Driving test tips?

[PinotAndPlaydough]

I have my driving test tomorrow and am bricking it. I’m a really nevrvous driver and one thing going wrong can mess up a whole lesson sometimes. I’ve been learning for 2 years (1 lesson a week with no one to practice with inbetween and the odd break during school holidays) so it’s definitely time for my test.
I’m so nervous and I’ve spent so much money on this already. The thought of failing and having to pay for another test, car hire etc makes me feel even worse. Any top tips?

Easy to say and hard to do but relax.

From the points at which I thought I failed both my car and motorcycle tests I drove without any faults. Passed car with five minors and motorcycle with one minor.

Aw just think it's not like a school/college exam where if you fail, you end up missing out on the university/career of your choice.

No one needs to know that you've even gone for this test and you can try as many times as you require. I do think an element of luck on the day contributes to passing a driving test as well, so it's not all in your control.

Try talking through what you are doing as that helps you stay focused on driving and demonstrate awareness in case looks in mirrors, etc are missed by the examiner. For example, 'I am checking my rear view mirror, now my wing mirror, now my blind spot and now back to my wing mirror before pulling out'.

It helped me with my nerves as I was then not so worried.

I passed 5th time and the difference last time was the same as above- talking through what I was doing I was saying everything as it helped me know I knew what I was doing, even parallel parking I was turning the wheel saying "one turn too you, one turn too me"

Also rescue remedy really helped me relax would recommend it!

Good luck!!

Good luck for your test. Try to stay relaxed, it’s not a big deal if you fail, most people fail at least once and the U.K. driving test is bloody hard! Talk through what you’re doing, or chatting to the examiner whilst you drive so that they seem a bit less scary can help. It might be a bit late but don’t tell anyone you don’t have to that you’re doing it so that you don’t feel as pressured.

Good luck! I passed last month. Make sure you eat and drink something before your test. One good bit of advice I got is to pretend the examiner is a colleague and you're giving them a lift home, they're just giving you directions about how to get there

Thanks everyone, desperately trying to keep calm and busy until test time, luckily it’s at 11 so I won’t be spending the whole day in a state of high anxiety. I’ve had breakfast (which I never normally do) and will try and remember to talk out loud

Do some proper deep breathing just before. Slowing your breathing really is calming.

My driving instructor told me that the test was the most expensive lesson I'll do (as I was paying for the test and his time/use of his car) so even if I thought I had failed, to keep going and use the rest of the time to keep practicing. True to that, I thought I'd failed 10 mins in but used the time as Road practice. Must have relaxed more thinking it was over anyway and passed with only two minors.
Oh, and consciously drop/relax your shoulders - it will help you feel more relaxed immediately.

Good luck!

Well I failed, the nerves were a killer and I made a stupid mistake which meant I couldn’t finished my manoeuvre, couldn’t even finish the test because I was in such a state

Oh no! Sorry OP. Hope it's not ruined your day. To be fair, the test is harder now than it ever was, I doubt I could pass it.
Don't let it put you off doing it again.

Don't worry OP. I'm sure you're disappointed but it happens. Doing a driving test is one of those extremely stressful things that everyone agrees is shit! It may not feel like it but you will have learned loads today and you will be in better shape next time x