I have my driving test next week...... again.

I have failed 3 times now!

I can drive no problem. I drive in my lessons almost perfectly and can do all the maneuvures without a hickup.

But as soon as I get to doing the test I fall apart. I don't actually feel nervous or different in any way but I drive VERY differently. I make silly little mistakes that cost me my test.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

hi, change the position, just think you are a teacher, instructor. have fun with this

StevenGoodall wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions?

You know you're doing something differently in your mind while testing than you are while not-testing. You say you don't feel different, and I'll believe you. That means it's either the way you see "testing" is different, or the way you hear (or talk to yourself about) it is different. Figure it out and you'll be able to change it.

I'll also suggest that you anchor the state of "driving during lessons". For example, buy a pack of chewing gum in a flavor you've never tried but that you'll probably enjoy. Pop a piece in your mouth just before getting behind the wheel, enjoy your lesson, and spit it out after you get out from behind the wheel. Chew it only while driving during lessons. When it comes time for your test, pop in a piece of that gum and enter your desired state.

(I suggest chewing gum because there are other cognitive advantages. If you really hate gum, there's always something else.)

Interesting. What are the other cognitive advantages of chewing gum?

PhilFarber wrote:

Interesting. What are the other cognitive advantages of chewing gum?

I was afraid someone would ask. Foolishly, I did not save the citation.

I read a report on some research that indicated that chewing (anything, not just gum, but gum is what they used) caused a release of insulin that "woke up" the brain, increasing alertness and improving memory, concentration, and recall. It wasn't a massive effect, but it was noticeable.

You don't feel any differently? Do you, by chance, have different internal dialog? Like, maybe during training, your inner dialog is optimistic and positively phrased ("slow down on yellow," "keep two seconds distance from the car in front of you,"), but during a test it's negatively phrased ("don't run that stop light!" "don't tailgate!"). The problem could be reflected visually, as well: during training you're focused on what to do, but during testing you're focused on what not to do, with what you're focusing on tending to be what you get more of.

Just something to be mindful of.

You don't feel any differently? Do you, by chance, have different internal dialog? Like, maybe during training, your inner dialog is optimistic and positively phrased ("slow down on yellow," "keep two seconds distance from the car in front of you,"), but during a test it's negatively phrased ("don't run that stop light!" "don't tailgate!"). The problem could be reflected visually, as well: during training you're focused on what to do, but during testing you're focused on what not to do, with what you're focusing on tending to be what you get more of.

Just something to be mindful of.

Possibly, or maybe I do feel different and just don't notice. I guess I'm really going to have to take stock of what exactly is going through my head when I'm in a lesson and replicate it in the test.

I'm going to try the chewing gum suggestion but I have one concern about it. Wouldn't simply being in the driving seat be an anchor? the only time I'm there is when I'm in a lesson or in a test so I would think if anchors are going to work then that is already a good one. I'll still try it though, you never know

Thanks everyone

StevenGoodall wrote:

Wouldn't simply being in the driving seat be an anchor? the only time I'm there is when I'm in a lesson or in a test so I would think if anchors are going to work then that is already a good one. I'll still try it though, you never know

One question springs to mind however. Is the car you do the test in the same one as the make and model you practice in ? If not, try and get a go in a car identical to the test car to calibrate to the controls. Just a flash thought....maybe a base you have already covered.

MH

It's the exact same car. I have to pay my instructor to hire it from him during the test. the one thing that is different is that it's not my instructor sat next to me, it's the tester. Maybe thats what breaks the pattern

StevenGoodall wrote:

I have to pay my instructor to hire it from him during the test.

That's tight.

As regards your state, I guess you have future paced having passed and referenced previous examples of having been successfully tested ?

MH