Free Fridays: Part 1: Did I fail my driving test?
30 January 2026
I’m surprised none of you asked how my driving test went!
But I’m glad you didn’t.
Because it was embarrassing.
Here goes…
October 2025
So Asma’ and I left the house at 6.30am that morning for our driving test. We had to go to Kuala Selangor to the driving school. In the car, we revised notes like nerds and talked like aunties about how we’re really doing our driving tests at 38 years old.
When we got there, there were about 200 people waiting to do the driving test with us. Most of them looked like they could be our children. Look down, look down, don’t make eye contact, Asma’ and I told each other.
“Vivy Yusof eh?” a girl asked from behind me.
Say no, say no!, my inner voice told me.
“Ya saya,” I smiled embarrasingly, then proceeded to explain why I’m doing my driving test at this age. (She didn’t ask.)
The JPJ officers gave a briefing of the day. Basically, there are three tests – engine, driving on the road outside, and circuit. For the circuit, there are 6 stations to pass – ramp, hill, parking, S curve, Z curve and three-point turn. We can do this, Asma’ and I had our spirits high. I didn’t tell her I was sweating profusely, nervous as heck.
Engine test – super easy. We both passed with flying colours. JPJ officer didn’t say that. I’m just assuming.
Driving on the road – super easy. Almost boring because we had to drive so slowly. Mad respect to the JPJ officers for not sleeping in the car, because imagine having to sit through 200 slow car rides the entire day at 40 km/hour.
The guy I got was so nice to me.
It got a bit quiet after the usual formal niceties, then he said, “So dah tak jual tudung dah la ni?”
😅😅😅
“Takde dah, Encik,” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Can’t believe I’m having this convo at a driving test.
“So kena buat bisnes lain la lepas ni?” he asked. Bless his heart, I think he was genuinely trying to fill the silence.
“Macam tu la, Encik,” I replied awkwardly.
“Takpe, mulakan hidup baru,” he said, giving me motivation. “Nak jual apa lepas ni?”
I was NOT gonna get into explaining my health supplements and whatnot. So I answered “Tengah fikir lagi, Encik” and quickly changed the subject to ask him about his children. Works every time.
He passed me, Alhamdulillah!
Now the circuit test. Asma’ and I waited for our turn at the plastic chairs, watching others go first. It was so nerve-wracking to see other people do it because then you overthink, overanalyse and overworry.
I got into the car to do the ramp. Ok pass. Thank you, Allah!
Then it was Bukit time. Ok pass. Thank you, Allah!
Now parking.
Gulp.
I can do this, I can do this, I psyched myself up.
The officer nodded at me, signaling for me to start. I drove the car next to the parking spot, ready for side parking.
Ok, remember what the instructor taught you, Vivy, I told myself. Signage next to your shoulder, then steering wheel to the left, then reverse till you see five lines of road thingy. Then steering wheel straight, and reverse straight till tyre is on the box line… just like how Sir taught you.
Wait, omg, was I supposed to look at right side mirror or left side mirror?
Right.
Right?
Omg I think it’s left.
Omg the other car already passed the test. You’re still here, second-guessing everything.
Ok ok relax, you have a few minutes to do parking. Do not rush, do not rush. The instructor once scolded me before saying “You nak rushing pergi kenduri ke apa?!” Slow, slow, chill, chill, I told myself.
Ok reverse in the box, reverse in the box.
Ok I think I got it.
Omg phewwwww I did it! I parked! Thank you, Al-
“Cik, keluar kereta,” the officer got up and motioned to me to get out of the car.
Hmmm. Maybe he wants me to see how beautiful my parking was.
I got out of the car and he asked me to see what I did.
My front bumper was… so over the line.
In real life, I would’ve hit the car in front.
Omg does this mean I failed?! Noooo… Surely, I can do it again right?! Come on.
I got Gagal with a capital G that day. I walked my sorry limbs back to the cafeteria where Asma’ was waiting for me with my kopi ais, as a pity present. She didn’t even want to celebrate her Lulus that day, God bless my best friend.
But I will always celebrate you, Best Friend.
November 2025
The morning was dark and gloomy. 6.30am, and off I went to Kuala Selangor. The day that was a new day. The day that I re-sit my driving test. The day that I pass it and come home with a license.
I looked at the seat next to me in the car. It was empty. Asma’ had moved on in the license journey without me. That Lulus Traitor.
Again, there were 200 people waiting there that day. I searched for my name on the board. There I was. VIVY SOFINAS YUSOF… Number 200. Out of 200 people. Yep, I was last. I’ll have to watch 199 people drive in front of me and most likely pass, before I even get into the car.
Then it started to rain. Great.
