How to deal with your driving test nerves
If you’re feeling nervous about your test day, don’t worry – you’re not alone! With as many years of experience as we have at Drive Bedford, we have seen it all and we know all of those little tricks to help you deal with your test day nerves.
Make sure you’re prepared. There’s nothing worse than going into a test knowing that you haven’t practiced a manoeuvre enough. Ensure that you feel confident in yourself and have plenty of mock tests with your driving instructor in Bedford. Passing mock tests will boost your confidence and make you a better driver overall.
Don’t create extra hassle on the morning of your test. The night before your test, prepare all of the documents that you’ll need, like both parts of your provisional license, your theory certificate etc.
Keep pressure to a minimum, what may work for you, won’t work for someone else. However, we often find that keeping your test date and time on the down low, eases the pressure. The more people that know about your test, the more pressure you’ll feel to pass. Just surprise your friends once you have passed!
Have something for breakfast. Skipping the most important meal of the day, on what could be one of the most important days of your life isn’t a good idea. Even if you’re feeling uneasy, eating fruit such as a banana will help settle things. If you’re hungry, you won’t be able to concentrate so much on the task of driving well, hindering your chances of passing.
Avoid caffeine, coffee or energy drinks might seem like a good idea to rev you up for your test, however it is well proven that caffeine can heighten your nerves.
Get your spirits up, laugh, smile, do whatever gets you in a great mood. Laughing will make you feel more at ease and will release dopamine’s, (the happy hormone) to boost your mood.
Don’t forget the show me tell me questions. Easily done, and it’s not too much of a big deal if you do forget, (there’s two questions and you’ll get one minor for each you get wrong). However, it’s great to make a good first impression to your examiner. Show them that you know what you’re doing and you can’t go wrong.
Don’t panic in the waiting room. Waiting for the examiner to call your name is probably the worst part of the test. Make sure you’re distracted, so chat with your instructor, bring a book to read, do whatever you feel will work for you.
Talk to your examiner. Examiners are the good guys and they won’t bite your head off, introduce yourself to the examiner, have a little chat and make small talk. This will minimize any awkwardness and you will feel more at ease. Remember that you can ask the examiner to repeat anything you didn’t hear and you can ask as many questions as you like.
Stick to the limit. Nervousness can cause learner drivers to speed. Remember to focus, ease your foot off the accelerator and keep an eye on the speedometer. Make sure you don’t drive too slowly though; this can be hazardous and cause you to fail too.
Everyone will deal with test day nervousness differently, for example, Sarah who took her driving lessons in Luton was very nervous and she found that breathing exercises helped her lots. In extreme cases of anxiety and nervousness, you can get medication from your doctor, so speak to a professional if you think that you want a little extra help with calming your nerves.
Always remember, you’ve been given the go ahead by your driving instructor. They wouldn’t let you take your test if you weren’t ready, so rest assured that you’ve already got the thumbs up from an expert who believes in you!
Remember to focus on the task at hand and you will succeed!