Quest for a Licence - Pt 1 : Malaysian driving theory test

There are several stages to get through in order to get a Malaysian driver's licence. First, you have to attend a six-hour(!) Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu (Drivers Education Course). Second, you do a computerized theory test, which consists of multiple-choice questions across three parts: colour blindness, vision and finally the road rules. The first two parts are the preliminary checks which would allow you to proceed to the final and main part of the assessment. In this last part, you're given 45 minutes to answer 50 questions, where the pass mark is 42, or 84%.

If you happen to fail the colour blindness test - like get *any* of the answers wrong - then you're barred from continuing with your driving course! You have to go to a certified eye specialist, who would then have to release a letter certifying that you're fit to drive. Once this letter's produced, you're then allowed to retake the colour blindness test again.

So imagine my panic when I tried one of the model questions in the booklets they gave us and I couldn't make out what it was!

What's the number? Can you see it?*

:-|

So in a state of panic, I practised my way through all 500 model questions and their answers last night. I ended up sleeping at 2am when I was due to be picked up at 7:30am this morning.

:P

So I got to the official test centre in some random shoplot area in the middle of nowhere. After a short wait, I was allocated a computer workstation to begin my test. With a pounding heart, I keyed in my details and clicked 'Start' - only to be greeted by the first question of the road rules part, with a timer commencing the countdown.

o_O

Eh? What happened to the colour blindness test?

I thought the wrong program must've been executed - maybe there was a different program that I needed to run. I clicked 'End test' and the screen asked, "Are you sure you'd like to end your test and submit your answers now?"

It was only then that my sanity intervened and said, "HOLY SHIT DON'T PRESS THAT BUTTON, ARE YOU CRAZY?"

So I hastily stepped away from my computer and went back to the reception lady. I told her that my computer had bypassed the colour blindness test and went straight to the road rules part.

She just shrugged and said, "It's OK, it's all in one go, just carry on."

Err, what?

I went back to my computer and proceeded with the test. The whole time, my mind was thinking did she really say what I think she said? Nevermind.

So once I *actually* finished the test, I ended the test *correctly* and the screen immediately showed me my score: 47/50.

:D :D :D *cartwheels* \o/

I went back out to the waiting area feeling absolutely smug about myself.

Until the reception lady started calling out our names..

Reception lady: Aminah! Ooo Aminah.. Sangat bagus (very good)! 50! Full marks! Boleh dapat hadiah ni (you can get a reward)..

-_-"

When I got called up, she acknowledged that I've passed, despite my queries a second time about the missing colour blindness test. The funniest thing is that my certificate actually says I have passed my colour blindness test!!

Guess I've been spared. Only in Malaysia :P

* The number is 5 ;)