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On monday I flew with my instructor again to practice the stuff that I didn't do right in my unsuccessful check ride. We did soft field approaches (which is what I failed for), steeped banked turns, and power-off stalls. Here's the Beetle parked at the airport, to show my wife that I really do go to the airport when I say I'm "flying". :-)
Although I have a copy somewhere in the house, while I was at the airport, I bought a copy of the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards:
I advise anyone preparing for a private pilot's license to own and read this book. Then read it again. It's the prescription and the limitations on what the examiner can ask and what you need to do in response. It contains all the criteria that you will be tested on. I'm not an advocate of stuyding only for the test itself in a situation like that, but having at least studient the book a couple of times means that there won't be any surprises.
For instance, steep banked turns that you'll be asked to do in the check ride are once around, 360 degrees. Apparently, the steep banked turns used to be 720 degrees, which is how I'd practiced them, and I ended up screwing one up.
Another interesting point that I came across while reading it recently, is that on a re-test (which I do on Sunday), the examiner can test you on any aspect of the test, including items that you've already passed. It doesn't say whether or not you can fail for items that you passed the first time. It'll be interesting to see what exactly goes on at the subsequent test. I'll report back.