How to Prepare for the Language Exam?
«Learn everything from others’ mistakes. You do not have enough time to make all on their own.»
- Alfred Sheinwald
Passing the language exams has one goal — to achieve an adequate universal evaluation of the tested student in order to gain confidence in his knowledge and strength, the ability to effectively apply the learned language. Knowledge of the language and the ability to pass exams in it — things, of course, related to each other, but not too closely.
1. Type of exam. First of all, decide which exam you will take. Each exam is designed for something, has its own requirements:
· for studying abroad;
· for emigration;
· for work;
· for company employees;
· for language teachers;
· for children and teenagers;
· for pupils and students of domestic educational institutions (school, university, college, master’s, doctorate, internship, etc.).
2. Form of the examination. What does it include — listening, translation, interpretation top, essays, grammar tests, paraphrasing a text? Most likely, the exam will include several tasks, but not all possible ways to test your language skills. When preparing, focus on the forms of assignments that will be part of the exam. Do not be distracted by other forms of exercises, you will not need them.
3. Ask about the experience of people who have passed the exam. Find feedback from people who have taken the exam among your friends and on the Internet. Learn more about the format of the exam, the evaluation system, and the secrets of preparation.
4. Rehearse the exam. Find out how the exam goes, how much time you have to do each task, etc. Try writing an essay, reading a text and answering questions, doing listening exercises and talking on a variety of topics in the language you are studying. In doing so, you should be comfortable with the time allocated to each part of the exam. Before the exam, you should have a sense of time that tells you which topic to use to complete a particular task. Try to distribute the time evenly between assignments.
One of the most common mistakes during an exam is to slowly and thoughtfully make the first half, and then suddenly find that time is almost up and hastily finish the rest. Learn to work at once, without leaving the task with the idea of returning to it. There may be no time left. If there is time left at the end of the exam, you can return to the difficult questions and redo them. Learn to work on tight deadlines. Put a watch in front of you and start working. Try to shorten the time you have taken each time. The less time you spend on a task, the better. Of course, not at the expense of quality. Besides, such simulations of exams will reveal gaps in your knowledge and skills, which you will focus on and spend more time on during the preparation process.
5. Purchase methodological and training aids to prepare for the exam. Since the objectives and therefore the requirements and levels of the exams vary, there are a number of textbooks and teaching aids available for each of them. For example, special aids for taking the final exam at school.
6. Perform typical tasks. Find out what tasks are waiting for you in the exam, then look for examples of such exercises in the teaching aids, on the Internet, and model tasks and do them every day.
7. Develop all the skills at once. Any exam consists of several parts that test all language skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening, Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar and Pronunciation. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses in learning a foreign language. Strengths need to be used skillfully, and weaknesses need to be developed to strengths.
8. Attend courses and advice in preparation for exams. If possible, make an appointment for language exam preparation courses. As a rule, such courses exist at universities and language centres. Attend workshops, counselling and training sessions where experienced teachers give you the information you need, how exams are held, what you need to look for in preparation and much more.
9. Plan your lessons. As you prepare and take the test, your own work becomes important. Take 2–4 hours of study every day. Keep in mind that repetition is a very important aspect. If you have a busy working/learning day, take advantage of time management: start a diary/organizer and plan your time for the whole day. Do not forget about rest and sport, which is very important.
10. Take advantage of interactive simulators. Multimedia simulators have been specially designed to prepare you for certain exam types. The tasks of each part of the manual by subject, volume and content are correlated with the exam. The main task of such simulators is to simulate the exam. You are given certain tasks in the real time available for the exam. All tasks are given as they are given in the exam. The listening assignments are recorded in the way they sound in the exam, which will allow you to get used to the first section of the ‘Auditing’ exam. The time frame for the exam will allow you to feel the time. Simulating the exam will allow you to relieve psychological tension and confusion while taking the real exam. You will know what is required of you, how to do it, and what the time period is.
In addition to the exam simulator itself, the multimedia simulator can also contain such components as: a diagnostic test, recommendations for performing exam tasks of various types, preparatory exercises, training tasks, testing, reference material, etc.
Do you learn a foreign language? Then you will be interested in the book “Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language”
