Hi everyone! I decided to write this post on Bukit Batok Driving Center’s driving lessons as there are few blog posts about it. Hopefully, this post will be helpful for you. Do join the BBDC Car Learners 3/3A telegram group if you haven’t as you can ask any questions on there regarding driving and test.
1. The overall journey
The class 3/3A journey is pretty tedious as there are many stages to clear before obtaining the license. For other classes, you have to check out BBDC’s website.
2. Enrollment and administrative things
There are two ways to enrol in the course. Either you head to the centre or register online. I registered online thinking it would be more convenient without the need to head to the centre. However, I was wrong. Even when you register online, you have to head to the centre within two weeks after you register for an eyesight test, face-to-face 15-minute briefing, and photo-taking for your driving license.
3. Basic Theory
The basic theory stage requires us to attend 2 compulsory lessons over Zoom. You can book the lessons via the BBDC website. Remember if there is a date that you are free to attend the lesson, book the lesson at least 2 weeks in advance. There are limited slots in each session. Once you go into the portal, you will see there are usually no slots until 2 weeks later. Once you register for the lesson, you will receive an SMS one day before the lesson with details of the Zoom session such as the ID and password.
Once you clear the lessons, you can book the basic theory practice which lasts 40 minutes. The basic theory practice will give you 4 booklets which consist of questions that may come out for the basic theory evaluation/test. Basically, basic theory practice = exam dump. There are a total of 264 questions. Maybe when you read this post, the number of questions has increased. I made the mistake of booking only 1 session and attempted the evaluation immediately. I was only able to finish 220/264 questions during the first practice session. Several questions I did not try, turned up in the evaluation causing me to fail with a score of 42/50. Therefore, try to book two practice sessions before attempting the evaluation unless you are sure you can finish/memorize all 264 questions in one session before going for the evaluation. Before going for the practice session, do study this traffic police PDF which practice/evaluation/test extract questions from this PDF. I only stumbled across this useful PDF when on my way to my second practice/evaluation session.
Before going for the basic theory test (BTT), you have to pass the evaluation before the system allows you to book BTT. Try to schedule your evaluation immediately after your practice so that the answers to the questions will be fresh in your memory. The evaluation lasted 40 minutes as well. However, if you remember/know the answer, it should only take you around 5 minutes to finish it. You need to get at least 90% to pass the evaluation which is at least scoring 45/50 marks. Each question is worth 1 mark. I got 48/50 on my second attempt.
Once you pass your evaluation, book your BTT immediately. There are only a few sessions per month if I am not wrong. The closest available session I was able to book after my evaluation was 3 weeks later. Remember to book a practice session an hour before your BTT to recap before the exam. (Bragging) I got full marks for my BTT.
4. Practical lessons
4.1 PDL and booking of lessons
Once you pass your BTT, you can apply for your Provisional Driving License (PDL) from the traffic police website. Remember to screenshot your PDL. You will need to show your PDL along with your IC to your instructor before every lesson.
Quickly book your practical lessons as usually the next available slots are at least 4 months later. You can try to camp for slots given up by others if you do not want to wait. Usually, slots are given up between 9am to 12pm. Try to book at least 3 to 4 lessons per day if you are free to rush. You are not allowed to book back-to-back lessons. There must be at least a 2-hour’ break before each lesson. I usually will go to the 3rd floor to nap in the empty seats while waiting for the next lesson.
For practical lessons, you are assigned to a fixed group/pool of instructors until you pass your TP test and get your license. You can also pay more to get a fixed instructor if you prefer to be taught by the instructor. However, it is hard to get slots for a fixed instructor. Therefore, it is recommended to just go for the non-fixed instructor option. All the instructors have access to the remarks given by the previous instructors regarding your driving to keep track of your progress. Therefore, you don’t have to worry.
4.2 Lesson tips
Note that your lessons can be found in the practical handbook from the BBDC website after logging in. Always look at the handbook before your lessons to prepare for it so that for each lesson, you can clear more chapters if you are good.
Usually, manual learners take between 20-25 lessons before being able to book the TP test while auto drivers take between 16-20 lessons. I took manual lessons which took me 22 lessons + 1 revision lesson. Try to rush more topics per lesson. This way, you will save more money as most lessons are around $80 while less wanted timing was around $70.
4.3 DS and TPDS
The Driving Simulator (DS) was fun as it was in a small room with a few other students while the instructor talked about the importance of not tailgating and slowing down in bends. Each of you will get to try the simulator and prevent the car from crashing.
