Is an intensive driving course a good option

OK so you want to pass your driving test as quickly as possible. Are intensive courses a good choice for you?
Let's look at the statistics first The Driving Standards Agency reports that the pass rate for the UK car test generally hovers around 40%. They don't report on intensive courses since they wouldn't know how a particular candidate had been learning. However having done many intensive courses myself, I can report that the pass rate is significantly higher (in 2010 my courses had a 74% success rate). Of course one can take my experience with a pinch of salt...But let's say that is is accepted, then why does it happen? My opinions are that:

• People who do an intensive course are more motivated, they generally have a particular reason to pass e.g. a job offer. Contract this with a person who has just turned 17 and a family member has paid for a few lessons - not necessarily very motivated.
• In the usual weekly lessons model, there a degree of "wasted" time where last week's lesson is recapped and re-learned. This doesn't affect an intensive learner so much, since should not have forgotten too much, from an hour earlier (say).
• It is customary for instructors to teach a learner using the DSA's standard test routes, once the pupil is competent. This is especially useful in an intensive course, at most centres I will be able to teach on all routes in the run up to a test. Because this is done in a short period, the pupil becomes very familiar with the difficult roundabouts, stop junctions etc.
  
  

Having passed your test, please, please carry on learning - I've been driving for 40 years and I still learn. Having said that the UK pass rate is relatively low c 40%, the accident rate amongst new drivers is very bad (check out the insurance premiums). So however you choose to learn, remember that it is a process that continues forever.
Pass quickly by taking an intensive driving course.