Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby

My pupil, Ruby, took her test yesterday - her 3rd attempt.
She drives a lot better than she thinks, but lets nerves get the better of her. In her 1st test she got Fergie, an amiable examiner in Elgin, but made a bit of a mess of her Left Reverse and failed. She got Fergie again for her 2nd test. Her route included a long stretch of A-road from Elgin to Lossiemouth. This is a national speed limit (60mph) road. However, on this occasion, there was a 1/4 mile stretch where a 20mph speed limit was posted due to resurfacing. Drivers tend to speed on this long, straight road, so there was little adherance to the temporary limit. Ruby saw the 20mph limit and started slowing down, but everyone started overtaking her and keeping up to 60mph. She hesitated then brought her speed back up to about 40, thinking that perhaps the temporary limit was no longer in force - instant fail (despite the fact that she was a lot closer to the speed limit than everyone else). She knew her mistake and was kicking herself because the rest of the test was fine.
She took a couple of month's break then had a couple of lessons before her 3rd attempt. In those lessons I basically gave her directions, there was no need for any instruction. I tried to make her route as challenging as possible, but she coped easily with some really difficult situations. Even her nemesis, the Left Reverse was fine each time.
I'm not sure whether she was pleased or disappointed to get Fergie again. But even Fergie was positive this time, "Come on Ruby, let's do it this time" he urged her. So it was a big disappointment to see Fergie open the door and beckon to me at the end of her test. He gave her a serious fault for stalling too many times - she hasn't stalled at all in the last 6 months or more - and he gave her a serious fault for inadequate observation on her Turn in the road - she ALWAYS looks all around on all her manoeuvres.
So, who knows what happened. I certainly don't and I can only put it down to nerves. Her attitude is good though and she has asked me to book her 4th attempt as soon as possible. Hopefully next time she'll crack it. She deserves to, she is definitely the best driver on my books at the moment and is better than many who have passed 1st time.... she just needs to prove it.