How do you remain cool, calm and collected on test?

[SVS]

Hi all,

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Any advice about remaining calm? Tricks of the trade? What's worked for you in the past?

Thanks in advance!!

[Benbay001]

SVS said:

Hi all,

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Any advice about remaining calm? Tricks of the trade? What's worked for you in the past?

Thanks in advance!!

When i did my IAM i looked at it as - "I have proven i can drive to a competent standard by passing the L test, so this cant be half as hard, and as long as i dont make any major errors then i can quite easily make the examiner forget it, if the rest of the drive goes well (dont have a strict pass/fail borderline, unlike L test)".
So for you, you have proven you can do it all once, just repeat what you did the first time, i really wouldnt worry, can you not get an observed run before hand?
Best of luck.

[LandingSpot]

I teach all associates to do an ace cockpit drill and show the examiner you mean business. Since it is the only part of the test you have control over, I think it helps to do impress straight off the bat and eases the tension for the whole test.

Where are you from? Where is your test? I think knowing the local roads means you take a tiny amount of extra liberty on them, so would always want to be tested on unknown roads.

Good luck!

[stefan1]

SVS said:

Hi all,

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Any advice about remaining calm? Tricks of the trade? What's worked for you in the past?

Thanks in advance!!

I am not sure these count as tricks of the trade, but these are some of things I do:

- some pre-test visualisations; imagine in my head what good would look and feel like (i.e. relaxed, observation working well, feeling ahead of the car etc.); and also imagine the positive comments at the end of the test. All this helps me focus on doing something successfully rather than getting worried about screwing up

- coping techniques for the drive itself; conscious awareness of any tension in my upper body and how to relax; if I make a mistake, a verbal acknowledgement (two benefits - tells the co-driver I'm aware of the mistake; stops me worrying about whether the co-driver saw it or not!) and then refocus on drive

- at the start of the drive, spending a moment on familiar things (like cockpit drill) to get into a focused frame of mind

- focus at start of drive on observation; get that right and all the training should just follow.

HTHs.

Cheers

[Benbay001]

Everytime you go out in the car between now and then, make the whole run a commentary run.

[LandingSpot]

stefan1 said:

- at the start of the drive, spending a moment on familiar things (like cockpit drill) to get into a focused frame of mind

Do not use any of the following phrases in said drill:

"All lights go on that should go on and all go off that should go off"
"Mirrors where they have always been"
"Brakes work because I drove here"

And DO NOT waggle the gear stick to show that it is (obviously) in neutral.

[Benbay001]

LandingSpot said:

Do not use any of the following phrases in said drill:

"All lights go on that should go on and all go off that should go off"
"Mirrors where they have always been"
"Brakes work because I drove here"

And DO NOT waggle the gear stick to show that it is (obviously) in neutral.

Hey? That sounds like my cockpit drill!

[Strangely Brown]

SVS said:

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Any advice about remaining calm? Tricks of the trade? What's worked for you in the past?

Simple, don't treat it as a test. Think of it as two people out to enjoy a drive and relax.

Don't drive to impress; just drive as you always do, otherwise, what's the point?

If you change your driving or make a special effort in order to pass the test, then the examiner in not seeing how you normally drive and if you don't drive that way all the time then why are you bothering with the test?

This approach has always worked for me. YMMV.

[crisisjez]

A quick toot on a Rastafarian Marlboro should do it.

[Vaux]

SVS said:

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Maybe drive out with another RoADAR driver to make sure you're driving "with that hat on" and to refresh yourself with the level required?
My last one had a very thorough Q&A about Roadcraft/HC to start, so preparing well for that helped get the test off to a reasonable start.

[james_gt3rs]

SVS said:

Hi all,

With a RoSPA retest coming up, I've found myself getting less and less calm. I really ought to be fine with these by now. However, I think in some ways the more tests I've done, the more pressure I've put on myself.

Any advice about remaining calm? Tricks of the trade? What's worked for you in the past?

Thanks in advance!!

So you've passed it before (multiple times?). Just do what you did last time!

[SVS]

Thanks everyone - some great tips in there for me to try. Very helpful!

[Mr Grayson]

It's fascinating reading about other people's experiences on here and the natural reaction is always "I thought it was just me, surely OTHER people don't have nerves about their tests" (especially when those people have your qualifications).

Some great advice above, mine would just be to concentrate on observation, as Steve said, since everything else should flow from that. Most of the other skills - the driving mechanics, the systematic approach, the courtesy, the hazard awareness etc. should all be natural and ingrained. Treat the examiner like a human, talk to them as well as undergoing the formality of the test. Most of them are really nice people. Good luck!

[SVS]

Hi all,

Here's the update. I used most of the advice here, with particular focus on some of stefan1's advice:

stefan1 said:

- some pre-test visualisations; imagine in my head what good would look and feel like (i.e. relaxed, observation working well, feeling ahead of the car etc.); and also imagine the positive comments at the end of the test. All this helps me focus on doing something successfully rather than getting worried about screwing up

- at the start of the drive, spending a moment on familiar things (like cockpit drill) to get into a focused frame of mind

- focus at start of drive on observation

The helped a huge amount. Also, I accepted that I'd have some adrenaline flowing on test, but decided to think of the adrenaline as a resource to keep me alert through the 90 minutes.

The end result was that I did a good ride and retained my gold. I'm well chuffed!

Many thanks everyone!