Doing well on English examinations - or any examination for that matter - depends not only on your knowledge, but also on having a good strategy.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Here's How:
- Do not insist on completing each question before going to the next. By insisting on completing each question, you loose time and become nervous.
- If possible, go through the entire test answering the questions you are sure you know.
- Go through the test a second time working out the answers to more difficult questions.
- Once you have gone through the test twice, see if any of the questions asked can help you answer any really difficult questions.
- If you have a strong feeling about a question when you first answer it, don't go back and change it later.
- Play the odds: If you don't know the answer, write something. In a 4 choice multiple choice question you have a 25% chance of being right.
- Do not cheat! Taking a test is as much for you as it is for your teacher. If you cheat, you won't help yourself in the long run.
- Do not translate from your mother tongue!
- Don't block when listening.
- Limit yourself to what you know.
- Look for time signifiers when having to conjugate.
- Throw out the ridiculous answers in a multiple choice question.
- Don't try to be too funny or clever.
Tips:
- If you don't know an answer, don't worry about it. Worrying about what you don't know keeps you from showing what you do know.
- Remember that tests not only given to test your ability, but also to help you learn what you need to focus on to improve your English.
- If you don't understand why you have made a mistake, make sure to ask the teacher about that mistake in a latter session. Being embarrassed about mistakes will never help you improve, so ask!

