1) Putting one over on the instructor.

Turn the aircraft downwind. This extends the choice of fields as your groundspeed is higher and effectively puts you on a downwind leg.

Then do your simulated mayday and checks in one continuous stream. Instructor will try to interject with ‘What Field?’ Don’t give him a chance to get in until you have narrowed down the choice. If pushed gesture in the general direction and say “That one there” or “The brown one”

2) Doing it for real

The constant awareness is key. Always look along your track thinking ‘what if the engine stopped now’ You’ll get used to searching for fields that suit, and once in the overhead you will see how many weren’t really suitable.

The turn to downwind is still important. Some schools don’t teach this. It really does help in visualising the ‘circuit’

Lots of practice. Once you are qualified they actually become more fun and you end up doing them out of choice.

Moggy

And after lots of practice ask yourself “Do I really want to do night and IMC in a single?”