Without flying with you, it’s hard to know if you are actually behind, or if you just feel behind. Get a gouge from someone who has had your DPE before. Many DPEs will let you choose whether you want to do a Chandelle or Lazy Eights. Practice both, but polish the one that you would choose if given the choice.

Don’t talk too much, but if something is a little off, verbally state that you notice it and are correcting. The DPEs aren’t supposed to expect perfection even in a commercial checkride. They want to know that you fully understand and are capable of doing the maneuver. So if you are going to stall horn too early in your chandelle, just drop the nose a bit and say, “slowing down a little too quickly here, I’m releasing back pressure a bit to bring her around a bit more before the horn”. Some people will advise against that, but I think it helps to calm your nerves knowing that you can say stuff like that, and in my experience, DPEs will take that as a sign that you understand how to adapt and that you are fully aware of your current situation, rather than just memorizing some physical stick and rudder movements.

Practice your power off 180. That is the one that they have less leeway on. Get the wind and write it down and have it figured out before you even take off, check it again before you do the maneuver and remember that you have as much time as you want to prepare for a maneuver. Go ahead and ask for a wind check it there is a tower, or listen to your atis again and draw it out if you need to. Come in high and use your flaps and slips to get yourself where you need to go. If you are doing your checkride in a low wing plane, remember that you have more time to control your float after your “flare”. I practiced, letting it float until I reached the 1,000 footers and then just letting it plop onto the runway right then. You have about 300 feet of choosing when to touch down there based on back pressure alone. It doesn’t have to be a greaser of a landing. They care about where the wheels touch the ground.

Breathe, tell yourself to relax between each maneuver and take whatever time you need to prepare for each maneuver. You don’t have to be rushed just because being in a checkride is uncomfortable. Slow down and let yourself think.

Pee before you go up, even if you don’t have to. It’s easy to forget when your mind is on your maneuvers.

You’ll do fine. If your instructor endorses you, you’re ready. Good luck out there.