Exam practice in context 1 -

Studying for an English exam? ....................Getting nervous?

1a. Plan carefully what you need to REVISE! Identify the weak areas, but don't say grammar is a weak area as this is too vague! Do a test or do practice papers for the exam that you are studying for, test yourself and work on those areas that need to be improved. An example is:
http://www.englishjet.com/english_courses_files/tests.htm

1b. Set goals! If you set yourself some goals, you will improve your English. You need to focus your studies so write down the goals that you want to achieve. Don't simply say: pass the exam! This is your end goal, but how are you going to achieve?

2. Don't learn chunks of words on their own as it will be a waste of your time and effort. If you are going to learn pages of words then you need to learn the collocations too! Guidance and more information on how to learn them:
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations.htm

A good dictionary of collocation is “Oxford Collocations Dictionary”

3. Read as much as possible.. (there are loads of useful and informative websites such as newspapers, blogs, online books in English). The more you read, you increase your awareness of English in a more natural way. PLEASE PLEASE.. don't just sit there at your desk with a dictionary, looking up words every couple of minutes, but rather try to force yourself to understand the general meaning of the sentence or paragraph. This is VERY IMPORTANT as ALL English exams will test you on this ability! Nor will you have a dictionary in the exam room!

4. Some students say that they need to go to an English-speaking country to improve their English, maybe, BUT it is really necessary? Why don't you let the English-speaking world come to you (internet radio, language clubs in your town, CNN, BBC TV programmes, etc...), it is all there. OK, you'll need to find time, at least 15 minutes a day, your daily dose of English is sufficient to improve your English.

5. Buy yourself a good English- English dictionary! See my blog entry on book recommendations. Search online for useful resources. i.e.
http://www.esldepot.com/product.php/14/5/


6. Listen and listen and listen to English as much as possible! Your ears and brain are amazing resources... http://www.english-listening-world.com/

7. Have fun! Reward yourself when you achieve a goal. Also try to do some crazy things such as:
•Go out and pretend you don't understand your native language (try to get by in only English).
•Go online and find the lyrics to your favourite English songs and sing along to them (use a search engine).