You failed and don't know why
You have a result sheet with boxes marked and a debrief that lasted about a minute. We start from those marks and work out what actually caused each one.
Pre-test lessons · Leixlip test centre
Pre-test lessons in Leixlip: find your faults and fix them.
Kris specialises in fault correction, and knows every route the Leixlip centre uses. If your test is booked at the Springfield Hotel, or you've failed there and want to know exactly why, he runs a mock test on the real Leixlip routes, marks it the way the tester marks, then works on the faults that would fail you until they stop happening. From €110 for a two-hour session. Kris can meet you at the test centre or pick you up from home, school or work, whatever suits you best.
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Three reasons people come to Kris before a Leixlip test
Your test date is coming
A mock test a few weeks out shows where you stand while there's still time to fix it, rather than finding out on the day.
The same fault keeps coming back
More driving with your accompanying driver won't fix a habit nobody has spotted. Kris names it and gives you a fix you can practise.
Why the result sheet isn't enough
The tester tells you what. Kris finds out why.
The feedback you get at the desk is short by design. The RSA's procedures for testers say a typical verbal debrief should last no longer than 30 to 60 seconds. When several faults were marked, the tester will generally talk about two or three of them, and describes the type of fault rather than the place on the route where it happened. That is fair to every candidate, but most people leave knowing which box was ticked and not why. Finding the why is the part Kris specialises in. Already have your sheet? Run it through the free test result analyser first and bring the plan to your first session.
How fault correction works
Mock test, cause, fix
A mock test on the Leixlip routes
Kris meets you at the Springfield Hotel centre, or picks you up in Leixlip, Lucan, Celbridge or Maynooth, and you drive a full mock test on one of the actual Leixlip test routes. It's marked under the same headings and grades as the official report sheet.
The cause, not just the box
A mark on the sheet shows where a problem surfaced, not what led to it. The debrief goes through each Grade 2 and Grade 3 and what happened just before it.
Fixed where it happens
Then you go back to the same kinds of roundabouts, junctions and manoeuvres and repeat them until the fix holds without a prompt. If you're ready, you'll hear it. If not, you'll hear what's left.
How the result is decided
What actually fails a driving test
The RSA's marking guidelines set four fail thresholds. Reach any one of them and the result is a fail.
One Grade 3
A single dangerous or potentially dangerous fault, or a total disregard of a traffic control, is a fail on its own.
Four of the same Grade 2
Four Grade 2 faults on one aspect, for example observation at roundabouts. This is where a single habit fails a test.
Six under a heading, or nine in total
Six or more Grade 2 faults under the same heading, or nine or more Grade 2 faults across the whole test.
Grade 1 faults are minor slips. In practice testers no longer record them, and they play no part in the result. If you want the detail behind each grade, read Grade 2 vs Grade 3 and why did I fail my driving test.
Local knowledge
The Leixlip test centre: what to prepare for
The Springfield Hotel centre on the Dublin Road (R148) has been testing since 1 September 2026. The RSA doesn't publish routes, but we know every route the centre uses, and your mock test runs on them.
Estates for the manoeuvres
Expect Leixlip's housing estates to be used for the reverse and the turnabout, so both manoeuvres get rehearsed on the same kind of estate roads.
Main roads out of town
The R148 and R404, the Confey, Celbridge and Maynooth directions, and the busy approaches to junction 5 of the M4, right beside the centre.
Every route, already known
Kris knows all the Leixlip test routes, so your mock test and your fixes happen on the roads the tester actually uses. More in our Leixlip test centre guide.
Your instructor
Spotting faults is Kris's day job.
Kris is an RSA Approved Driving Instructor for both cars and buses, and an approved Driver CPC trainer who works daily with professional drivers. Assessing driving against a standard is what he does all week. Learners he has prepared have passed with zero faults. Meet Kris.
Prices
Pre-test prices in Leixlip
Simple pricing, no hidden extras. A one-hour lesson on a single weak point is from €60. Pickup in Leixlip, Lucan, Celbridge and Maynooth, or meet Kris at the test centre.
Pre-test package
from €110
Two hours: a mock test on a real Leixlip route, marked like the RSA sheet, then fault correction.
Book thisTwo-hour recorded lesson
€160
Filmed from inside the car, so you can watch your own driving back, with a debrief on what the camera caught that you didn't.
Book thisTest car hire
€170
A fully insured, dual-controlled car for your Leixlip test, with a warm-up drive before your slot.
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What learners say about Kris
★★★★★
"Kris helped me massively with my test and lessons — I passed my test first time! He is very patient and someone I would highly recommend for lessons and mock tests."
★★★★★
"I passed my driving test today in Tallaght with zero faults. I highly recommend Smart Driving Academy — they are very clear and know precisely what you need to work on in order to pass."
★★★★★
"Kris is an amazing driving instructor — explains things so well and challenges you as you progress. After a few lessons he took me through more difficult roundabouts and manoeuvres to build my confidence. Would absolutely recommend."
Common questions
Pre-test lessons for Leixlip: FAQ
I failed my test at Leixlip. Where do we start?
With your result sheet. Bring it to the first session, or run it through our free test result analyser beforehand. The first session is a mock test on a Leixlip test route, then targeted work on the marks that failed you.
Do you know the Leixlip test routes?
Yes, all of them. The RSA doesn't publish routes, but Kris knows every route used at the Leixlip centre and runs your mock test on them, so nothing on the day is new to you.
Why didn't the tester tell me exactly where I went wrong?
Testers are trained to keep the debrief general. The RSA's procedures say it should take no longer than 30 to 60 seconds, generally cover two or three of the marked aspects, and give an example of the type of fault rather than point to where on the route it happened. Your sheet shows which boxes were marked. Working out what caused each one is the first job of a fault-correction session.
What fails a driving test in Ireland?
Any one of four things: one Grade 3 fault; four Grade 2 faults on the same aspect; six or more Grade 2 faults under the same heading; or nine or more Grade 2 faults overall. Grade 1 faults are minor slips that testers no longer record in practice, and they play no part in the result.
Do you pick up in Leixlip?
Yes. Sessions can start from your home, school or workplace anywhere in Leixlip, including the Intel area, and Kris also covers Lucan, Celbridge and Maynooth.
Can you meet me at the Leixlip test centre?
Yes. Kris can meet you at the Springfield Hotel centre, or pick you up from home, school or work, depending on what suits you. We're flexible and fit around what you need as far as we possibly can.
Can I use your car for the test?
Yes. Test car hire at the Leixlip centre is €170: a fully insured, dual-controlled car for your test slot, with a warm-up drive beforehand. Doing your pre-test sessions in the same car means nothing about it is new on the day.
Should I switch my test to Leixlip?
If you live in the area and have been driving on local roads, often yes: you'd be testing where you actually drive. If your date at Tallaght or Naas is close and you know those roads, finishing there may be smarter. Switching through MyRoadSafety keeps your eligibility date. Details in our Leixlip test centre guide.
Do you teach automatic and manual?
Yes. Kris teaches in both automatic and manual cars.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what the first mock test shows. Many learners take two or three pre-test sessions. Kris will tell you honestly where you stand and won't push sessions you don't need.
I failed. How do I get another test?
You reapply for a new test through your MyRoadSafety account, or with a postal application form. From the following week you can see your estimated time to an invitation on the RSA's online estimator. Use the wait to fix what was marked, so the next test isn't a repeat of the last one.
Test at Leixlip, booked or failed?
Find the faults before the tester does.
Book online or call Kris on 087 394 8102. More on Leixlip: the test centre guide and driving lessons in Leixlip. Booked at Tallaght instead? See pre-test lessons for Tallaght.