[rumpleteazer]

Don't sweat it too much. If you had a good amount of driving practice then the basics should be second nature: drive defensively, use common sense, always signal, check your blind spots, use the mirrors. Where I live, there are certain DMVs that were rumored to hold more difficult tests than others (I'm sure this is the case in many places), so although you shouldn't let your friends' words get you too worked up, it's always good to be prepared.

A few tips I'd throw out: first of all, no, do not drive quickly and efficiently for fear of slowing down other drivers. Although in a normal situation you do want to follow the flow of traffic for safety reasons, in a test you should never EVER exceed the speed limit. Your tester will definitely dock points off.

Second, know how to parallel park. I myself suck at this but some testers will ask you to do this for them. Make sure you get enough practice and feel fairly confident in doing it, in case you are required to parallel park in your test.

The third is rather minor but my tester was a stickler about it so I thought I'd mention it: make sure turn properly. Slow down as you approach them, and don't swing out too wide. For your right turns, slow down as you approach the intersection, hug the curb appropriately as you turn, then accelerate and pull away from the curb as you go.

Lastly: the breaks are your friend. You will feel as if you're driving like a grandma during the test, but the safety precautions you are taking are exactly what the tester is looking for. Slow down way ahead of a stop, not just when you are 5 yards away. Break while approaching a turn, going downhill, etc., etc. Use it effectively and don't worry if you feel you're just going way too slow--chances are, you're not.

Hope those help...it's been 4 years since I've gotten my license so my memory is a bit rusty. Good luck and I'm sure you'll do just fine. Posting a thread about it just means you are serious about the test and want to do well, so I'm sure your attitude will reward you with your license. Just stay calm, use common sense, and remember: there's always a second chance. :]