mjc269,
Well i think your getting the msg now chap, we all suffer!
One thing that i have found on the checkride, nevermind which one and with whom.... nerves play their part and you sometimes doubt yourself and it all goes horribly wrong.
However, encounter an emergency when your out working, whether it be a light or an engine out, then your professionlism carries you through.... your focussed and all that you have learnt and experienced comes into play.
And why do you feel different when it happens for real?, because you dont have someone looking over your shoulder watching your every move!.... but your check pilots and training captains are a wealth of experience for you to learn from, take every opportunity, remember that they have been there to, and are there to help.
happy flying