To not be able to go back to sleep due to driving test next month?

[HairyBeaver]

Hi ladies,

Ok so I failed my test twice around 4 years ago and last month I decided to restart my lessons and am much better this time round, instructer told me to book test after 2nd lesson but had to do my theory first.

Now I know im much better this time round and I actually "get it" now and am gradually building my confidence up.

But this isn't the first time in the last couple of weeks where ive woke up and thought of my looming test and not been able to go back to sleep.

I dont know why im so nervous as if I fail I can just retake the test.

I dread to think how nervous ill be on the day!

Any tips for controlling nerves?

[bagelmonkey]

I was really nervous during my test and stalled the car at traffic lights early on. From that point on I thought I'd failed, so didn't care any more and was way more relaxed. Turned out you're allowed to stall the car and I passed. For me thinking I'd failed stopped me stressing over it and I relaxed and drive well.
I find that if I decide in advance of an exam that I don't think I'm ready and that this will be a trial run I usually end up passing.
Maybe you should approach this test as a trial run for another test?

[HairyBeaver]

Thats a good idea, I passed my theory on tuesday and after studying for ages loads of questions I hadnt studied were asked so I assumed I had failed when I hadnt

Will now think of this test as a practice run, thank you!

[bagelmonkey]

It helps to go in thinking I'm almost ready, but not quite and doing a trial run will help me be prepared for the real thing so I'll know what to expect.

(good luck!)

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Adrenalin's good... means the test matters to you and so you'll put in extra work and be sharper on the day. Best thing to combat nerves is to be well-prepared and practice as much as possible. If you have access to a car other than your instructor's get whoever owns it to let you drive them about. Not the daft stuff like backing round corners etc., just driving from A to B with the radio on and the windows down... relaxing.

[L8rAllig8r]

I thought I'd failed my theory after the questions, so didn't try too hard on the hazard perception part. Turned out I'd got 50 out of 50 in the questions, and only just passed the hazard perception bit, so not trying too hard can be a risky business!

I also found it easier (passed 2nd time) to not drive very much in the hours before the test - the first time I did 2 hours practise right before the test, made a couple of small mistakes and convinced myself I'd fail - and did. The second time I only drove from home to the test centre, passed the test with only 2 minor faults.

Good luck! Sounds like your instructor has confidence in you (and it's his pass rate, so they don't tend to recommend you take the test til you're ready) so hopefully you'll be fine.

[AryaStark]

Mine is at the end of the month. If you're the sort of person for whom reading and writing things down helps you remember, this book is really succinct and there's space at the back to make notes on each one of the key skills.

Best of luck

[alphabetti]

I was so so nervous before my driving test, but I had a brilliant instructor who used to tell me to just talk yourself through everything (in your head) and then there wouldn't be time to dwell on being nervous. Even on a quiet straight road you can keep talking it through to yourself by checking your speed, road position and mirrors.

[squeezemebakingpowder]

I'm a driving instructor, and the best advice I can give is just believe you can do it. If on your lessons, you just drive and your instructor doesn't need to tell you what to do and seems happy with the way you handle situations, then you're definitely ready.

On your test all the examiner wants you to do is drive relatively confidently and safely, so 1 little stall when you move off from the side of the road isn't going to get you a fail. Look ahead at all times, make firm, confident decisions and remember to check mirrors and blind spots and actually respond to what you see.

You're nervous because it's so important to you, and it's stressful being sat in a car with a complete stranger and a clipboard! Deep breaths and just take your time and slow down in busy areas with lots of traffic, lights ped x's etc.

As another poster said your driving instructor obviously has faith in you, so you shouldn't worry that you can't do it, and have some faith in yourself... oh and good luck.