Tips for Class 3 license in Singapore

These are some notes that I took while taking my driving license - Class 3 in Singapore at CDC from August 2019 to December 2019. Some of the advice may/may not apply to you when learning to drive - so take all advice with a grain of salt.

Some of the advice below may also apply to those from Class 3A but most likely can skip all the bits regarding clutch control. That would make certain stages way easier - especially slope

Reminders

List of important things to take note (Read them just before going for TP practical test)

Signal then blindspot
Always check blindspot before turning
S course - full lock before exiting (Prevent wide turning point deducting)
Reverse parking need delayed turning
Be calm while switching lanes - don’t rush to next lane (Do proper rear view mirror checks and side mirror checks)
Remember that reference points for reverse parking near crank course is different
After emergency stop, do checks like moving off (Signal left and check blindspots etc)
Turn at shoulder only for u turn and going out of reverse parking
Be more left at zebra crossing (To prevent motorcylist from squeezing on your left)
At traffic junction, always check pedestrian, then traffic then blindspot
Drive slower in circuit so that got more time to turn
Gear 2 for turns (on road)
In circuit - don’t inch out at traffic light… later might get stuck at yellow box
Accelerator should be on the ball of the feet
Look out to where you want to go (thru the side mirrors etc)
Bus stop yellow arrow is a yellow box
Long filter lane - check 3 times. 1 check before entering filtee lane, 1 check when turning, last check befoee going out
Turn right from reverse parking with crank course - towards parallel parking - move slightly left then when mirror cross solid white line - full lock right

Moving off

Signal
Make sure in gear 1
Check mirror and blindspot
Check blindspot
Release handbrake

Slope

Go up and stop before yellow line - need to accelerate a bit
Signal to the kerb
Handbrake on
Then prepare to move off
Biting point
Accel to 2500
Signal opposite side
Release handbrake slowly (but not too slow)
Put more accel and release more clutch accordingly
Cancel signal on top
Stop if got other vehicle in front at stop line
Let go clutch a little and let vehicle roll
Full on clutch on the way down with no brake
Brake before the end and clutch in… hard brake is fine

Kerb side stopping

Signal left
Check blindspot
Inch towards stopping point
Keep checking left side mirrors
Once stopped… hazard light
Put to neutral
Handbrake on

Crank course

Full lock of steering wheel at the door lock
Once vehicle is straightened turn 2 rounds back
No need to check blindspot in the course

S course

You should not be at the centre of the road at the end
Be more on the right of the road at the end - else rear left wheel might hit kerb when turning out
Check blindspot before turning out

Direction change

Go into it
Go as far in as possibly can
Stop
Put to reverse
Check rear view
Turn and check back
Check spot is clear
Reverse till required mark
Check left blind spot before turning steering wheel
Ensure parallel to kerb inside
If too left, move out to the right before turning left out. If you do not this, your rear left wheel will go over the kerb
If too right, its ok

Perpendicular parking (near s course)

Be closer to the line
Move till next parking at kerb at shoulder
Begin to turn when black bar in rear window touches right rear corner of parking spot

Perpendicular parking (near crank course)

Be center of lane
Move till next kerb at shoulder
Extend the yellow bar to the ends to become a lot
Right bar of rear left window to cross it and then full lock

Perpendicular parking (common)

Check rear view
Check back mirror
Check spot is clear
Reverse a little
Check swing out
Check mirrors
Reverse till ok

Parallel parking

Kerb side stop - don’t be too close
Left signal
Stop when side mirror at stop line or sign to next bay
Put to reverse
Check rear view
Check back window
Move till front left door handle reach edge of kerb
Check right blindspot
Full lock left
Look at right side mirror, check for middle for white and black kerb
If 3/4 white or between white and black kerb, quickly make wheels straight
Once at mid between kerb, stop vehicle and adjust mirrors
CHECK REAR VIEW AND REAR WINDOW BEFORE CONTINUING
continue till rear wheel crosses yellow line
full lock right
move as far as you possibly can
switch to 1st gear
straighten vehicle/wheel
put to neutral and handbrake on
await for approval from tester/instructor
when going out… DO IT SLOWLY. USE CLUTCH ON-OFF TECHNIQUE

Parallel parking corrections

If rear wheel not in, move forward as much as you can
Full lock left, move as far back as you need and straighten vehicle

Experiences during test

Car being used in practical driving lesson is vastly different from the cars used in TP. Cars used in TP seem to generally have more effective brake/clutch system. Judge the quality of brakes/clutch/accelerator accordingly - that is why the pre-practise round before actual TP is very important - it is to get used to the car
After practise round (will be accompanied by random instructor - not much advice/tips will be given - only a quick test of circuit + external road) - you will stop vehicle infront of main lobby of CDC driving school and will be asked to get off. Instructor will be parking the car (there will be instructions on where you will find your car provided)
When tester and you are in the car, you will need to start the vehicle, do safety checks and then leave the parking lot (don’t forget to turn out of parking lot by reference of shoulder) - check that traffic is clear before leaving parking lot.