P-day

[sirtwist]

I take my test today, and I have to say I’m nervy as all fuck. I’ll be fine, I know, provided these nerves don’t get the best of me. At least I have an hour-long test ahead of time. I need to take my mind off it in the meantime, though

Comments

[glenbarnett]

I was nervous as hell the first time I took the test. And I *really* didn't want to fail. The policeman (in small country towns the police do all the licenses and tests) was really nice, which made it worse.

I drove like crap. And failed.

The second time I took the test a few months later, I had realised it didn't matter all that very much if I failed. I was consequently way less nervous, and this time it was the other, not-at-all-polite-and-patient policeman; I didn't care how he felt. And I passed. It wasn't that I made no mistakes (I made a couple of small ones and he made sure I knew it), but I was confident and it made a difference.

And once I passed the second time, failing the first time didn't matter in the least (apart from the additional expense, but that wasn't all that bad).

I think worrying about being nervous was more of a problem than anything else.

Three years later (after my first couple of years at uni) I learned how to reduce pre-exam stress to a level where it helps keep me focused without getting in the way. It turns out what I did (essentially by accident) to prepare for the second test was just about exactly what I should have done to keep the nerves in check.

[sirtwist]

You'd think that after years of formal education, I'd be used to dealing with examination.

I think you're right. Wanting not to fail makes it worse. Anyway, my instructors due any moment so I'm going to bunk off soon