Driving Test Nerves - how to stay calm on your driving test.

Summary

This video script offers practical advice on staying calm during a driving test. It emphasizes the importance of being well-prepared, not overthinking mistakes, and focusing on the present. The speaker shares personal anecdotes and insights from an instructor's perspective, suggesting strategies like having jokes ready to lighten the mood, understanding the examiner's role, and not letting external pressures affect performance. The goal is to approach the test with confidence, patience, and a mindset geared towards driving well rather than merely avoiding failure.

Takeaways

• 😌 Nerves can significantly impact performance during tasks, including driving tests.
• 🕗 The hour before the test is for warm-up and mental preparation, not for learning new skills.
• 🔑 If you make a mistake during the warm-up, view it as an opportunity to correct it before the test.
• 👩‍🏫 Driving examiners conduct multiple tests daily and likely won't remember your previous attempts.
• 📱 Examiners using a tablet to record does not necessarily mean you've made a mistake.
• 🚫 Avoid situations that create undue pressure, such as needing a license urgently for a job.
• 🎯 Focus on the present during the test to avoid being distracted by past or future concerns.
• 🛑 Remember, you can still pass with up to 15 minor faults; don't dwell on mistakes.
• 🚗 Approach the test with confidence, not fear; trust your abilities and make decisive actions.
• 🍌 Prepare by staying hydrated and energized, possibly with foods like bananas.
• 🕘 Arrive early at the test center to avoid additional stress from rushing or traffic.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to provide tips and advice on how to stay calm and perform well during a driving test.

Why is the hour before the driving test not considered a lesson?

The hour before the driving test is not considered a lesson because it is meant to be a warm-up period for the candidate to get used to the car and have a chat with the instructor, rather than learning new skills.

What should a candidate do if they make a mistake during the warm-up before the test?

If a candidate makes a mistake during the warm-up, they should view it as an opportunity to correct it before the test, rather than worrying about the looming test.

Why might driving examiners seem robotic or unemotional during a test?

Driving examiners might seem robotic or unemotional because they conduct around seven tests per day, which can lead to a certain level of routine and formality in their interactions.

What is the significance of the examiner using a tablet computer during the test?

The significance of the examiner using a tablet computer is that they are recording the test report form. A candidate should not assume they are doing something wrong just because the examiner is touching the screen.

Why is it advised not to put oneself in a position where they can't afford to fail the driving test?

It is advised not to put oneself in a position where they can't afford to fail because the extra pressure can make it harder to pass the test and may lead to more mistakes.

What is the maximum number of minor driving faults allowed to still pass the driving test?

You can get up to 15 minor driving faults on the driving test and still pass.

What is the advice against trying not to fail during the driving test?

The advice is to focus on driving well rather than trying not to fail, as the latter can lead to being overly cautious, hesitant, and making more mistakes.

Why is it recommended to arrive early at the test center?

Arriving early at the test center allows the candidate to review questions, chat with the instructor, and get in a good frame of mind without the added stress of rushing or being late.

What is the importance of knowing the immediate area around the test center?

Knowing the immediate area around the test center can help reduce nervousness and make the start of the test easier, as the candidate will be familiar with the roads and not be caught off guard by unexpected junctions or road conditions.

Why is it suggested to keep the fact that you have a driving test to a minimum number of people?

Keeping the fact that you have a driving test to a minimum number of people can reduce the pressure and potential embarrassment of having to tell others about a failure, allowing the candidate to focus on the test itself.

What should a candidate do after their driving test?

After the driving test, it is best for the candidate not to drive immediately, as emotions will be high and they may not be able to focus on driving safely. Instead, they should let someone else drive them where they need to go.

Outlines

00:00

😌 Staying Calm During Your Driving Test

This paragraph discusses the impact of nerves on performance and offers advice on how to stay calm during a driving test. It emphasizes the importance of being well-prepared before the test, using the pre-test warm-up to familiarize oneself with the car and discuss any concerns with the instructor. It also suggests that making mistakes during the warm-up can be beneficial as it reduces the chances of repeating them during the actual test. The paragraph explains that driving examiners are not out to fail candidates and that they may appear robotic due to the high volume of tests they conduct daily. It advises candidates to be prepared with a couple of light-hearted jokes to ease tension and not to be alarmed by the examiner's use of a tablet during the test. The speaker also advises against putting oneself in a high-pressure situation where failure is not an option and to focus on the present moment during the test, rather than dwelling on past mistakes or future challenges.

