I swear whenever we have a test coming up, every pre test I sweat like a pig and get really nervous. How do I avoid this? My technique looks like crud because I'm so tense even one of the bodans told me to relax. What do you guys to to relax and not stress. BTW I never know what I'm testing for since I've skipped ranks 2 times already. Thanks for any advice.

I know how that feels Pooky!

Work out exactly why it's so stressful for you - if it's just that you don't know what's coming, ask your instructor to have proper practice tests. We always have a bit where we sit at the back like we would in a test and get called out one-by-one and have to do all the name and grade stuff. It works cos you know you've already done it once.

Also, doing a pattern in front of everyone is good because that's so nerve-racking.

Congrats on skipping grades - but you should know what you're going in for before you go. if you don't know, assume you're testing for the belt of your highest pattern.

A little bit of nerves is good. To keep them from getting out of hand, I meditate before the test, right there in the dojang, and envision my test as I want it to be.

I'd feel weird if I didn't have a little bit of nerves going into a test.  What I do is remember that the test is pretty much a class exepct you know that you are going to be called upon.  Patterns always have me nervous but if you drilled them over and over then it shouldn't be a problem, just don't over think it.  I always read jokes before testing and go around telling jokes so that everyone will laugh and relax and once I see others relax I get more comfortable.  Remember that TKD should be fun, yes it can be hard and frustrating at times but overall you should enjoy it and remember that you enjoy what you are doing.  Life doesn't end just because you might not have passed a test.Good luck on your next testing.

Thanks, I keep telling myslef that I shouldn't be nervous because we are covering things I already know so there won't be any suprises. So hopefully I'll be able to execute them correctly.

I honestly do not even think about testing any longer.  When I started my first martial art style I used to get get restless the night before a test, and get sick the morning of the test, and usually right before I entered the school.  The same thing happened with competitons.  For that school as well as my second school we did not have pretesting so you found out that you would test a day or two before your test.  Personally I liked those days because it meant that you had to train hard and always be ready instead of knowing that the test weekend was such and such date and time so you could not worry about it this week.

In any event by the time I started Taekwondo promotional testing did not worry me as much.  I know my instructer will not send me to testing at the main school unless he know 100% that I was ready.  Truth be told when a student messes up they can get over it, but if a student who is not prepared tests it bring shame to the student, his classmate and his/her instructer so not many instructers are willing to roll the dice and take that chance. 

On the way to testing and competition I listen to music and keep myself focused on what needs to be done, and I remind myself on how much I put into my training cycles and that I have the confidence of my instructers.

Former Heavyweight Champion, Joe Frazier, once said that butterflies/jitters is only natural... and in fact, he didn't know any fighter of his caliber, who did NOT get them before a fight.

If a Heavyweight Champion boxer says 'it's normal'... you can believe it's normal for a student going up to test for their next rank also.

I used to get butterflies as we got within a few blocks of emergencies in the fire department. 

Best way to handle the butterflies... is just to get your mind on business.  Don't second guess yourself...

1.)  Remind yourself that you've trained in what you need to, and trained correctly, and are therefore READY to test.
2.)  Remember that your JOB, is only to go up when called, and DO what you TRAINED to do.
3.)  Remember that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS... you're doing something that a lot of people don't even have the guts or interest to TRY to do...  (So you're a step ahead of most people, for just showing up to try)
4.)  Remember that the WORST that can happen... is that you do not promote this go around, and you WILL be FREE to TRY AGAIN if that happens.  (So no matter what happens, the world's not going to end!)
5.)  Remember your instructor probably wouldn't let you test, if you were not ready in their opinion... and THEY are the ones who decide whether or not you pass... SO... just getting their permission to test, is a good indicator THEY think you're ready.
6.)  All you have to do is what you trained to do... and you DID train to do it.  So... there's nothing to 'worry' about.

Think about the things you must do to pass... (and you should know what those things are, since your instructor has made you practice them prior to giving you permission to test)  Go through them in your head... imagine yourselve going in there, and just doing what you're trained to do, and doing it right.

Then... when the time comes... and they call your name... just do your job to the best of your ability... and let the chips fall where they may.

For what it's worth, some 20 plus years after my very first martial arts testing... I 'still' get butterflies when I'm waiting to test.;)

The past is done...  The future doesn't exist yet...  only the present exists... so don't worry about anything but doing what you trained to do...  and you'll do fine.;)  Get used to the 'butterflies'... they're normal... don't dwell on them...

Keep kicking!:)

My Muay Thai coach says the same thing.  Just kick, don't worry about the last kick or the next one just push your foot from the floor and turn to your target.  The living in this moment mentality really helped me get through my last testing.  I wasn't nervous a bit until I saw that I was the only one in the group that was old enough to drink legally then it started me thinking.  I'm 48, this is Kukkiwon, I don't really speak Korean how am I going to understand the commands, I'm going to get killed in sparring cause these guys are so fast.  But just before we walked to the floor we took a minute to stretch and suddenly nothing except what was going on right then was in my mind I took it one kick at a time, one form at a time.  It was by far my most enjoyable test.  Great advice Ranger

I really like ranger's advice there...I'm going to bear it in mind when I go for my next grading.

Thanks that is great advice. We are pretesting the next 2 weeks so I'll have plenty of time to make sure I know what to do.