ADI Part 2 - Coping With Test Pressure

Coping with Part 2 pressure . . .

If you feel a sense of dread at the thought of your driving test, you'll feel just the same as the many thousands of learners and ADI trainees who take their tests every day across the UK. There's absolutely nothing unusual about getting nervous or worried when the test of driving ability is just around the corner.

There are many reasons for nerves and the feeling of anxiety before taking the driving test, and we hope we can help you come to terms with some of them here.

The main cause of stress is that 'fear of the unknown'. Not knowing exactly what you're going into, not knowing how the test is marked or how driver errors are recorded. What will the examiner do? what will they say?

For most of you, your trainer will have spent some considerable time explaining just exactly what the SE will do and say on the test. You should have the confidence of having practiced the manoeuvres and high standard of driving required to pass this test. With good training and dedication, you'll have no problems at all in passing this test.

There are various methods you can use to help calm the nerves and allow you to look at the test in a much more positive light.

The first thing we'd recommend that you do is to visit the test centre itself. Take a look at the parking arrangements . . . are there special bays marked out for driving test candidates? What about the waiting room? Most importantly, where are the toilets? I'm sure that you'll need to pay a visit just before the test. You'd be unusual if you didn't.

The very act of going to the test centre and visiting the waiting area will remove an awful lot of the mystery. You'll get a picture in your mind of exactly where you're going, and the whole thing won't seem that daunting.

Take the time to have a drive around the area of the test centre, wit your trainer, if possible. You certainly don't need to go too far, but if you know the road layout in the near vicinity, it will allow you to relax into your drive in familiar surroundings.

Just a word about test routes. There is no need at all to practice any of the ADI test routes, but if you want to get to know the routes you can get them from the DSA. Simply e-mail their customer services section and they'll be happy to supply them to you. Be careful though. You cannot rely on the SE taking you along one of the pre set test routes anyway, as the SE can vary the route as he or she feels necessary.

Another method of getting used to driving test conditions is to have your trainer conduct one or two 'mock' tests with you, role playing the part of the SE. This can be very strange at first, yet sadly there are many trainees who arrive for this test without the slightest idea of what to expect.

Mock tests have to be handled carefully. The idea is that all training is constructive and adds to the learning process. Sadly, many mock tests are reduced to nothing more than a drive around, with the trainer handing the trainee a long list of everything that went wrong at the end.

During your training, your trainer will (or should) have used the same language and terminology as the SE will on test, so none of it should come as any surprise to you at all.

Staying Positive

One of the most powerful, most successful ways of preparing yourself for this test is to actually think and communicate with yourself in a positive frame of mind. Most people have a 'voice' inside their heads, telling them how they feel and what they should do. Make strident efforts to control this, and try to make all the language you use to yourself or others be as positive as possible.

For example, be very wary of using negative words or expressions such as 'don't' i.e.."I don't want to fail"

The human brain finds it absolutely impossible to work in 'negatives'. Instead, it converts negatives into positives, to try to make sense of them. So, the brain drops the word 'don't' from the above phrase and your subconscious interprets it as "I want to fail"

By the way, these are not just my opinions or silly ideas. They are cold, hard, well established, psychological facts that have been researched and understood for many years.

If I say to you "don't think of what your training car looks like" . . . your brain has to think of what your car looks like, so that it then knows what not to think about. Very strange, but very powerful indeed.

So, instead of telling yourself what you don't want, tell yourself, and others, what you do want.

For example, say "I want to pass" instead of "I don't want to fail". Say "I'll pass if I drive like I know I can" instead of "I'll fail if I drive worse than normal"

Medications and Hypnosis

It's not unusual for people to take all manner of pills and potions before taking a driving test, just to calm them down. Unfortunately a great many of these contain ingredients that place you into a very calm, almost drowsy, state of mind. Just at the time when you need to have your anticipation skills at their peek, you might just want to fall asleep.

If you do decide to take any tablets or medications for your nerves, you would be best advised to speak to your doctor or chemist, and to take careful consideration of the effects that anything would have on your level of alertness and your ability to drive. Always seek expert assistance. Your future career could depend upon the outcome of this test.

Another alternative treatment that seems to be gaining in popularity is hypnosis. This is a completely natural process that can have tremendously powerful results on those who fully participate. It has been shown to work wonders on certain individuals, and certainly the majority of people do gain some benefit.

There are various self help tape cassettes and audio CD's that can be freely purchased to assist you in maintaining a calm outlook. Many of us get embarrassed at the thought of such things, but if these methods help you, then they've been worthwhile.

These tapes and CD's can be easily purchased on-line from various suppliers. A simple search on your favourite search engine will reveal many from which you can choose.

I hope that this advice has been of some assistance, although I fully appreciate that each of us will feel nervous to some extent. I still feel nervous every time any of my students takes a test. Whether it's part 2, part 3 or a learner test, the feeling is just the same.

ADIT Team.