Dealing with Unexpected Challenges During Your English Test
The truth about English proficiency tests, or any entrance exam for that matter, is you can never be completely prepared. Every exam will have you handling sticky situations, unexpected questions and unconscious anxiety putting you in an uncertain position. Students often panic and distress in such times of indecision which further results in bad performance. You can always prepare and revise throughout and gulp down every paragraph of their books coupled with the sample papers. There can always be something shaking your grounds.
The good part is that you are not alone. Difficult questions are difficult for everyone taking the test. Less difficult for some than most. Those nasty questions are stinking every seat, and not yours alone. It would be wise to remember that all students struggle with time management, vocabulary and even some aspects of Grammar. If and when you feel stuck, the easy solution could be to take a deep breath and move on. However, with questions in the Speaking sections, it can truly be bugging to not know what to do next.
In this blog, we will help you navigate through the challenges and uncertainties often faced in English proficiency tests.
Acceptance is the Key
Our advice on chasing perfection? Don’t do it. You could be a scholar and still not perform well on the English test. As you have proved your excellence time and time again, it is not a matter of intelligence. No matter how prepared you are for the exam, there will be questions that will catch you off guard. Perfectionists often panic when not finding a way around one question. The panic dismembers their confidence and forces their mind to slip by even the easiest question they read ahead. Students, instead, should prepare to accept that there will be questions they will not be able to solve easily. In fact, they might not even be able to solve them at all. It will be wise to not have the uncertainty impact your overall performance on the test.
Also read: Understanding the Modules of the IELTS Exam
Thank you, Next!
Even if you don’t know what you will do about the question later, move on and hop to the next. Maintaining a sturdy mindset will help you perform well in your English test. Believe that you know what you are doing and plan how you will do it. When you have answered all the questions, you will have time to take a look at the skipped ones. You might not have enough time to circle back to it or the solution might strike you on your way to the next section. Regardless, a 6.0 in IELTS only needs 23 to 26 right answers out of 40 questions in the Reading and Listening sections each. The Writing and Speaking sections have no such bars. Besides, the exam is not that easy.
Also read: Effective Time Management Techniques for the IELTS Exam
Break up or Break it up!
When you get stuck in a question, stop for a few seconds to evaluate the situation. If you are still to answer the following questions and sections, break up from the anxiety of not knowing the answer to this one. Move on to the next set of questions and answer those you do feel confident with. However, before you do that, give it one fair chance. It could be possible for you to do a part of the questions. The mark scheme of all English tests gives you credits for attempting questions. Well, that is totally subjective to the section you are in and if your partial answer was relevant and reasonable. Particularly, the Writing section might surprise you with a topic you scarcely know about. Start it out and let it flow as it comes.
Also read: IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay: Topics, Tips and More
Assumption is not Always the Mother of Mistakes
Assuming that you know the solution or answer is better than not providing any. IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or any other English have no negative marking for wrong answers. On the other hand, Duolingo adapts the next questions to students’ performances. It could bode well for you to recall similar questions that do know solutions for. Perhaps, the question has matching content or style with ones you know? In such cases, taking a shot with a similar pattern of solution can help you find the answer. Furthermore, if the question has multiple parts, the latter parts could have provided some leads.
Also read: Duolingo vs IELTS: Which is Better for Indian Students?
Appointing Guards
Placeholders could actually guard your scores. There will be situations when you don’t know the precise word or just cannot remember it. Yeah, that is indeed a head-scratcher. Instead, students could use some placeholders like this thing, kind of, whatsitsname and so on. It is completely alright to not a wide vocabulary. You can alternatively use other words to describe your word. These words let the listener know that you don’t remember the word for it. At the same time, it doesn’t compromise the overall understanding of your statements. And that is what which counts. Make sure that your answer has sentence structures aligning with your placeholder and is prompt.
Also read: Role of Grammar in the IELTS and Avoiding Common Mistakes
Ask the Experts
Computer-based tests can have technical problems. The screen could glitch, the next page couldn’t load or it just won’t accept your answer. Students who have never given a computer-based test before could also find the interface tricky. Sometimes, the question could also be badly phrased or have an error. Talk to the supervisor and find a resolution. The only way to minimise these issues is to be prepared for anything.
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