It has been way too long since I posted anything on the blog. Thus, thought I should revive it with a little post about my humble achievement recently. Actually, a lot of things have happened during the course of the past few years but maybe I'll save that for another blog post.
Today, i want to focus on the topic of getting a license. I realised that there has not been that many posts or forums out there specifically giving people a heads up on every single detail about what to do. Most are just personal experiences and emotions. I want to share my own personal experience too but also keep things as informative as possible in the hopes of helping anyone out there who is totally lost and clueless from the very beginning as I once was. I'll try to remember as much as i can.
1. Choosing between a Private or School course
The first thing you need to do is to figure out which mode you are most comfortable with. If you have any connections with private instructors who is known to give great driving lessons, then by all means go for it. I heard they are cheaper anyway. However, I chose school because:
- I did not know (or rather, did not bother to find) anyone who could give private lessons
- BBDC was really convenient from my house. 187 directly gets me to the school from my house's bus stop. There are other busses too, namely: 188, 945, 985. There is also a free shuttle bus service from Bukit Gombak MRT station. I have never taken the shuttle bus before, but that huge bus seriously stops right smack at the circuit inside BBDC.
- The school provides a really structured format of learning. You have to take 2 basic theory, 2 final theory lessons, and some practice and evaluation lessons before the BTT and FTT. For practical, you have to book at least 24 lessons (each of them teaching you something specific) before you get evaluated to see if you are okay enough for the TP test. You will know where you are and what you should do during the next lesson.
It's your own preference i suppose. I prefer the structured approach.
2. Enrol yourself
method a)
Online pre enrolment: You can easily go to the website and pre-enrol yourself online using the form. Fill up your particulars as instructed and make a deposit via your credit card. Thereafter, I think you should print out the form after you have completed everything and head your way to the centre to confirm your enrolment.
PROS of method a)
- You can fill up the form at any time you want, at your own pace. This is convenient if you happen to not be available during the information counter's opening hours.
- You can pay via credit card and not have to trouble yourself with fumbling with your money on the day itself.
- Your enrolment process at the centre will be relatively quicker. They will just check your particulars and give you the bag full of books and stuff.
CONS of method a)
- You still need to go down to the centre anyway.
- You might wrongly fill in your particulars online if you don't have another pair of eyes to check them for you (which you can rectify when you physically go to the centre)
- Might not be ideal if you don't have a credit card in the first place
method b)
Just go down to the centre, head to the information counter and tell the counter lady that you would like to enrol for driving course. They will ask if you want private or school (thus, the first step should be considered). Thereafter, she will give you a queue number and you will fill up the form while waiting for your queue number to be called. You will then go to the respective booth when your queue number is called. The friendly staff will assist you and go through the entire course structure with you.
PROS of method b)
- It's just a one-step process from start to finish when you head to the centre directly. The staff are really friendly and helpful.
CONS of method b)
- It might not be the ideal time for you to go there as it might clash with your own working hours. Thus, best to go on a weekends. but..
- the waiting time might be long.
After you have been officially enrolled, you will walk out of that centre with a cute paper bag filled with all the reading materials for your theory and practical lessons. Hooray! The staff would have equipped you with the BBDC member login (your IC and password). With that, you can start booking your theory lessons via the online portal.
3. Theory Lessons and Practices
a) Theory lessons:
My advice would be to just book all the theory lessons in one sitting, just so that you can get it done and over with. Each lesson is 1hr 40 mins (a lot of times, it would end pretty fast) so if you have about 3 hours 20 minutes to spare each day, you will be done with your theory lessons in 2 days. Remember to bring your IC during every lesson because they will need to scan your IC to ensure that you have attended.
Do pay attention during the theory lessons though because sometimes the instructors will give you "exam questions" or tips that you should look out for. They would even ask you to take out your book and bookmark or highlight a certain page which will usually come out during the tests. Do note them.
b) Theory practice:
After your lessons, book a couple of theory practice lessons before you go book your theory evaluations. These are just a bunch of multiple choice questions. You have to sit in a class which has a bunch of monitors on the desks (classroom 7 if I am not wrong?), log in and tap on the screen to choose the right answer. I usually try to sit at the back of the class because then, no one would see me make stupid mistakes. Either the screen is big, or i am very self conscious. Haha. If I remember correctly, go up to level 2 and turn right to classroom 7. You'll see a bunch of people chilling with their theory books, waiting for the prior slot to be over so they can enter and start doing their practice.
Best would be to book 2 practice lessons when you are free and one more practice slot RIGHT BEFORE your evaluation. That would keep your memory super fresh for you to pass your evaluation in order to be eligible to book for BTT/FTT. During your practice lessons, answer as many questions as you can (they have about 10 booklets full of questions if I remember). Try to learn from the mistakes and remember the right answers. It doesn't matter if you fail the practice because what matters are the evaluations and tests. So try to remember what were the correct answers (they are usually kinda easy and repeated so no worries!)
c) Theory tests:
As with the evaluations, try to book some practice slots and one slot RIGHT BEFORE the test. I didn't manage to do that though, because my test timing was right after work. Nevertheless, I thankfully managed to pass pretty well so yeah, the practice lessons (even after you pass evaluation) really helps.
*MILESTONE*
You passed your theory! Now on to the real deal. Practical lessons!
Unfortunately, this post seems a little long now. I will leave the practical portion to part 2. Stay tuned~
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