Definitely check how long the waiting list is for a test date - I think my test centre was about a 6-8 week wait so I booked in September for a November test, which I could have postponed if I hadn't felt ready to take it. If you pick things up quickly and have the option to practice outside of lessons, it really shouldn't take you too long to pass your test. I was worried it was going to take me as long as it took my sister to pass hers - nearly 12 months (she failed twice) - which would have been depressing. I had to say in October that if I hadn't passed by Christmas I'd give up so that I could afford to pay my rent.