05:01

🍌 Tips for a Successful Driving Test

The second paragraph provides practical tips for dealing with nerves and ensuring a comfortable test environment. It suggests bringing water to avoid dry mouth and having some food for energy, recommending bananas as a good choice. Arriving early at the test center is advised to review questions and chat with the instructor, which can help to alleviate pre-test anxiety. The speaker also recommends familiarizing oneself with the test center area and major junctions to reduce pressure. Patience with oneself during the learning process is encouraged, as understanding the process can lead to less frustration and potentially identify issues that are prolonging the learning time. The paragraph also touches on the speaker's personal experiences with driving tests, noting that people often care more about their own performance than that of others, and shares a personal anecdote about passing the test on the third attempt.

10:02

🚗 Overcoming Anxiety and Passing the Test

In the third paragraph, the speaker shares a detailed account of their personal driving test experiences, highlighting the importance of overcoming anxiety and not trying to please the examiner. The narrative includes specific reasons for failing previous tests, such as insufficient observation and incorrect speed adaptation, and emphasizes the importance of not letting external factors, like a difficult examiner, affect performance. The speaker also discusses the pressure of taking the test multiple times and how adopting an attitude of indifference towards the outcome can actually lead to better performance. The paragraph concludes with advice on keeping test appointments confidential to avoid additional pressure and stresses the necessity of being fully prepared before taking the test.

15:02

🛡️ Post-Test Advice and Insurance Options

The final paragraph offers advice for after the driving test, recommending that someone else drive the candidate to their destination due to potential emotional distress, regardless of the test outcome. It then transitions into a promotion for two insurance services: one for learners wishing to insure themselves on someone else's car without affecting the owner's policy, and another for those looking to insure their own car, offering a comparison tool to find the best rates. The paragraph encourages viewers to subscribe for more content and provides links for the insurance services mentioned, noting that using these links supports the channel.

Keywords

💡Nerves

Nerves refer to feelings of anxiety or nervousness that can affect performance in various tasks, including taking a driving test. In the video, nerves are highlighted as a common obstacle that can cause individuals to fumble even simple tasks, such as opening a door under pressure. The script emphasizes the importance of managing nerves to perform well during the driving test.

💡Driving Test

A driving test is an examination that assesses an individual's ability to drive safely and within the rules of the road. The video script discusses various aspects of the driving test experience, including preparation, the role of the driving instructor, the demeanor of the examiner, and strategies for staying calm and focused during the test.

💡Warm-up

In the context of the video, a warm-up refers to the practice session with the driving instructor before the actual driving test. It is meant to help the candidate get accustomed to the car and to be in a good mental state for the test. The script mentions that this warm-up is not for learning new skills but for familiarization and mental preparation.

💡Show and Tell Questions

Show and Tell Questions are part of the driving test where the candidate is asked to demonstrate knowledge of the vehicle's controls and features without physically driving. The script suggests reviewing these questions during the warm-up to ensure readiness for the test.

💡Examiner

The examiner in a driving test is the official who assesses the candidate's driving skills and determines whether they pass or fail. The video script provides insights into the examiner's role, their typical daily routine, and how their behavior can affect the test atmosphere.

💡Mistake

A mistake in the context of the video refers to an error made during the driving test. The script advises candidates not to dwell on mistakes, as they are a natural part of the learning process and can still pass the test with a certain number of minor faults.

💡Overcautious

Being overcautious means being excessively careful to the point where it may hinder performance. The video warns against this behavior during the driving test, as it can lead to hesitancy and incorrect decisions, which can result in failure.

💡Patience

Patience, as discussed in the video, is the ability to tolerate waiting, delay, or frustration without becoming agitated or upset. It is suggested that understanding the learning process and one's own pace can foster patience, which is beneficial for those taking driving tests.

💡Indicator

An indicator is a vehicle's signaling device used to communicate the driver's intentions to turn or change lanes. The script mentions the proper use of indicators during the driving test, cautioning against using them as a request to merge into traffic, which is against the rules.

💡Pressure

Pressure in the video refers to the stress or strain felt by the candidate, which can negatively impact their performance on the driving test. The script advises against creating self-imposed pressure by keeping the test a secret until after it is completed.

