hi femme
1)there is no rule saying u cannot stop, say if u feel u are gg to bang the poles already, u gotta stop no matter wat right? but i think the tester will take into acct ur confidence level as well as ur judgement.nothing wrong to stop and check, if u think cannot go in u can move out and try again. but beware there is a time limit. I think u u cannot go in after the 3rd time, u flunk already.
2)Directional change, is like parking mah except that the lot is damn big haha at least that's the case for BBDC. I dun think anyone will fail that, when i learn, i dun have any marking, my instructor just told me to use my judgements and feelings. As for the safety check, u can check the distance btween the kerb and ur wheel from the side mirror la it shld be about 50cm frm the kerb u are safe. but beware when u turn out dun turn too early u might mount the kerb, as a safety measure, try to ensure at least u are align wif the kerb then u turn out. I think for DC u auto one, once u turn in, u turn out...No worries for DC...
3)There is no need to engage 1st gear for U turn if u are not stationary but most of the time u are. if u are at the give way line, and u see no car, u may turn in 2nd gear and turn(slowly hor) .but if there's a stop line,please do stop first even if there's no car.
4)When making turns, i think it's best to engage 2nd gear, 1st gear is too slow, 3rd is too fast (for beginners and the tester might not like it).
U might want to learn to change gear while turning (1st->2nd) to show the tester u are confident if u can do it.there is no hard rule that u must be in 2nd gear while turning.
5)if traffic light suddenly changes u can stop in any gear la... even 4th. but u better pray this does not happen anyway when u approach traffic light u shld down 1 gear and prepare to stop.
6) depends on ur level. I also went there twice only, i took pte. once is 2 wks b4 my test, the other is on the test day itself b4 the test starts. it's ex to book the cct and long q somemore...if u think 2x is not enuff then u can req to book a few more sessions but frm ur case, i f u do tat, u might gotta push back ur test date. Why not just try, u might just pass haha
7)Yes 3rd and 4th gear is according to speed. U gotta have the feel. Ur instructor nv tell u to look at the tacho meter? aka rev meter. dun drag ur gears...
8)Dun "skip" gears even though u need to drop gears fast also try to act act abit...down 4th to 3 then 2. Always try to stop at gear 2 if u can... tat's my advice. if u dun do it properly the car might jerk...
Anyway my advice to u, dun panic, try to show ur tester u are confident. even when u made a mistake. some of them look at the overall. like mine, he only tick the boxes after we return to BBDC and he passed me even though i think he could fail me due to 1 incident hahaha...