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Gearing Up's Skills Test
The Skills Test on Sunday afternoon assesses the level of competence you've
achieved in the skills you have been practising throughout the
Gearing Up course. Our test replaces the ministry road test you would take at the licensing centre to get your
M2 license. If you pass our
test you don't have to take theirs. Our test is more thorough (i.e.
somewhat harder) than the ministry test, which is why you'll get an
insurance discount from many insurers for passing our test, but not for
the Ministry's.
We have some good news and some bad news about the test. The bad news is, we're not going to describe the test to you. Not here, and not in advance on your teaching weekend. This isn't because the test contains tricks or surprises (it doesn't), but because we don't teach you to pass the test - we teach you to ride properly; the test simply evaluates whether we have achieved that goal. So, we won't be responding to "is this on the test?" questions over the weekend. We'd like you to think anything we teach is important. 
The good news is, there is nothing on the test that you won't have
practised on the weekend. And your instructor will have you practising each skill at least at, and usually above, the level of difficulty on the test.
The test is a series of stations, each of which tests one or more of the skills you have learned. The entire test takes about ninety minutes. However, you will be waiting for most of this time, and actually riding for evaluation for about ten or fifteen minutes. Your course fee entitles you to take the test twice during the calendar year, with your instructor's approval, so if you don't pass you can try again. Many people who don't pass the first time do pass the second time. Either they were tired or nervous, or just made a mistake that could be corrected with more practice. A week or two of rest plus practice on their specific weak point is all they need. You can even decide to postpone your first test should, for example, you find yourself feeling ill on Sunday afternoon. We would prefer you not do this, however, and will encourage you to take the test if we think you are ready. Note that we do, occasionaly, have students who are simply incapable of mastering the basic skills necessary to operate a motorcycle safely. For this reason, your instructor, after consulting with the weekend coordinator, has the right to deny you access to the test if you have not mastered the skills necessary to take it safely. What Happens We try to have all instruction finished about a half-hour before the test so you have time for a rest.  At the designated testing time, the group of students will gather on the testing site and the weekend co-ordinator will walk you through the test. You will visit each station, have the exact requirements explained to you, and see one of the instructors demonstrate the required technique and speed on a bike. In effect, you will watch an instructor take the test. There is also plenty of time for questions; we want to be sure you understand exactly what is required.
Next you will re-group with your instructor and partners. You will take
the test with your group, station-by-station. You will wait for your group's
turn, then do station one together, followed by station two, etc. When you're
done, you'll wait until all the other groups are finished too. Your instructor
will be with you, together with another instructor who will be doing the
official recording. Once the test begins, however, your instructor can't
coach you - they can only ensure you know exactly
what you are expected to do.
 Some of the events on the test involve you reacting to a signal. Your instructor will be giving you the signal, and using the same signal that you have been
practising during the course. There are no tricks or surprises.
The test is scored on a demerit system. You start with a score of zero and accumulate points for errors. You will be told immediately if you accumulate too many points. Demerit points are awarded for technical errors such as going outside a marked path or putting your foot down. Some events require flawless technique (e.g. precision stopping) while others simulate emergencies, with some loss of elegance permitted. Also, some events are timed or measured and demerit points are awarded for taking too much time or distance to execute a required manoeuvre. One other item is tested: you are not allowed to crash. Crashing indicates a loss of control and a potential safety problem, so if you crash you have failed the test and are done. After the Test After the test, an instructor will go over your results with you individually. This will help you understand what to practice if you didn't pass and, even if you pass, should guide your future practice. If you pass the test, you will line up to get your official paperwork signed. (It's at this point where you must have your Ministry M1 license papers with you.) If you don't pass, you're done. You contact the OSC office to arrange a re-test if you wish to take it, which we generally recommend. The retest is not automatic - your instructor must approve it, and you must register with the office. If you are taking a retest, you will schedule it on another course weekend - you cannot try the test again on the same day as your first attempt. On that weekend, you can come at lunch time on Sunday, during the lunch break, and you will be assigned a bike and an instructor so you can practice. (This practice visit is optional but recommended.) Then you will join the other students for the skills test on Sunday afternoon. Some General Advice While we can't give you specific instructions on how to pass the test, we do offer some general advice based on observing thousands of students.
Final Words Don't panic. Again, there is nothing on the test that you haven't practised all weekend, at or above the required level of difficulty. There are no tricks. And if you do happen to make an error, you get another chance if your instructor feels you have the skills to attempt it safely. Relax and enjoy the chance to demonstrate your acquired skills. |
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Keep going.
If you make a mistake, recover and keep going. You will
accumulate a few points for the mistake but, especially in the early
stages of the test, probably not enough to fail. If you react to the
mistake by stopping, you will also be accumulating time penalty points
and making the situation much worse.