💡Observations

Observations in the context of driving refer to the act of checking mirrors, blind spots, and traffic conditions before making any maneuver. The video script mentions that insufficient observations were a reason for failing the driving test in one of the personal anecdotes shared.

Highlights

Nerves can significantly impact physical tasks, such as driving.

Driving instructors usually pick up students an hour before the test for a warm-up, not to learn new skills.

Mistakes during warm-up are opportunities to correct them before the actual test.

Driving examiners conduct about seven tests daily and are unlikely to remember previous tests.

Examiners prefer not to fail candidates due to the additional paperwork involved.

Examiners may seem robotic due to the high volume of tests they conduct.

Having a couple of jokes can help lighten the mood during the test.

Examiners use a tablet computer for test reports, and seeing them tap the screen doesn't necessarily mean a mistake was made.

Avoid putting yourself in a situation where failure is not an option to reduce test pressure.

Focus on the present during the test to avoid being distracted by past or future concerns.

Up to 15 minor driving faults are allowed on the test, so don't dwell on mistakes.

Approach the test with confidence, not fear of failure.

Being over cautious can lead to more mistakes and increased nerves.

Slow down if feeling nervous to regain control and focus.

Bring water and food to the test to stay hydrated and energized.

Arrive at the test center early to avoid additional stress from traffic.

Familiarize yourself with the test center area to reduce initial nervousness.

Understanding and being patient with the learning process can help improve driving skills.

Don't try to create your own test route or ignore the examiner's instructions.

Realize that people are generally more concerned with their own performance than judging others.

The narrator's personal experience of passing the driving test on the third attempt.

Advice on not telling anyone about the test to avoid additional pressure.

Ensure you are truly ready before taking the driving test to increase chances of success.

It's recommended that someone else drives you after the test due to potential emotional distress.

