Why do students fail English language tests? When we are preparing for an English language test, we have to remember that it is a proficiency test and not a term-end exam. So how is a language proficiency test different from a term-end exam? A term-end exam has some content that a student is supposed to memorise and write in the exam. Examples of a term-end exam include most school exams in India except exams like IGCSE, A Level and International Baccalaureate. A typical state board exam asks students some factual questions like, "What places does the poet mention in this poem?" However, a language proficiency test is meant to test your ability to use the language in context and not your memory. This means while preparing for a language proficiency test, you should remember that the content of a language proficiency test cannot be repeated while the question types remain the same. For example, if you see a reading passage titled "Consume Less and Save the Environment...