Passed IAM test
Discussion
So I took my IAM test last night. I found the examiner to be much less picky than the Observers, so I used mainly fixed input steering (my car has a reasonably fast rack), used full acceleration off roundabouts at times, which was nice.
The result was a F1RST, and 1s in all categories apart from commentary, so chuffed with the result!
The result was a F1RST, and 1s in all categories apart from commentary, so chuffed with the result!
Congrats! That's promising to hear about the examiner, I've got mine on Monday so hope to get a good one too!
How did you gauge that he was less picky? When I was at the HPC young drivers day a few weeks ago they said I was moving my hands too much (as per my observers guidance), and I have since been concentrating on fixed grip for country lanes and keeping the pull push for slower corners and maneuvering. I was planning on following the observers guidance on test but not so sure now....
How did you gauge that he was less picky? When I was at the HPC young drivers day a few weeks ago they said I was moving my hands too much (as per my observers guidance), and I have since been concentrating on fixed grip for country lanes and keeping the pull push for slower corners and maneuvering. I was planning on following the observers guidance on test but not so sure now....
IcedKiwi said:
Congrats! That's promising to hear about the examiner, I've got mine on Monday so hope to get a good one too!
How did you gauge that he was less picky?
One of my observers was a die hard pull pusher, and said that my fixed input steering would make me come unstuck if I had to apply more lock (cross my hands). I reasoned that I use pull push for tighter corners, and have they ever seen me cross my hands? I was then assured that the examiner would be looking for pull push everywhere, and it was at my own risk if I did fixed input steering beyond 12 o'clock.How did you gauge that he was less picky?
So I said the examiner I use fixed input steering, and he very quickly said that was fine, so I think he was more interested on smoothness and accuracy. So I'd say ask the examiner on the day.
james_gt3rs said:
So I took my IAM test last night. I found the examiner to be much less picky than the Observers, so I used mainly fixed input steering (my car has a reasonably fast rack), used full acceleration off roundabouts at times, which was nice.
The result was a F1RST, and 1s in all categories apart from commentary, so chuffed with the result!
VERY WELL DONEThe result was a F1RST, and 1s in all categories apart from commentary, so chuffed with the result!
Of course the examiners are less pedantic than us observers as its our job to make you better than the examiner expects
@james_gt3rs - Many congratulations on passing your IAM test, and as has been said above, look on this as the start of your AD career - there's still so much to learn!
@IcedKiwi - I would just counsel a word of caution on fixed grip. Certainly our local (Bristol) area examiners are quite hot on pull-push and will mark down fixed input. You might want to clarify this with your particular examiner in the pre-test briefing. Good luck for Monday!
@IcedKiwi - I would just counsel a word of caution on fixed grip. Certainly our local (Bristol) area examiners are quite hot on pull-push and will mark down fixed input. You might want to clarify this with your particular examiner in the pre-test briefing. Good luck for Monday!
Well done and welcome to the world of F1rst!
The only reason I've found for observers threatening associates being marked down for anything but PP, is because they are totally incapable of doing or saying anything that isn't written in one book, even though it is written in 'the book'. I've met and asked the same question of four examiners and all said about the same as yours.
1. Never stop asking why questions of anyone offering you AD advice or tuition. If they understand what they're saying, they'll be able to easily explain it in a straightforward way.
2. Always plan your next move in AD progression.
3. Buy Advanced & Performance Driving by Reg Local aka R_U_Local because it's enlightening.
4. Look into taking the RoADAR test or the HPC half dayer with one of their gatekeepers, as if you pass that, you'll get onto the two day HPC entry course.
The only reason I've found for observers threatening associates being marked down for anything but PP, is because they are totally incapable of doing or saying anything that isn't written in one book, even though it is written in 'the book'. I've met and asked the same question of four examiners and all said about the same as yours.
1. Never stop asking why questions of anyone offering you AD advice or tuition. If they understand what they're saying, they'll be able to easily explain it in a straightforward way.
2. Always plan your next move in AD progression.
3. Buy Advanced & Performance Driving by Reg Local aka R_U_Local because it's enlightening.
4. Look into taking the RoADAR test or the HPC half dayer with one of their gatekeepers, as if you pass that, you'll get onto the two day HPC entry course.
9xxNick said:
Then the observer hasn't thought through that proposition properly.
+1. I took an assessment drive the other week, ahead of going for IAM masters, and we had a long discussion/argument about fixed, rotational & push-pull steering. I really do give up on the IAM at times…Technomad said:
+1. I took an assessment drive the other week, ahead of going for IAM masters, and we had a long discussion/argument about fixed, rotational & push-pull steering. I really do give up on the IAM at times…
Reading between the lines here, I'm guessing that the assessor was advising that you do more PP and less fixed-grip.Until the IAM adopts an assessment scheme based on outputs rather than inputs (and I believe it's coming), you'll need to decide whether the benefits of the good stuff (observation, anticipation, planning) make it worth wading through the stuff that you'll drop the second you've passed.
On the other hand, if you're driving at Masters level then it might be time to consider http://www.high-performance-course.com - where you're likely to find a more enlightened attitude to it all.
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