Transcripts

failing the driving test because of

nerves is a very real thing nerves can

have a huge impact on how you perform a

physical task for example opening your

front door fairly simple put the key and

turn the key open the door but if you

think someone's chasing you with a knife

well it's understandable if you suddenly

become all fingers and no thumbs as you

try to put the key in the door so in

this video i'm going to be focusing on

how you can stay calm during your

driving test

your driving instructor will normally

pick you up about an hour before the

test this is not a lesson though so

don't go planning to learn new skills

during this hour you should already be

test ready by this stage this is just a

warm-up so you can drive get used to the

car again have a chat with your

instructor so that you can get yourself

in a good frame of mind for the test and

maybe go over the show and tell

questions also

if you make a mistake during the warm-up

instead of worrying about the looming

test instead think like this

i've made the mistake now so i don't

need to make it later

driving examiners normally do around

about seven tests per day so if this is

not your first test you've had a

previous test and you happen to get the

same examiner don't think they're going

to remember your last test unless you

happen to look like their favorite pop

star they're most likely not going to

remember you

driving examiners don't want to fail you

i mean they really don't it's more

paperwork

but as they do around about seven tests

per day every working day plus sometimes

over time it's no surprise that they can

come across a bit robotic sometimes i

mean the best examiners can stay jovial

test after test they can have jokes on

tap not like why did the chicken cross

the road kind of joke but maybe

naming the sat nav this is arnold he's

going to be directing you for the next

20 minutes that can just lighten the

mood but not all examiners are that way

and the

atmosphere can be rather silent and

quite tense sometimes so why not have a

couple of jokes up your own sleeve not

jokes that are going to offend anyone or

are so deadpan that they don't know

you're joking but just enough to lighten

the mood and make the atmosphere a bit

more bearable

driving examiners used to have a piece

of paper that they filled out the test

report form now they have it on a

computer the tablet

just because they touch that screen on

that tablet computer that doesn't mean

you've done something wrong it could do

but they tap it for all kinds of reasons

so if you see them prodding away

don't let it put you off

if you can try to avoid putting yourself

in a position where you can't afford to

fail because that extra pressure is

going to make it harder to pass the

driving test for example you may have

just had a job interview and said yes

you can have the job as long as you get

your license by the end of the month

that's not a good position to be in that

makes passing the test even more

challenging of course sometimes it's out

of your control and that's just how the

cookie crumbles but if you can

learn to drive before your life requires

it it is easier

during the driving test focus on the now

what it is you're currently dealing with

try not to dwell on the past or worry

about the future if you're on a road and

you know later there's a couple of

junctions that you don't really like

don't think about them yet concentrate

on what you're doing now because if your

head is in the past you're not focusing

on the present and if your head is in

the future you're not focusing on the

present and you want to be focusing on

what you're doing

and that leads me on to the fact that

you can get up to 15 minor driving

faults on the driving test and still

pass so if you made a mistake earlier

don't dwell on it because it's only

going to distract you from what you're

doing now and you may not have failed

this may sound like a strange piece of

advice

don't go into your driving test trying

not to fail

what i mean by that is if you go into

your driving test trying so hard not to

fail you're going to be treading on

eggshells you're not going to trust

yourself you're going to second guess

your decision you're going to be

hesitant you're probably going to be

over cautious and too slow when you do

your driving test you've got to go in

head first you can't be afraid of the

driving examiner don't try to please the

driving examiner trust yourself and do

what you think is right when you need to

do it probably the most common cause of

my pupils failing is trying not to fail

they end up being over cautious they end

up not trusting their own decisions

instead of trying not to fail

try to drive

don't try and get the test over and done

with

rushing leads to mistakes mistakes lead

to nerves

nerves lead to more rushing which then

leads to more mistakes you have a circle

going if you're feeling nervous and you

feel you're starting to rush

slow yourself down i don't mean the car

although slow the car down a little bit

if you feel that helps slow your

thinking down take back control

try to find a way to enjoy

the driving process

take some water with you to the test

it's quite normal for pupils to start to

get a dry mouth just before the test

because they're nervous and obviously if

you are less comfortable it's not going

to help matters don't drink too much

though because you don't want to be

wanting to relieve yourself halfway

through the test because that's going to

be uncomfortable and awkward if it does

happen

also have some food not so much that

you're feeling all lethargic food baby

but you want some energy apparently

bananas are just the ticket to try and

help you get through a driving test

get near the test center nice and early

you can't actually go into the test

center until five minutes before your

test but you can get nearby you can park

up at the side of the road somewhere go

through the show-and-tell questions and

have a chat with your driving instructor

to try and get yourself in a good frame

of mind to do the test hopefully a nice

light-hearted chat get you in a good

mood before you get there what you don't

want is to be stuck in traffic

stressing about missing your test time

that's not going to be a good start

it's a good idea to know the immediate

area around the test center when you

start your test you're going to be at

your most nervous most likely people

tend to get less nervous as it goes on

but if you're starting when you know the

road you know what lane you're going to

need that makes your life a lot less

difficult many people say if you can

drive well you can pass your test

anywhere but that is missing a point

that it is harder to drive in places you

don't know i find it much harder to

drive in places i don't know when i'm

trying to follow faded road markings or

road signs that are vandalized or been

knocked around the face the other way so

if you get to know the area a bit it can

take the pressure off and make the start

of your test a lot easier

also it's a good idea to be familiar

with all the major difficult junctions

within a 15 minute driving radius from

the test centre because on test you

rarely ever go much more than 15 minutes

