Driving Test Nerves – How to Beat Them.

So the day of your driving test is looming large. You have taken driving lessons in Nottingham with one of the Nottingham driving schools and have your test day booked. Suddenly you find your driving standards are slipping as you get nervous about the big day. This article gives advice on how to deal with nerves and improve your chances of driving test success.

The best way to begin dealing with nervousness is to be confident in your own abilities. If you have had sufficient training and are sure that you have covered all topics in the driving test syllabus then you can be sure that the situation is under your control. If you feel that you are not up to the standard and are relying on luck to see you through then you are much more likely to be nervous. These nerves will show during lessons as the number of mistakes you make will increase. Making one mistake can lead to many others as tension builds. If you do make a mistake, learn from it then leave it behind and carry on with a positive attitude.

Performance related stress will be more intense if you are relying on passing your test as part of a job requirement or you are under pressure from family or friends. The more you have riding on the test, the more nervous you will be. Try to be calm and realise what it is that makes you feel nervous, if you know why you feel under pressure then it is easier to deal with it. Always remember that the driving test is not a one shot deal. If the worst happens and you fail, you just book another and try again.

Your driving instructor will support you during your test preparations. We have taken tests ourselves and deal regularly with others who are taking driving tests. Don’t be afraid to ask your instructor for advice about test nerves. Your driving instructor would not let you take your test if they did not believe you were capable of passing it. Ask about other people who have passed and how they dealt with nerves. Everybody gets nervous. You are not alone.

There are some things that you can do to help yourself. Make sure you have enough sleep the night before your driving test. You are not in a position to deal effectively with stress if you are tired. It can be an advantage to take your test early in the day as you will have less time to sit and dwell on it. A test later in the afternoon leaves plenty of time to worry, which in itself can be tiring. Turn off your phone before you set off for the test as messages from friends and relatives can add to the pressure and make matters worse, instead focus on the job at hand.

In the hour before your test don’t worry about any driving mistakes you make. Performance is often poor on the run up to a test. Just relax and enjoy your drive. It can be useful to talk yourself through a test. Talking your way through the routines and procedures is a good way to get things in order and the examiner won’t mind. Even talking through the first five minutes can put your mind at rest and help you build up a rhythm to your drive.

Most importantly. Be sure of your driving abilities and know that you are up to the standard. If you are well prepared then everything else is just details. Good luck!