Driving tests are often a nerve-wracking time for those involved, and the build-up can be just as bad. The trouble is if you panic and become distressed you’re not going to perform in the way you should be. So, you need to come up with ways to calm you down and give you peace of mind so you can ace your test. Use the ideas on this list as reference points that will help you plan and prepare for a stress-free test.
Relax
The best way to de-stress and get peace of mind for your test is to try to relax. Yes, this might be easier said than done, but it’s still something you need to try to work toward. When you relax you become calmer and less stressed. This in turn helps make you more confident and helps you to think more clearly. Just remember, you’ve prepared well for this, and you know what you’re doing. Try to remain calm and collected; you’ll do a much better job as a driver if you can relax.
Prepare
The key to success is making sure you’re prepared, and it’s easy to do this. You need to make sure you’re familiar with everything you’ve learnt. Make sure you take extra lessons, and you revise thoroughly. Set yourself a revision schedule for each week (or day). This way you’ll be organised and have things planned out. You can do little bits of studying on a regular basis. This breaks things up a bit and means you’re not overwhelmed by doing too much in one go.
Rest Well
When you have an impending test, you need to make sure you’re getting plenty of rest. Sleep is vital to ensure that your brain is functioning at the highest possible level. If you’re not resting well, you’re not going to be revising well. It also means you could sleep poorly on the night before the test. This will severely impede your abilities on the day. So you need to get into the habit of sleeping well in the build-up. Try to aim to get around eight hours of sleep each night. This is the perfect amount to help your body and mind get the rest they need.
Revise
You’re going to need to make sure you take some extra lessons, but you also need to make sure you revise. This means brushing up on everything you’ve already learnt. You can also go online and do the G1 practice test, and other theory test techniques. You need to remember that you’ve got a theory test to prepare for as well as a practical. But the good thing is that a lot of the theory will apply to your practical. So extra revision will stand you in good stead for both tests.
Take Extra Lessons
It’s imperative that you’re comfortable behind the wheel, and that you feel like you know what you’re doing. The best way to ensure this is to take extra driving lessons in the build up to the test. Even if you and your instructor feel you’re ready to take your test, ask them for extra lessons. It’s much better to be over prepared than under prepared. Use the extra lessons to brush up on things you’re unsure of or you feel you’re weak on. You need to use the time well, so when you finally get behind the wheel on test day, you’re full of confidence.
Be Sensible
One of the most important things you need to bear in mind is that this is a serious occasion. You need to treat the test with the respect it deserves. Make sure your approach is sensible and professional at all times. This way you will give yourself the best chance of passing, and you’ll feel more prepared. This means you need to do some revision and brush up on what you know. Get people to test you and critique you as much as possible.
Speak to Other Drivers
A great way to get yourself prepared is to speak to other drivers. Don’t forget, they’ve all been where you are. So you need to speak with them and find out how they dealt with the process. It’s important do extra stuff like this. It gives you an advantage in preparing for the test. You can use tactics recommended by other drivers. Also, it will help to know that what you’re feeling is pretty common. You’re not the first person to be nervous about a test, and you won’t be the last. Having this confirmed by friends or family members who have been through it will make you feel much better.
Do Other Things
Like when you revise for exams, it’s important not to spend all your time revising. You need to think about other things, and you need to do other things. Set yourself some time every day to spend doing things that are wholly unrelated to your test. Try to pick something that allows you to focus on other things. If you can put the driving test out of your mind for a while, it helps you stay calmer and more relaxed. Thinking about it too much is only going to stress you out and make things worse.
Give Yourself Extra Incentive
Of course, being a qualified driver is a pretty good incentive already. However, if you feel you’re the sort of person who performs well with goals to reach you should set some. Perhaps you’ve got your eye on a particular type of car. Maybe your parents have promised you a reward for passing your test. If you can set extra incentives, it will make you more determined to achieve your goals, and you’ll be less focused on the stress!
We all know how tough it can be when we have a driving test looming, so it’s vital to make the necessary preparations. You’ve got to be sure you give yourself the best possible chance of passing. It can be stressful and nerve-wracking in the build up to a test. So anything you can do to make things easier on yourself is encouraged.