Passed my Mod 1 a couple weeks back (have my Mod 2 this week) and wanted to share my experience. It was my second Mod 1, I had taken my first at a different test centre and a mixture of nerves and (I think) bad training led me to failing. I had changed training schools and the nearest test centre was different so the change was forced really. The first was in Enfield where the waiting room was really tense and busy and the second (the pass) was Uxbridge and just felt more relaxed when we arrived, which relaxed me. The examiners said hello to me, my trainer and the other testee when we arrived and we were early so rather then making us wait we took our tests early (I wasn't 100% prepared for that mentally but was fine). At the start we went in to the little room and he checked my paperwork as normal, here's what was different. He opens the gate I rode in he said "park up in the cones" and I did. He came over and gave me the instruction and then said "so Paul what do you do?". At first I didn't really register what he was saying as I was quite nervous and concentrating so he said it again. When I realised he was just chatting and being nice I answered and all the nerves sort of vanished almost instantly. Really made me wonder why some examiners are so stern and emotionless and if anything add to your nerves when it could be soo easy for them to reduce them. Anyway, got through all the test fine until the dreaded hazard avoidance (one of two things I failed first time and where I think I had been under trained). First attempt, came through at 43kmph but was a good swerve. He came over and said "you didn't quite make the speed there" I replied "how fast was I?" he said "it was more like how slow" and showed me. I turned the bike round and rode of laughing and thinking "i'll show that ****!" came through at 53kmph and passed with one fault for the slow first attempt. so my advice for anyone with nerves maybe try and humanise your examiner somehow, if they're not gonna talk to you maybe talk to them. ask them a non related question etc. hope I get the same guy for Mod 2....