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", you cannot expect this passage to appear again in the test but the question types such as "Fill in the blanks using NO MORE THAN ONE word and/or number", "Choose the correct heading for the paragraphs" ,"Yes/No/Not Given" etc will appear regularly in a test. 


In the light of the above discussion, how useful do you think memorising 'correct answers' is? Not at all. So what should you do? You should develop the skills the test is testing you on. If you are preparing for Reading module of  IELTS, you should have a look at the types of reading passages and types of questions. What types of passages do you get to see in IELTS Reading module? Passages from Chetan Bhagat's novels? No. Then, excerpts from British and American classics like Hamlet and Leaves of Grass? Not at all. The passages are from academic journals, newspapers, magazines and other academic types of writing. The first passage of IELTS General Reading can be from a leaflet or brochure. Similarly, you can have a look at the types of recordings you  have to listen to in Listening module of IELTS and think about what skills Listening questions are trying to assess. A good amount of exposure to the language that is often found in Reading and Listening modules of IELTS can help you improve your test performance. 


Another pitfall that students often fall into is memorising essays and cue cards. This wrong strategy of memorising 'model answers' is generally adapted by students who do not have much time and want to get just an acceptable score with their limited proficiency in English. This can work sometimes, especially when your requirement is a low band. However, if your requirement is Band 6.5 and above, this can be counterproductive. So what is the solution if you want to get band 6.5 and above? The answer is simple: go through IELTS writing (https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_writing_band_descriptors.pdf) and speaking (https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_speaking_band_descriptors.pdf) band descriptors and try to understand what is required at a band that you want to get.  



 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eighty Essays for IELTS, TOEFL and PTE

Image
  80 Essays for IELTS, TOEFL and PTE   By Hiren Bhatt                                       About the author Mr Hiren Bhatt has been teaching English language and literature for more than two decades. He has Trinity CertTESOL, the only qualification besides Cambridge CELTA, which is accepted for ELT roles by British Council, RELO (Regional English Language Office)   and IDP. He also has MA TESOL with a distinction from Westminster University, London. He wrote his MA TESOL dissertation on investigating correlation between test-takers’ IELTS reading Band scores and their academic performance at university in an English-speaking country. His teaching experience includes teaching English to learners for whom it is a foreign language to teaching English literature to students in UK whose mother tongue is English. He has also conducted s...
Read more

PTE test prep

Image
  If you are aiming to get a is score in PTE, Neksus is simply the unrivalled place for you because you will be mentored by a trainer who has got 88 in PTE. And yes, you can verify the score! Who would you go to for PTE preparation: somebody wo has never done PTE himself and has no qualification in English Language Teaching (ELT) or someone who has achieved a high score in PTE and has ELT qualifications? The obvious answer is someone with a high PTE score and ELT qualifications.  In this age of internet and online education, there is proliferation of messiahs and gurus who claim to give you some sort of salvation whether it is in finance or education. However, people are so gullible that they buy into their claims as soon as they see them on YouTube or other online platforms. If you are really looking for someone genuine, you will take the trouble of verifying the claims made  by these online messiahs.  Some people turn to online platforms for PTE preparation thinkin...
Read more

OET Preparation at Neksus

Image
Do you have a degree in nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry, veterinary science or any other medical field and want to explore a career in an English speaking country? If your answer is 'yes', then you need to have a look at the following equation: a degree in a medical field + OET grade B = a bright career in an English speaking country.  OET scores are accepted for registration with government bodies such as NHS, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, Medical Council Canada and other professional or licensing bodies [https://oet.com/test/who-recognises-oet]. Generally, grade B in OET exam is required to obtain a license to practice. If you have a degree in nursing and grade B in OET, there are many vacancies with visa sponsorship in the UK you can apply to.  If you are thinking of preparing for OET, Neksus English Academy is the best place for you for a couple of reasons. First, it is run by a dedicated teacher wo has MA TESOL from UK and Trinity  CertTESOL fro...
Read more