It’s a challenging task to pass driving tests here in QLD. A study from Budget Direct reports that the pass rate for practical driving tests in Queensland was only 61%. The difficulty of the test puts pressure on a trainee. You have to deal with this stress so that it does not impact your performance. Getting enough sleep, having a good breakfast, and drinking water can help. You should also do enough practice before the big day. This will boost confidence and help you perform well in the practical driving exam.
Top 20 Strategies to Overcome Stress and Pass Your Driving Test
You have to be strategic about the driving test preparation. Follow these stress management techniques to overcome stress and anxiety.
Prepare An Exam Day Checklist
You must make a list of items you will need to do and take on the test day. Take your time to make the list. Go through it again and again to ensure nothing is missing. For reassurance, show the list to your trainer. They can help you find out if anything is missing. Keep the checklist to you, and make sure you have every document you need for the test. This list will boost your confidence. You have everything you need. So, there is nothing to worry about.
Talk to Passed Drivers for Driving Test Tips
It’s a good approach for stress reduction. Ask your family members, relatives, or friends. They can share real experiences of how it feels to sit for the test. Maybe you will get some important tips for remaining calm and focused. Learning about their experience will also help in confidence building.
Practice Before Your Big Test
Tense nerves are normal before a big driving test. But you can calm them with a practice drive before. Ask your driving teacher for a lesson before test day. It will refresh your skills behind the wheel. Your body will relax into the driving routine, too.
The test drive just shows what you already know and lets you feel ready. Your teacher can also give you the crucial final tips to use on test day. That extra drive time helps in two ways. One, you'll feel more comfortable in the car. Two, your teacher can reassure you that you've totally got this.
Keep the Test A Secret
Trainees are often subconsciously worried about failure. They think their peers will laugh at them. This makes them tense and affects exam preparation. How about keeping it a secret? Only tell the people you truly love and know they love you. Their support is crucial. But you don’t have to tell everyone. So, even if you fail, it won’t be a big deal. Your body and brain will feel chilled and calm.
Avoid Overthinking and Overestimating
Examinees often overthink. They feel afraid and overestimate the complexities. In reality, it’s just like another mock driving test. You don’t have to do anything special to pass. Just do the things you have learned, and you will comfortably pass the test. Overthinking will only affect your pretest relaxation. You can try the following methods for overcoming nerves:
- Listen to calming music
- Go for a walk
- Read a book or do a puzzle
- Practice meditation, etc.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting a good night's sleep may sound basic, but it really helps. After all, when you don't get enough sleep, it can negatively impact your mood and how well you think and focus. And those things are really important when you are taking your driving test.
Is the exam stress keeping you awake? Try some breathing exercises. Close your eyes and think of all the positive things. You have passed the test and are going for a long drive. Keep away all electronic devices from you. You must not miss sleep the night before the test.
Eat Right Before Your Test
It's important to feel energised for your driving test. Your body needs time to turn the food into the energy you'll need. So, be sure to eat something healthy about an hour before.
Some good options are:
- A sandwich with lean meat and veggies
- Yoghourt with berries
- A banana and some nuts
Experts say foods like beans, fruits, nuts, and veggies can help reduce stress, too. They give your body antioxidants.
Stay Hydrated for Your Test
Driving can take focus and concentration. Dehydration can cause difficulty focusing, according to the OSHA. So, be sure to drink plenty of water in the hours before your test. It will help you think clearly during the test. You can take a water bottle with you, but don't drink while driving during the test. Drink up before heading to your test. That way, our mind and body will feel ready to show what you've learned behind the wheel.
Go through Everything You Have Learned
This will keep you busy for some time and will be a good use of time as well. Go through all the traffic rules you have learned. Make sure you are not forgetting any of them. Drivers often forget even the most common rules under stress. If you made notes or prepared a notebook, go through them.
Find What's Got You Nervous
Dealing with nerves gets easier when you know what's causing them. Think back to what parts of driving give you the jitters. Make a little list of everything in the test. Go through and put a star by the trickier things. Now you know exactly what's got you on edge. Try practising more turns or memorising the rules. The tricky parts won't seem so tricky anymore. Once you improve those areas, your anxiety will fade.
Check the Driving Instructor Tips Before the Test
It’s always safe to learn from a driving school. They have expert instructors to train. They are professionals and know how to help a student. You must have been given some tips by them. It’s time to recall them. These tips are very handy to pass the test. Remembering the instructor's guidance and tips will help in test anxiety reduction.
Wear Comfortable Clothing
You don’t need to wear fancy clothes as part of test day readiness. Wear the clothes that make you comfortable and confident. Avoid wearing too tight clothes that might restrict the movement of limbs. Putting on your favourite clothes can psychologically help. It makes you feel good, happy, and, often, lucky.
Start Early for the Test Centre
Don’t be late to arrive at the driving test centre. This can promote stress and reduce confidence. Therefore, it’s always safe to reach early. You will have some time for exercise or meditation there. This will keep you calm and composed. Make sure you have plenty of time. Otherwise, a little traffic on the road may accelerate anxiety and stress. Reaching early also lets you get a view and understanding of the test centre environment.
Take A Familiar Car
It's good for mental preparation to take a familiar car. A car that you know very well. If you have already used the car many times, it acts like a friend. There is a rise in confidence behind the wheel. Nonetheless, test every part of the car before the test day so that you don’t face any trouble on the test day.
Use the Restroom Before the Test
You must not forget to use the washroom before the test. The test goes on for some time. The examiner won’t prevent you from going to the restroom during the test. However, it can affect your rhythm. The start of the test drive is always the most nerve-wracking one. If you stop mid-testing, you have to experience that again. So, it’s better to use the restroom early on.
Talk to the Examiner Before the Test
It’s an effective stress relief method. But many candidates don't even want to make eye contact. This keeps the fear alive in the mind. You will feel uncomfortable and worried during the drive. To prevent these from happening, you have to talk to the examiner. Get comfortable with him. They are there to protect you during the test and help you. It’s a common mistake for candidates to treat them as enemies. Talking to them will make you feel better and confident.
Take Deep Breaths
Breathing exercises for stress always work. Keep trying it whenever you are nervous, especially before the drive. Calm your body and mind. There is nothing to be worried about. It reduces heart rate, lowers stress hormones, and increases oxygen flow to the brain, according to Better Health. This helps you focus better and feel relaxed.
Tell Yourself You Are Ready
On a monumental day like this, you are your best motivator. Tell yourself you have got this, and you can do it. You have already practiced driving routes, and you will surely pass the driving exam. Being optimistic helps you stay calm and focus on your task.
Avoid Chatting During the Test
It’s a bad practice to talk to the examiner during the test. They won’t be very happy about this habit either. They are on duty, and you are on a test. So, focus on your task and let them do their work. Talking to them before the test is okay, not during the test. You may get distracted and end up making some errors.
Don’t Panic After A Mistake
Mistakes can happen during a drive. It happens to everyone. Examiners understand this, so it won’t be too harsh. You have nothing to worry about seeing them scribbling in their notes. Keep driving on your own, and you will make it eventually. The driving test is not the ideal time for self-assessment.
Final Words
Stress is not rare for driving test candidates. With a few strategic approaches, you can overcome it and pass the test. Follow the above-mentioned tips to hold on to your nerves. Good Gold Coast driving schools like Affordable Driving School help their students at these crucial moments. We help you with the preparation through guidance and mock tests. Our expert tips will keep you ready to handle any situation during the test. With little to no stress, you will crack the test for sure.