Paul,

Heading control: The PTS says "...not consistently outside the
limits..." Most examiners are going to give you considerable leeway.
What they are looking for, really, is how 'ahead' and 'in control' are
you? Are you always inside the limits but working yourself into a
frenzy to do it, or are you occaisionally outside the limits but
clearly in command of the flight? A couple of 20 d deviations during
the approach briefing probably will not bust you. Don't do it on the
ILS, tho.

Some tips on heading control: 1) trim the aircraft to a true, exact
hands off perfect trim. 2) Let go of the yoke 3) use light rudder
pressure to keep the TC at 0 turn. 4) go work the side task (i.e.
approach briefing) for five seconds or so 5) look back at the
instruments; 6) don't touch the yoke, just use light rudder pressure to
set up a slow (one wingtip) turn rate towards the desired heading 7)
go back to the side taks *while* that correction is taking place (dont
sit and watch it until on heading and then look away; use the time
while the correction takes effect. 8) Never touch the yoke when your
eyes are not actively scanning the flight instruments.

VOR tracking: Your CFII is doing a good job at challenging you, but
for the checkride no reasonable examiner is going to require a
perfectly centered needle over the VOR. If you are getting a pegged
needle only for a second or two when crossing the VOR, you are doing
better than most, and will pass the checkride just fine. The terrain
clear area on an airway is 4nm each side; the deviation off center that
corresponds to two seconds pegged is, well, insignificant. If you
really, really, really, want to nail that vor down to the last foot,
try this; as you get really close, the needle starts to get 'twitchy,'
and hard to track. At that point, abandon any heading information, but
simply turn at standard rate in the same direction as the motion (not
position) of the needle. You can really nail it this way, but it is
questionable that this is the best use of your mental resources at that
moment. You probably have other things to do which would be of more
use.

Written: No, that means you studied. Make sure when you go in you
know what question you missed and why.

Regards,

Gene