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If you’re about to take your practical driving test, you may be feeling a little nervous – it’s completely normal. ‘Test anxiety’ is a common condition often experienced by those being monitored on their performance, such as in situations like the UK driving test, school examinations, or sports competitions, for example. Test anxiety is sometimes praised as being beneficial in certain situations, with many claiming that the added stress acts as a motivator, encouraging a desire to study and prepare, and ultimately raising confidence. However, in a driving test environment, it could be that test anxiety is, in fact, detrimental. Could being nervous really mean the difference between a pass and a fail?
Determining whether someone is anxious or not can be quite challenging, but there are a number of physical factors that can indicate the presence of this psychological condition, including an elevated heart rate. Back in 2006, a study was conducted specifically looking at the UK driving test, and the effects of anxiety on driving performance. Participants were placed into one of three categories – those taking a regular driving lesson, those taking a mock driving test, and those taking a real UK driving test. As the researchers expected, heart rate was elevated significantly in the driving test group, but remained constant in the other two groups. More participants in the real driving test group failed, when compared to the mock test group, where many participants were successful.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Nervous
With your driving test being one of the most important events in your life (it does, after all, represent a much longed for freedom), it seems like it should be OK to be feeling a little nervous, but you shouldn’t be. Worrying about whether you pass or fail isn’t going to help, nor could it change the outcome. One study looked at the driving performance of 50 nervous drivers, and 50 confident drivers, and the results were very interesting.
One conclusion that researchers arrived at was that nervous drivers were more likely to make mistakes on the road – that part is to be expected, and many other studies have replicated the results. However, the study also found that the types of mistake that were made by both groups were similar, indicating that if you’re going to make a mistake, you’re going to make it whether you’re nervous or not. While that’s not exactly the most comforting of facts, it uncategorically demonstrates that being nervous isn’t going to be beneficial to you on the day of your test. Instead, what is beneficial is making sure you’re skilled and experienced on the road before booking your driving test – that’s the best recipe for success.
How to Stay Calm & In Control
Remaining calm is, of course, easier said than done. So just how do you keep those nerves in check on the morning of the big day? Being confident in your ability is key. If you’re nervous, then it could be a sign that you don’t feel ready to take your test. If that’s the case, consider taking a few more lessons beforehand. Currently, the DVLA allows you to change the date of your driving test with 3 days notice or more without additional cost, and you can change the date up to 6 times without needing to cancel and start the booking process from the start. It’s also worth getting a good nights sleep beforehand so that you’re fresh and alert on the day. And don’t forget – don’t dwell on the outcome. The average pass rate in the UK is just under 50 percent – if you don’t succeed the first time, you’re not alone – just try again when you’re ready.
