Has anyone found a way around the nerves before an APFT test, or does it last forever?

I try my best to be first up. Then I just get it over with. If you are nervous and are having to wait in line, that nervousness can build up.

SGT (Join to see) channel the energy into the events. 22 years active Duty. 4 1/2 as a cadet. Same way.

I learned to recognize the feeling and accept that I will be nervous. Then focus on the activity at hand. It has been done before. It will be done again.

Incorporate a "practice" PFT into your training regimen. Perform all the events in order, and mentally track scores for each event. When the actual PFT comes due, it is less stressful. Like just another trial run, but with score keepers.

I think we all get the nerves prior to the APFT. The only thing one can do is to be prepared and get a good night's sleep before the evnt.

19 years in, still feel the same...

Familiarity breeds contempt. In addition to all my other PT on active duty, unless in the field, my Friday PT routine always ended with a Marine Corps PFT.

I always tried to be in front of the line for both push ups and sit ups. Burn that energy then for the run!

Always a bit of anxiety even though I never doubted whether I would pass for 20 years.
I practiced doing push ups more strictly than normally graded, which gave me confidence. Once the pushups were out of the way it was over, because that was really what my final score would be based on since I could max the situps and run.
To help with the pushups, I ran in place and did side straddle hops when I was third in line. Having an elevated heart rate helped delay the onset of muscle failure for me. I would do 30, then sets of 10, then individual, until the nerve agent set in. I always asked the grader to count out loud, even though they should.
Sit ups, I'd do 40 within the first minute, then sets of 10, and stop once I confirmed I had maxed.
For the run, I'd warm up by running 50 yds, and then run in place until just before the start. For me, this elevated my respiratory and heart rate and permit me to reach the stride I needed to max the run within 100 yds. I knew what pace I needed for each lap, and wore a watch to track it. I'd get as far forward as I could and break away from the main pack to avoid being slowed.
Hated running, so I used uphill sprints and fartleks to train for the run.

After almost 12 years I still get the nerves...just means you still give a crap. I hope that never goes away. Keep caring because I think it fades at some point and you’ll be ready to hang up the uniform at that point.