How to Improve Your Performance in International English Exams?

Hey there, English fans! This time we will deal with something that results quite scary for English learners: International English Exams (insert here a burst of malefic laughter, thunderbolt effects, a smoke machine, and others). They usually imply such seriousness which can affect students’ performance negatively, which can lead to a low mark. That is why we decided to bring some tips for you to improve your performance, and thus, your self-confidence.

Mock exams are a great way of becoming more confident before sitting for an international exam. Depending on the paper section, such as writing, reading, listening, and use of English, there are different ways of practice that can lead to better performance and grade.

If you are about to sit for an English International Exam or plan to do so in the future, there are some things you can take into account to improve your self-confidence. In this way, nothing external will affect your performance. As a result, your grade will match your skills, and not your state of mind at the moment of delivery. Keep on reading to learn tips on how to master the English language while being able to prove it at an International Exam.

What Are International English Exams For?

The main aim of International English Exams is for people who do not have English as a primary language to prove their knowledge. Through different sections, the authorities test students’ skills and decide whether they are above or below the required standards. Some of them provide a separate grade, while others take it globally and define passing or failing following it.  The most popular International Exams in English are:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an American English test. Its international recognition makes it valuable when planning to work or study in an English-speaking country. It offers two possible tests: TOEFL Essential, and TOEFL iBT. Aimed at different purposes, each exam contains four sections: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a British English test. The University of Cambridge is in charge of its preparation and correction. It is the most popular test worldwide for non-English speakers. It offers two possible tests: Academic and General Training. Each exam contains four sections: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.

Should You Take an International English Exam?

As we mentioned before, taking an International English Exam has the purpose of showing your English skills. If you plan to work or study in an English-speaking country, these exams may be a good choice for you to have a certificate that proves your knowledge. However, these exams are also of importance when applying to a job or club in your own country for positions that have English as a requirement (nowadays, almost all of them do!).

You may also want to read: Formal English vs Informal English

How Can You Improve Your Performance?

There is one thing that International English Exams contain that may negatively affect your performance. They tend to be expensive, and their methods are quite strict. This makes it difficult for students to concentrate and truly show what they know. Nerves, anxiety, and even panic (well, panic might be a little too much) may get hold of you. This can lead to a bad performance, and there are no second opportunities.

So, to protect you from the games your mind can play on you, we decided to make a list of possible ways of preventing them from happening. What is more, you can apply these methods to any other test you may sit for, regardless they are of international recognition or locally based. They may even help you out when sitting for a job, club, or university interview, along with other tips we have already provided.

Be Sure You Know What You Need to Know

Before even registering to sit for an International English Exam, you need to be certain you are playing in the same league. This is, you may not have enough knowledge or training yet, but you know you can get to the required level in time. Registering without being sure you can achieve this is nonsense, and may even discourage you from re-taking the test in the future. So, our first tip is to become self-confident.

Easy to say, but maybe difficult to achieve, self-confidence is a complex concept to acquire. However, to be certain you can pass a test, one of the most important things to bear in mind is to prepare yourself as much as you can before sitting for an International Exam. Do research, ask for guidance, and become self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses. By knowing your weak points, you will be able to focus on them and improve until you know you are fit enough.

Tips on Improving Your Performance for Each Exam Section

As we said before, exams consist of different sections. Although the exam you are preparing for may not be international, most admission exams include them. The main idea is to cover all possible fields where you may have to develop in the English language and test your skills. So, how can we work on our weak points depending on each section? Here are some tips for you to practice and make a strength out of your weaknesses.

• Reading: Reading comprehension aims at testing how much you understand from a text. To improve your reading skills, you can use any academic article or news release from a newspaper. Underline the main ideas while you do so, look for topic sentences (which state the main goal of each paragraph). Try to understand the direction of the text as a whole. Once you finish this, summarize or rewrite the text in your own words, including the most important information from the original text.
• Writing: The writing section tests your ability to express yourself in English. In this paper, you should try to include the type of vocabulary required for the test level. In other words, you must prove that you understand constructions and can correctly use them. You may know a lot about a certain topic (for example, a book you have to summarize or give an opinion on). But if you cannot do so at the required level, it may not be enough. Practice grammar constructions and prepare some of them to use whenever you need to.
• Listening: Most listening comprehension papers are tricky. It is not as simple as listening and filling a form or completing blank spaces of a sentence. Easy as it may seem, the audios may include diversions and unnecessary dialogues. Listening exercises are played twice, and you should take advantage of that. Use the first recording to jot down notes on the information they ask you to complete. Be quick, and wait for the recording to end to be sure you have done it properly. While listening to the second recording, confirm your notes are correct. Watching videos, films, and telephone recordings with no subtitles (neither in English nor in your native language) can be good training for your ear.
• Speaking: When sitting for the speaking part of an exam, you will do it in pairs. This section is divided into two parts: an individual one, and a cooperative one. Take advantage of the individual part to let them know your pronunciation and vocabulary are what they expect to be. During the second part, you do not necessarily need to show you are better than the other person. It is not a competition. However, you must prove you can understand what they tell you, process it, and come up with fresh ideas without much thinking. Practicing with a friend is a good way of improving your speaking skills. Try not to do so with the same person every time, as you most probably have to sit with an unknown person during this part.

Other Resources to Practice for an International Exam

There are other ways to have an idea of what you will have to do when sitting for an International Exam. In the case of both TOEFL and IELTS, their official websites offer mock exams for you to practice. Ask your teacher for guidance while doing them. Check your mistakes, and try again. Practice makes perfect and mastering the English language is a matter of time and effort.

Always remember tests are a way of showing what you know. Despite the difficulty, they are nothing but a means of telling people that you are good enough at something. So, don’t be afraid of sitting for an International Exam, and do your best! Remember to subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and updates on how to master the English language. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!