first time, the first time, for the first time

[joham]

I passed my driving test first time.
When you plough the soil, plough deep the first time and less deep the second time.
I went to London for the first time in 2003.

Could you tell me however should we use the phrases with 'first time'? What's the rule behind them? What's the differences between them? Thank you.

[Hi_there_Carl]

You will usually see it one of two ways:

"for the first time" or "the first time"

For the first time implies that you have not been able to do it before. Example: I made a 3 point shot for the first time yesterday.

The first time is the first attempt or encounter as in: I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.