How to pass an English exam

Learning to speak a language and passing an exam are not always the same thing. Just being able to speak English well does not guarantee that you will pass an exam. Many people who have learnt English from TV programmes or films fail official English exams.

Each exam, whether it’s IELTS, ESOL or something else, has a mark scheme that tests applicants on specific vocabulary, grammar and other skills that are hard to pick up without studying for that exam either by yourself, with English classes or English tuition. 

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Tips for passing exams

Although each English exam is different, these tips will help you pass, no matter which exam you take:

• Read twice: This is important for every exam; reading each question twice will help prevent you from making mistakes that are easily avoidable.

• Take your time: Make sure you take your time to understand each question and think about how you will answer it. Thinking about your response before writing it can help you write a better, more structured answer. 

• Paraphrase: When studying vocabulary for an exam, make sure you know different ways of saying each word. This will help you during the exam since if you forget a certain word, you will have other ways of expressing yourself. 
• Relax: This is easier said than done, but relaxing during the exam will help you avoid rushing and making silly mistakes. 

How to pass official English exams

When taking official exams like the CPE or TOEFL, one of the best ways to prepare yourself is by taking practice tests from previous years to familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam. It also helps to read the mark schemes for each part of the exam so that you know what you are being tested on. 

No matter which exam you take, each language exam can be broken down into three parts: listening, speaking and writing.

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Listening

This is one of the fundamental skills of learning a language. Although it’s a passive skill, it’s essential both for exams and when using the language in the real world. To improve your listening skills there are many fun ways that you can do so, for example, by watching TV shows and films in English or by listening to English music and podcasts. 

Watching animated or kids films and series is a great way to ease your way into listening to English. You can also try watching things that you have watched many times, so that you do not need to try to understand the story and can just focus on learning the vocabulary.

Speaking 

This is arguably the most important skill when it comes to learning a language, being able to have a conversation with native speakers is ultimately the goal of every learner. However, speaking also tends to be the most difficult skill for language students. Many learners are embarrassed about their accents or worried about making mistakes, which can hinder their fluidity. 

The only way to improve your speaking skills is by actually speaking English, whether it’s with a native English tutor online, a friend or family member or a language exchange partner. Speaking with a native English speaker can also help improve your listening skills and get you used to their accents and vocabulary. 

Writing

Written exams usually consist of reading comprehension and a written essay. This is where you will be tested on your grammatical knowledge and vocabulary which tends to be specific to the exam you are taking. It helps to read the mark scheme to understand what the examiners are expecting. 

Writing is one of the skills that is harder to pick up without taking classes or having a tutor to guide you through the grammar, vocabulary and how to write an essay. As well as taking practice tests, you can read articles and books in English and try and write a piece on what you have read. 

Resources for learning English

As well as studying for the specific exam that you are taking, these are some ways you can improve your English to help you pass your exam:

• Films and TV shows: As we have previously mentioned, watching films and TV shows in English is a great way to improve your listening skills and it is also fun. 

• Reading: Reading books or articles is great for improving your reading comprehension and expanding your vocabulary. Download a news app like the BBC’s to make it easier to integrate reading articles into your day-to-day life. You can also read a book for children or one that you have read before.

• Music: This is another fun way to improve your listening skills, there are English songs for just about any genre so it should be easy to find an artist that you like. You can also try listening to podcasts in English to listen to conversations between native speakers.

• Language exchanges: By getting a language exchange partner to practise with, whether it’s through a programme or by hiring a native English tutor, you can regularly practise speaking English. 

• Dictionaries: Online dictionaries like DeepL and WordReference can help you learn vocabulary.
• Websites: Websites such as the British council and ESOL have free articles for grammar and vocabulary with tasks that you can use to help test your understanding. You should check the website of the text you are taking to see what resources they have to offer. On the IELTs website, for example, you can find a range of sample questions and practice tests for free, as well as a link to buy their official textbook.