Some advice on getting over those pre-test nerves
Lets just start by stating the obvious; everyone gets nervous to some degree on their driving test. This actually 
helps some people perform better on the day, but for others it can turn the test into a seriously stressful experience.
Test nerves can distract you from the task ahead, in other words driving the car, just as the cartoon on the left is distracting you as you try to read this page. But unlike the dude on the left who is genuinely there and really irritating, test nerves are all in your head. On this page we take a look at some ideas for overcoming test nerves.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stressful situations, it's actually there to protect you from danger the experts call it the' fight or flight' response to danger.
At a conference I attended some years ago, one of the speakers told us all about how the letters FEAR mean "Forever Expecting Awful Results" (he also said it meant F*** Everything And Run but we won't go there) and this is true, it really is all your imagination: You just expect the worst and you are subconsciously planning your escape.
When we feel anxiety we automatically try to keep it under control by thinking about it all the time; and this leads you to conclude that if you don't think about it, it will all go wrong. This actually makes the situation worse and creates more anxiety; So that's why your friends/parents keep telling you "try not to think about it."
This unnatural attempt to 'keep it all under control by thinking about it all the time' leads you to begin to drive 'consciously' on your test; in other words you try to think yourself through every situation in your head, this inevitably leads you to begin making mistakes.
Driving 'consciously' is not good; because when you drive normally with your instructor you are doing things 'subconsciously' (in other words naturally without having to think about it.) Trying to think yourself through every situation is what causes people to drive totally differently on their test to how they normally do.
The secret is "don't think about it; just do it!!
As any world-class psychologist will tell you; you go through 4 stages when learning:
1) Subconscious Incompetence .jpg)
You basically haven't got a clue what to do. Before you start driving.
2) Conscious Incompetence
You know what to do but you can't do it yet. Your first few lessons.
3) Conscious Competence
You can do it but you have to really concentrate or it all goes wrong.
4) Subconscious Competence
You can do it automatically without having to think about it.
This is where the problem lies; if you try to think about it too much you slip from stage 4 back to stage 3;
then you can't concentrate because you're on test, you misjudge situations and it all goes horribly wrong.
Secret is do it automatically, as you do with your instructor on every lesson.
Breathing
Yes breathing is a good idea, or you could struggle to hold your breath for 40 minutes. No seriously, it's best to try to breathe slowly and deeply, if you breathe too fast you take in too much oxygen and this can make you more panicky.
Many books tell you to get plenty of sleep; ha ha ha. They must be joking; have you ever gone to bed thinking
"I must get to sleep," "I must get to sleep?" It's not going to happen, you will lie awake all night stressing out because you can't get to sleep. Best just go to bed normally and hey! if you can't sleep who cares; just go to bed early tomorrow night.
What do I do?
So, do I get stressed and follow all these suggestions: Absolutely not! Why?
Because by far the best way to approach any test is, as I do, with the attitude "if I don't pass who cares, I'll just take it again another day."
All the best
Ian
http://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/articles/examnerves.html