Hi Generic,
sorry to hear your news.
failing is always a disappointment not just for a candidate but also for the examiner. we always make it clear to candidates that we are there to pass them. if they fail they do so themselves but in truth provided their performance is safe and reasonable, examiners like to see people pass and we realise that at PPL stage they will go on to learn more.
in LAAland we have five sections ( six if its multi ) in the flight teast for PPL.. you only get a full fail if you fail any item ( or all items ) in TWO of the five sections...otherwise it is a partial pass ( if you breach only one section ).
from what you say, you only breached one section and so it leaves me wondering if there was something else that the examiner found unsatisfactory. you should enquire so you can rectify it if there was...if not then it seems a tad harsh to give you a full fail . there are items such as poor speed control that will take a canditate into a number of sections so in itself, that one factor could be enough to fail as it would breach more than one section.
mind you, there is a rule that if the examiner has to take control for a safety reason ( bearing in mind what you said about the go-round ) then no matter how well the test has gone before, that is automatically a full fail. allowances are made for the fact that people are a bit tired towards the end but their handling still has to be safe. how would it be if after a long flight and airline pilot allowed his handling to be impaired just because he/she was tired.. so the flight is'nt over until you have shut down and secured the aircraft....and by the way touchdown prior to the beginning of the runway is not acceptable just because it is a taxiway...it could be runway lights..!!... ( but still that is only one section from the test point of view )
some people feel less pain if they are awarded a partial pass...but in fact if there has been any other part of the test that was close to unsatisfactory then they are better off with a full fail rather than a partial for the reason that next time is a full retest whareas if the second attempt is after a partial, then a candidate is not allowed the luxury iof being able to breach one section and still get a partial. next flight after a partial a candidate must pass all sections. failure in ANY ONE section results in a full fail.
anyway, as you intend, brush up ( bearing in mind what you have said ) dust your self down and put in another application.sounds to me that you have had a very reasonable and balanced attitude to the result so i would have every confidence that you will do well next time.
good luck,
gear up.
the dean.
PS and by the way no employer will care or ask if you got the ppl in one or not..