Driving Test Anxiety Getting You Down? Worried About Failing? Your Ability? The Examiner? Read on…

Learner drivers are likely to feel tremendous pressure nowadays to pass their test with the very long waiting lists for tests playing a big part, however, the usual fears still exist – fear of failure, dislike of being observed and judged and fear of the examiner themselves. No wonder driving test anxiety is such a big thing.

An academic paper (Fairclough et al. 2006) revealed that, unsurprisingly test candidates suffer much higher levels of stress on test than in driving lessons or during mock driving tests.

This makes sense and it is well understood that an acceptable level of stress maintains focus and alertness. It’s understandable, and we know that a certain level of stress helps us to be alert and can maintain focus and therefore can be used to a candidate’s advantage.  focused and alert so can be used to a learner driver’s advantage.  The research also revealed that those candidates suffering the highest levels of anxiety and stress as they waited for their tests to begin were most likely to fail.

If driving test anxiety is primarily due to fear of failure or fear of being scrutinised by the driving examiner, then there is some advice we can offer to maintain stress levels at a reasonable, and useful, level.

Fear of Failure

It has been suggested that those candidates with the very highest driving test anxiety before the event are less worried about the matter of safe driving, but rather about whether they pass or fail and how that will impact on them – for example how they will look to others.

Language

How can we rephrase the language around the driving test to less reflect the negative? The way we describe what happens on a test and a possible negative result, will impact on the way we approach the test in the first place. If we use less negative language, we can minimise the fear of failure.

Even by using words such as test or driving examiner we can create negativity. These words have become emotionally charged. Using these words less, or not at all, may reduce or remove fear in those who believe they are f we can reduce some of the emotion-provoking language such as test and examiner, this may help calm anxiety for those who believe they ‘are no good at tests’ or ‘panic in exams and tests’.  

In your driving lessons you could start using some alternative terms. Talk about a driving assessment or a feedback assessment instead of a test. getting some driving feedback. Speak about someone different or someone else observing you drive instead of the driving examiner.  You can also be more aware of the words and language that you use during driving lessons when referring to your driving feedback assessment (test) and challenge the things you say with some questions.  For example, if you usually say or think:

• I’m anxious or nervous about my driving test. You could say to yourself: What specifically about my test makes me feel that way?  When did that feeling start?
• The test is hard to pass. Who says so? Other countries’ tests are harder.
• I’m rubbish at tests. Why am I rubbish at tests? What stops me being good at tests?
• I’m always thinking about failing my driving test. Is it that I can’t or I won’t stop? Have I actually tried to stop?
• I always panic in tests and exams in college or school. Is it really always? If I think that through, I bet that’s not true.

By challenging yourself and asking yourself those sorts of questions you will be actually breaking down the walls you’ve been building up over a very long time about your ability to drive, and your capability to pass your driving assessment.

Another Perspective

Here’s another way to look at it all. If you don’t pass, what actually happens? Does the world come crashing down? No. You rebook, sit it again, and very likely pass. On the day, all you really want to think about is the short-term outcome – passing the assessment. What you are really doing though is having a driving expert sit with you for a bit, and say you are fit and safe enough to be let loose on the roads. If you do not pass, you are simply being told that you need a little bit more training in certain areas to be safe. You want to be safe, surely? If you get some detailed feedback from an expert for a few pounds, that’s a good thing, no?

Conclusion

Hopefully some of these suggestions will have calmed those worried nerves and taken away some of the anxiety. It’s reasonable to expect that you will be a bit nervous before your assessment, but don’t let the anxiety take over, or statistically you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Challenge any negative thoughts you may be having about the big day and remember – it’s really about becoming a safe driver for the rest of your life.