can be up to 30 if you choose to do revision lessons. Pace your lessons such that you have consistent practice right up to your test, note that completing TPDS is a must before the test can be booked.
  • Final theory lessons, evaluation and FTT: Where possible, get those out of the way ASAP. FTT has a validity period of 2 years which is long enough (more than enough time to finish lessons and book the practical test) so its ok to complete it early. Once you finish the final theory portion you dont have to worry about it anymore and can fully focus on the practical lessons and TPDS. 
  • TP practical test: Best sessions are 3,4 and 7 according to my instructor but if that is not viable for some reason, then just avoid the first two and last two sessions and weekend sessions. A good final advice for TP test is to keep calm and drive safe the whole time and that means from the time you exit the parking lot until you switch off the engine. Ive heard stories where people let down their guard when returning to the driving centre and almost failed at the last moment!

Question: Why learn driving? Is the cost worth it?

The cost of getting 3/3A license in Singapore is huge no doubt but driving is a very useful skill that is good to pick up even if you don't have a car. You never know when you need to drive and definitely don't want to be scrambling to learn driving when that time comes! That said, if you want to save costs, 1)book the non-peak sessions as earlier mentioned 2)if you're a fast learner, can try asking if the instructor can allow you to complete more subjects in one lesson so that you don't have to attend so many lessons (I've never requested that but heard that some people do this) 3)make sure you're ready before booking the practical test, you don't want to rush into it when you're not prepared then end up having to spend more money to retake, personally the revision lessons allowed me to obtain very useful feedback so I recommend to go for as many revision lessons as you feel necessary.

Finally, if you do pass your practical test, remember to put the p-plate before driving and always keep this in mind: The only right of way you have is the right of way others give you. All the best and drive safe! :)





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