Why do I always think I'm ready for tests and then get so nervous and mess them up completely?

Help! I've been taking a home study course for years. I am stuck at 180 for WAY to long. Every time I push myself to practice for weeks, think I'm ready for a test, and then attempt a test I mess it up and get depressed all over again. Every time this has happened, I have walked away for a few weeks. I really don't want to give up! Any clues?! Any advice! I know this question has been asked so many times! My real question is how to stop myself from getting so nervous that I focus on getting every word and just try to get what I can and go with it..

What speeds are you practicing at?  You should practicing at higher speeds, so that when you drop back down it should feel easier.  Also, the program that I went through, we not only had to test every day, we had to type up every day.  I know it sounds like a pain, but by typing up what you've written (or feeding it into the computer, however you transcribe), you get a chance to see where you're making mistakes, if you're doing good for the first four minutes and then lose it at the end.  How long are you practicing each day, what are you practicing?  If you've made it past 160, that's half your battle.  But you do need to work on nervous tension on test-taking. 

To give you an example of something that happened to me and my attitude towards it...already had a license from one state, went to another state.  Had my machine serviced, everything was great even for a practice session the day before.  Got to location, set up machine, the electriconic portion of the machine had died.  I was in the hotel kitchen with a screwdriver taking apart machine to see if some cables had come loose...nope.  Afterwards, I found out the whole circuit board was shot.  So it was like writing on an old manual machine.  I figured, I'm already here, at least I'll take the test and know what to expect next time.  Helped greatly because there was absolutely no stress, because I had no anticipation of passing.  I hadn't even studied for the written portion.  Passed with flying colors and was stunned.  But I've seen people fail test after test just because of nerves.  So you just need to take as many as you can, sit in with reporters if you know any that will let you tag along with your machine, go to the courthouse and ask officials if you can sit in with them off to the side.

Good luck...you can do it.

Trisha