away from the test center because you've

got to make it back and if you've got

that heads up of what lane you need on

this awkward roundabout

that gives you a better chance

try to have patience with yourself

if you're taking a long time to learn to

drive and you're feeling like you may

want to do your driving test before

you're ready it may be time to sit back

and try and understand exactly what's

going on

because

when you understand a process

you tend to have patience for that

process so if you understand yourself

you're going to have patience with

yourself but also

in understanding yourself

you may even figure out why

it's taking you a long time to learn so

it may help you solve

the very issue that's bothering you

i don't recommend doing your test before

you're ready though

if you go the wrong way don't worry that

in itself is not a fail as long as you

drive safely and legally however

if you decide you want to try and make

up your own test route and ignore the

driving examiner

then they will terminate the test and

you will fail

i'm generally bad at things like driving

tests and that's because i'm not very

good at doing something when someone's

watching me and i'm feeling judged

another example is guitar i like playing

guitar but when people watch me i don't

play as well as when i'm on my own but

no one will ever know that because they

won't get to see

however as i'm getting older and i know

i'm not old but i am 34 i've been

driving for

18 years soon

so i do have some life experience i have

noticed that i'm feeling less pressured

when i'm doing these tasks and people

are watching me and i think that's

partly because i'm starting to realize

that generally speaking people care

about how they look

not about how you look so if i pass my

driving test first time hey i passed

first time

i may care about that but other people

probably don't care how many times

it took me to pass

in fact

actually

you may not care about my hair but

whilst i've still got it

i do

now i want to tell you about my story

and how many times it took me

to pass a driving test

i passed third time

and that's despite me being a bit of a

car nut and counting down the days from

quite an early age of when i would be

allowed to learn to drive

now

the first test

i wasn't bothered about that because

that was a punt i did it way before i

was ready and i was like what have i

passed yippee if not nah doesn't matter

and i nearly passed it well when i say i

nearly passed it considering how badly i

expected myself to do i nearly passed it

i failed for two reasons one is i didn't

have good enough observations pulling

out of a junction i don't remember it's

a long time ago and another one was when

i was slowing down towards a mini

roundabout it was a 70 mile an hour road

that became 30 on the way to the mini

roundabout and i was slowing down with

the flow of traffic and because that 30

was quite early

i was still doing 50

by the time i

passed the 30 sign didn't really notice

the 30 sign i was just doing the same

speed as the other cars

so yeah that was definitely a fail but

there was also another reason why i

nearly failed that test and in my head

it's the fail because it was only luck

that i didn't fail i went left at a mini

roundabout then straight at a mini

roundabout but when i went straight at

the mini roundabout i didn't cancel my

indicator the steering wheel canceled it

for me

just at the last second so my eyes

that's just luck for me that really is a

third reason to fail that test got away

of it but not good enough need to work

on that

second test by this time i had done 34

hours of practice and as i am really

into cars i knew about cars and now they

work anyway so

you know for me that felt like a long

time

and i'm very familiar with using the

road i cycled a lot

so i felt like i should pass this and

that put me under pressure that gave me

a lot of anxiety it's really shaking

didn't enjoy that test one little bit i

do remember it and i do remember having

quite a tooty driving examiner lots of

these noises

those kind of things quite off-putting i

failed that for two reasons

one was i broke too hard at an amber

light at some traffic lights

definitely because i'm anxious i've seen

the lights turned to amber and i've gone

uh lights are turning red

hit the brakes and he said i should have

carried on through

he's right

another one

was i was stopped at the side of the

road the examiner asked me to carry on

and it was busy lots of cars coming past

so i indicated to ask the traffic to let

me out someone flashed their lights and

let me out and he failed me for that too

that one really made me angry because

it's what i see people do all the time

and i didn't understand you couldn't do

that i thought if you're waiting to pull

out put your indicator on and uh someone

will let you out but you're not allowed

to use your indicator as a request when

the traffic is flowing it's only when

it's slow moving or stop start traffic

when you're stopped at the side of the

road that you should ask you should wait

for a gap

what people do and what you're supposed

to do is sometimes two different things

the third test i passed this one and i

was

really super anxious

about this one

because it's my third attempt most

people seem to get less anxious as they

do more attempts

in my experience as a driving instructor

that's the case anyway but for me i was

feeling even more anxious i was like i

fell this one

well bad thoughts

but

i remember i had a much nicer examiner

and

i remember going down bounced road in

colchester feeling really quite shaky

and nervous not confident and i just got

fed up i actually lost patience

with how i was feeling and i took the

attitude of i don't care anymore i'm

going to do what i think i need to do

and i don't care what the examiner

thinks

and i felt better i started to feel

less nervous

and i and i drove better and i think if

i didn't start feeling like that then i

probably

wouldn't have passed i believe i got

five miners four or five miners i don't

remember but that's why i give the

advice of don't try and please the

examiner don't worry about them just do

what you think you need to do

another tip is not to tell anyone that

you have a test book because that's

going to put you under more pressure

you're going to feel like you're going

to have to tell people you failed if you

do fail that's pressure there's no need

for anyone to know and if there is a

need keep it to the minimum amount of

people

but probably the most important tip is

to be ready before you take your driving

test you need to be able to drive for

between 40 minutes and an hour without

making any serious mistakes and without

help from your driving instructor you

also need to be able to do all of your

maneuvers

including the emergency stop

after your driving test it's best that

your driving instructor or whoever took

you to the driving test drives you where

you need to go because emotions are

going to be high whether or not you pass

or fail they're going to be high so it's

best you don't drive straight away

because you won't be focusing on driving

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