The Traffic Police Driving Simulator (TPDS) is something like an arcade game. You will need to attend 3 lessons where each lesson lasts for 20 minutes. The TPDS will try to make you result in an accident. You have to take evasive actions to prevent accidents from happening. Overall, I didn’t enjoy TPDS as the manual controls are not realistic and you cannot feel the biting of the clutch. It is really like an arcade where you do not need to care about dropping the clutch. Some people find that the TPDS causes motion sickness. It was fine for me.
4.4 Revision
You might be wondering what is revision. There are 5 main stages in your practical lesson. The 5th stage is the evaluation which the instructor will give you a mock test as if you are having a TP test. If you can get below 20 demerit points, you pass the evaluation and can book the TP test immediately.
After stage 5, there is nothing else to teach you. Therefore, the lessons you book after stage 5 and before your TP test are for revision before the test. The instructors will try to brush up on your weak spots. I recommend at least going for 2 revision lessons a few days before your TP test. If you are not confident, try to go for 1 revision every week as the waiting period between your stage 5 and TP test is more than a month.
5. FTT
If you decided to wait 4 months for your practical test, this is the best time to clear your Final Theory Test. There will be 5 practice booklets as FTT test you on more questions. Some of the questions will be repeated from BTT but most of them are new. FTT will be easier for manual learners as the theory test is on manual driving and auto learners have to take the same theory test too.
Similarly, there is an FTT PDF booklet for you to study. It is recommended that you go for multiple practice sessions to memorize the questions and answers and make your own notes as not all questions and answers can be found in the PDF.
The TP website also has a BTT and FTT practice and mock test which has several questions similar to what you see in the actual BTT and FTT. However, they also have several questions that aren’t found in the actual BTT and FTT. For the questions that can be found, I found 2 of their questions have incorrect answers. However, this website is still good for you to practice if you do not have the time to travel to BBDC frequently to attend BTT and FTT. Note that you can keep trying their practice paper. Whenever you try it, new questions will appear. So don’t be fooled by there is only one paper/URL.
Similarly, you need to get at least 90% to pass the evaluation and the actual test which is at least scoring 45/50 marks. Each question is worth 1 mark. I got 50/50 for my evaluation and 49/50 for FTT.
6. TP test
I still remember I was so nervous about my TP test as I only had 1 revision lesson the week before. I was supposed to have another revision lesson the day before. However, I marked my lesson time wrongly and missed the lesson.
I booked session 4 which my warm-up is at 9:55am. Before 9:55am, I waited in room 3 which is on level 1. We had to prepare our physical IC and show the instructor our car number from the BBDC app. The instructor was very nice to me when I was doing my warm-up. He probably did not want to stress me too much as he kept cracking jokes with me. Fun fact: All warm-up instructors are the team leaders of a group. However, it is random thus you might not get your group’s team leader.
The warm-up lasted for around half an hour. You will start off with driving in the circuit just like your revision lesson and the test before heading to the main road. This is the best time for you to get used to the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal and the clutch’s biting point as the warm-up is also your test car. Once you finish your warm-up, your warm-up instructor will bring you to level 2 to wait for your TP tester.
My test was supposed to be at 11 a.m. but my TP tester was ready thus I started at 10:45 a.m. Remember to adjust your mirror although you already did during the warm-up. Otherwise, the tester will mark you down.
When the test says you may begin and asks you to turn left from the parking lot, please please check your blind spot before you turn left. Many people forgot to do so and deducted points. Once you start your car’s engine, the test begins until you are back from BBDC from the main road and OFF THE ENGINE at the parking lot. Therefore, be very careful of every action you do.
The circuit was okay as I did not receive any demerit points. Session 4 was the best as there were no cars in the circuit and it was the break between practical sessions. Therefore, all the cars were parked in the parking lot. The only cars in the circuit at that timing were the other 5-6 candidates taking the test too. Therefore, it is very easy to do a right turn without waiting for any cars.
However, the main road was a nightmare. Usually, there won’t be many cars for that time. However, it was a school holiday during that week. Therefore, the main road had many cars. Twice I struggled to lane change and caused a motorcycle to slow down, causing me 4 and 8 demerit points. In total, I got 18 demerit points which I almost failed. Phew. At least I managed to pass it on my first try. Otherwise, I would need to book another session for stage 5 reevaluation before booking the next TP test which will need me to wait for another 1 month.
After passing the test, head to level 1 to cancel all your remaining practical lessons. A cheque will be mailed to you weeks later. You may apply for your Qualified Driving License (QDL) on the traffic police website 4 hours after you pass your test. Screenshot the pages if you intend to drive immediately after you apply for QDL. Otherwise, your SingPass app should show your driver’s license 2 days after you applied. A physical driver’s license will be mailed to you within a week.
All the best if you are taking your TP test soon!
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