How to prepare for your English Exam Test: Tips and resources for success
Preparing for Your English Exam Test – Five Solid Tips From our Admissions Team
Whether you have been studying English for most of your life, or are just getting started, it’s important to prepare for your English exam test, whether you are applying to Marbella International University Centre, other schools, or jobs that require English writing and speaking skills.
Passing an exam can be very different from speaking a language. While learning to pass a test is not as important as possessing the knowledge and skills, it is an important step on your road to success. Here are five recommendations to help you when you study English online, in a classroom, or with a tutor.
Create a Plan and Timeline
Work your way backward from the date of the test, and make sure you are factoring in enough study time to be fully ready for your English exam test.
Your plan will provide a framework for developing, editing, and polishing your test, and will help you identify areas that need more work.
Start from the day of your exam and list the days backwards from there. Using a Google sheet as one format makes it easy to set goals, with milestone dates, and track your progress.
Schedule at least 30 minutes a day; remember to take breaks.
Homework is Good for English exam test!
Everything you do in preparation for your English exam test is important, and leveraging your previous and current studies is an efficient and effective way to build your skills and confidence. Some lecturers may share a collection of past questions, or you can find them online. Just remember to adapt your answers to the question that is actually set in the real exam.
Pronunciation Matters
The oral part of any English study is very important. English is a language with many odd pronunciations and the more of these you can learn, the better. For example, ‘Towcester’ is a small town in Northamptonshire. A ‘toaster’ is a cooking implement for toasting bread. The two words are written very differently, but pronounced the same. While you cannot learn every odd pronunciation, you can learn the most common ways to say sounds. Practice aloud, and if you can include a friend fluent in the language, enjoy conversations with them, and invite them to help you master the sounds.
Enjoy Understanding the Meanings of Words and Phrases
English exam tests are about impressing the examiner. Study is about becoming as competent as you can be. The accurate use of a good phrase, especially those some may find more unusual, is always impressive.
There are certain phrases that you may need to ask in an exam, so learn them to enable you to use them easily, for example, “Can you repeat that, Please?” and “I need a moment to think.”
Immerse Yourself in the Language
The most enjoyable, challenging, and effective way to improve your English and to pass your English exam test is to immerse yourself in the language. This pays off beyond the test itself; when you are in school, you’ll have more confidence, as well as a mindset that may enable you to learn the language of the land, for example Spanish in Marbella.
Read magazines, newspapers, blogs, and books; watch English language movies; listen to English language music. These are fun and easy ways to prepare your study programme as they are enjoyable to do.
Learn more about the role of English exam tests as part of our admissions process here. We have people and resources to help!
