I certainly wasn't accusing you of whining - remembering back to my QXC - I ended up flying about 10 miles downwind cos I lost sight of the airfield! Ended up doing a position fix to establish my position!
I guess in future you will be waiting for to hear "G-XXXX, Cleared to...."
I also tend to plan routes (if VFR) to the expected VRP on the edge of controlled airspace - then all of my timings etc. refer to that point and not overhead the field. Then have a heading for the final bit. Helps to fix it in my head that I need onward clearance from that point.
And I know of an instructor who bust controlled airspace around 11 times in one flight - he thought he was orbitting outside controlled airspace, but he clipped it on every orbit!
Maybe you sounded so confident on the radio that ATC didn't feel the need to add on the non-standard "not yet cleared to enter"
I hope your test goes well.