Engine test again. Step aside, o young ones. I’ve done this before. Let Aunty Vivy show you. Passed, phew.
Then, it was circuit. We meet again, Circuit. *cue suspense music*
Not so fast, Circuit said, Please wait five more hours.
Yep.
Number 200 means number 200. Means you sit there until every chair is empty and then, it’ll be your turn.
After what felt like five days, finally it was my turn.
Ramp. Passed.
Hill. Passed.
Parking.
Oh dear, parking. Come on, let’s get over the fear on this particular station.
Omg passed!!!!
Alright, we got this! The rest will be a breeze.
S curve. Passed.
Z curve. Passed.
One more! ONLY ONE MORE LEFT, I mentally high-fived myself.
I cannot believe I’ve gotten this far. What a long journey it’s been, I reminisced as Number 197 was doing his three-point turn and we were all waiting behind him.
All those rides to Kuala Selangor that took one hour commute each way, and the many hours of driving with the instructor. All those 6.30am starts to the day to get here. All those hours spent in Kuala Selangor, because the centre didn’t tell us the driving school was this far away but already took our payment so we were stuck with this school.
198’s turn now.
Sigh, so close. Just a bit more, and that’s it! One more station and I get to go home as a proud P License holder. Watch out, world.
199’s turn now.
Ok watch her. Learn her steps. Ok looks familiar. I got this.
My turn now. Move over, nobody, it’s Number 200 going in for her red P stickers.
I moved forward into the box, and reversed the car back to the right. As I got ready my final turn and I was seconds away from leaving the box and passing my driving test -
“Cik, keluar kereta,” the JPJ officer called me.
WHAT THE – WHAT?!!!!!!!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN KELUAR KERETA?!!!
I was about to finish the three-point turn, I was on TURN NUMBER THREE. What is this lady on about? I didn’t even hit any of the lines, I didn’t hit any curb. Why am I being asked to step out of the car?!
“Kenapa, Cik?” I asked her, trying not to scream.
“Tadi you brake.”
WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…was not what I could say to her.
“Bila masa saya brake?” I asked her politely through my teeth.
I. HAVE. BEEN. HERE. FOR. SEVEN. HOURS.
I. BETTER. PASS. THIS. DRIVING. TEST.
“Tadi masa reverse, saya nampak you brake.”
I honestly don’t recall. But even if I did brake, how is that an offence on the real life road. If you do a three-point turn out into the real world, why is braking breaking the law?
Somebody tell me….
WHY IS BRAKING BREAKING THE LAW?!!!!
WHY IS THAT A FAIL IN YOUR DRIVING TEST?!!!!
… was not what I could say to her.
“Boleh saya buat sekali lagi, Cik?” I asked her sweetly.
“Tak boleh,” her parting words to me.
I did the Walk of Shame back to the tent and sat on the plastic chair, waiting to get my second Gagal slip. I slumped in my chair, and then noticed a girl next to me, slumping in her chair too. She looked sadder than me. Nobody should look sadder than Number 200.
“Are you ok?” I asked her.
“I failed,” she said quietly.
“Me too,” I replied quietly.
At least you’re 17, I wanted to add. But didn’t want to seem bitter.
I looked at my Gagal slip, which had rain on it. Or my tears.
Thank you, JPJ officer, for the beautiful drawing to remind me where I failed.
It’s also bizarre that in my previous post about my driving test…
… I mentioned specifically “parking and three point turn”, and those are the exact two that I failed at!
So anyway, there it is. The story of how I failed my driving test. Again.
Can start businesses. ✅
Can birth four children. ✅
Can withstand a public court case. ✅
Can pass driving test. ❌
“Are you going to re-sit again?” Fadza asked me later that week.
I was still nursing the fresh wound in my heart but…
“Yes, I think I will. I will finish this journey with head held high!” I rose from the couch, ready to call the school to tell them to slot me in for the next driving test.
“Saya dah ready, Sir,” I told the school proudly.
*cue champion music*
“Tak boleh, Cik. Your L dah expired,” the school replied me.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
Before you go…
Ramadhan Retreat tickets are now open - I’m too down to explain, but please nurse my wounded heart by getting a ticket. Luxury hotel, a weekend staycation of learning the deen, yummmssss. See you this Ramadhan! - https://avaretreats.com/products/ramadhan-retreat-2026
Before you really go…
Let me know you’ve read this. Comment “please pass the next one” on my latest post at @sincerelyvivy.
See you there! :)
You can do it! Part 2 please☺️..
I passed my driving test eventhough the car I drove went down backwards at the bukit ramp test..coz the instructor didnt see me..I just quickly drove up again and stayed on top of the hill. Mind you it was a manual car🤗so you can definitely try again, hmm maybe get a closer school because travelling too far might tire you up before the test