Passing my PDVL Test First Time

It was 1 week before the exam when I told my wife that I am going to start preparing for the test but...

Ended up flipping the pages just 1 day before the test date. I did some research online earlier and found out most people mentioned paper 2 was the killer in this exam. Information from the book and course notes given were too much to take in for 1 night. I ran through the Learning checklist in Section 1.1 and going through the chapters once but just lazily remembering the answers from the mock paper.

Passing criteria
Paper 1 is 80% you need to get at least 40/50 to pass
Paper 2 is 86% you need to get at least 43/50 to pass

My test starts at 4pm. I woke up early around 8am to study a bit more for my test. Not really focusing on the studying. Random flipping of pages of the thick book, mainly focusing on Section 2.4 memorising the demerit points. Had my lunch and made my way to STA. News of train breaking down were quite often during this period so I left my home early. I reached STA around 3.15pm, went straight up to level 4. I sat down along the corridors and started reading and memorising the demerit points again. Heart was pounding as time draws closer to 4pm.

At 3.50pm, people queuing outside the test venue where I had my buffet. I followed suit and waited while an instructor wearing Grab shirt said "those first time taking PDVL test, please queue here". I thought since I am taking the PDVL test, it should not really matter if I signed up via Uber or Grab. Followed his instruction and waited patiently and boy was I so wrong. The instructor told me Uber test venue was at the other end of the corridor just outside the staircase. I really hated this kind minor hiccup on test days. I only have myself to blame for that. Hurried over to the test venue sat down in the room. Uber test venue was smaller as compared to Grab but I liked it as it was not as intimidating and open.

Acceptable attire:
Top: Collar shirt or collar t-shirt
Bottom: Long pants
Feet: Driving shoe (flat heel and cover the feet)

Please remember to wear the proper attire when taking the test. They have strict dress code to adhere. Some people were not allowed to take the test as they were not in proper attire. It is really time consuming to book another test date seeing that now it takes 1 month after I finished my course on November 2017 as compared when people only takes 1 week after their course in July.

Paper 1
Please read the following as per the instructor:

1. Section 1.1 - Service Quality, Health and Safety


2. Driving in Singapore from Mighty Minds aka the thick book

As I did not really focused on paper 1, I expected the paper to be easy. Man, I could not be more wrong.

Here are questions to take note

• What are Triglycerides?


• What is high blood pressure? (Tricky)


• What is BMI?


• Bus Lane operating hours


• What is Domestic terrorism?


• Minimum age requirement for private hire car drivers


• LTA or ISD Counter-Terrorism Centre (CTC) contact no.


• When should a PHC be inspected? (important - came out for both my paper 1 and 2)

Paper 2
Please read the following as per the instructor:

1. Section 2.1 - Rules and Regulations (PSV)


2. Section 2.3 - Rules and Regulations (PHC)


3. Section 2.4 - Rules and Regulations (Chauffeured Private Hire Car and Taxi Vocational Licence Demerit Points System)

Tips? Remember all the offences in Section 2.4. Period.

As I studied at the last minute, I focus more on the offences with demerit points. Those I cannot remember are most likely fine only. LOL.

• Decals related offences - Fine and demerit points


• Take note Section 2.4 Part 1 S/N. 30/31/32

Most of the questions will ask you an offence and give you options such as fine only? fine and demerit points? Demerit points only? suspension? If you did not take some effort to study the offences, it will be hard to even guess.

How I took my test?
I finished both my papers around 30mins. I read each question carefully before answering each of them. Mark those question that you are not confidence enough and review them later. I did not double check all the answers again as I do not want to confuse myself more. Count the no. of questions that been marked for reviewed and it should be lesser than 10 questions in paper 1 and 7 questions in paper 2. End the test with confidence and see your results. I barely passed my paper 1 but it gave me the confidence boost I needed to focus on paper 2 using the free time I have.

Waiting for the green letter to come but as per my instructor, it will take up to 2 months.

Booking for a re-test will now take 1 to 2 months as compared to last time when you can do the re-test within the day. However, you can call STA and request for an earlier date re-test.

Hope this will give you the extra boost needed to study for the test.

Good luck to all of you taking the test.