As a driving instructor, this is a question I get asked a lot – and if I could wave a magic wand to take that pre-test anxiety away, I would.
But nerves are actually a good thing in some ways – being nervous shows us how much something matters to us, and when we approach them from the right perspective, we can use the energy in a positive way to focus and motivate ourselves. Despite this, I understand how pre-test nerves can be frustrating and distracting and can even affect performance on the day, if you’re really struggling.
First things first, it’s completely natural to feel nervous before any kind of exam or event. Absolutely everyone does. However, the more prepared and focused you can be, the less likely you’ll find nerves will impact upon the test itself.
Here I’m sharing a few of my favourite, simple and easy steps to help you calm your nerves before a driving test. Different things work for different people of course, but these are all highly effective, common-sense ways to manage those driving test jitters.
Trust yourself
First things first – trust in yourself and your driving abilities! You’ve come this far. You’ve spent many hours behind the wheel learning the ropes. Now it’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice. If you feel ready and think you can pass, don’t doubt yourself.
Trust your instructor
A good driving instructor will not send you for your test before you are ready (however much you’re keen to get it over and done with!) Something which isn’t often talked about (but is rife in the industry) is students being pushed or pressured to take their test too early, before they are fully ready. Usually this pressure comes externally from family or friends – but whatever people say, it’s incredibly important to be sensible and only book your driving test when you feel ready and able to pass (and when your instructor also feels you are ready, too). ‘Passing’ the test isn’t the only goal – it’s to be a competent and safe driver who feels confident dealing with challenges out on the road.
With all this said, be sure that if your driving instructor agrees that you are ready – you are! They’ve done this many times before and will know when your driving ability is sufficient to pass.
Practice makes perfect
The more you practice on the roads, the more confident you’ll become. On top of your professional driving tuition, it is recommended to have 22 additional hours of driving experience privately with a person who is legally able to supervise you (your accompanying adult must be over the age of 21 and a full licence holder for 3 years or more).
You’ll also want to get in extra practice on your manoeuvres as these can be a source of stress and difficulty during the test itself – with your instructor, clock up plenty of practice on your parallel park, forward/reverse bay parking and pulling up.
Be prepared
Not taking adequate time to fully prepare for your test can add anxiety and worries you really don’t need on the day. Be sure to:
- Have all your documents ready (provisional driving licence and theory test certificate)
- Arrive at the test centre early with enough time to spare (test centres run on a strict schedule – you don’t want to miss your slot or feel rushed into starting your test)
- Eat a light snack an hour or so before your test to keep blood sugar levels steady – avoid heavy foods and large meals and caffeine as this can add further to your stress
Try calming techniques
If the physical effects of anxiety are really getting the better of you, you could try some of the many calming techniques out there to help slow down your mind and bring some relief so that you can focus more easily. Breathwork and deep breathing techniques, meditation, journaling and even exercise like running could all help to relieve those pre-test jitters.
Be kind to yourself
Most of my students are way too hard on themselves if they make a mistake or ‘mess up’ even just once – but if you allow this to play on your mind and start to beat yourself up, it can affect the rest of your driving test. Learn to refocus each time you make a mistake – and instead of dwelling on how that could have gone better, use the energy wisely to concentrate on the next stage of your test.
Remember, if you don’t pass – you’ll get another chance. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a person, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver – performance on the day can be affected by multiple things. Regardless of what others may say or any pressure you might be feeling to pass your test, there’s absolutely no shame in having to take your test more than once. So go easy on yourself, and do your best – it’s all you can do!
