It is clear that exams constitute a most stressful period of time, and that is why being aware of both exams and scoring systems is of utmost importance.
What is a scoring system?
It is a system that enables you to calculate your marks based on your answers, and understanding scoring systems can help you structure your preparation more properly, discover your potentials and target a specific range. While there are 4 basic skills that all students need to perform successfully, there are two, namely speaking and writing, which you need to produce, and that is why it is even harder to succeed in what we call clarity, coherence, cohesion and creativity. Thus, gaining time to enhance your suitability either as a writer or a speaker is highly recommended.
What do exams mean to candidates and how stressful is it?
Since exams aim at examining and assessing knowledge and skills, candidates feel pressurized, at least the biggest percentage of them, always in relation to the exam they get prepared for; imagine what happens with candidates taking exams for the first time. While the levels of stress and anxiety can be lowered on condition that the candidate is prepared well enough, and teachers simulate all the exam conditions in advance, there are some others whose anxiety and stress lie subconsciously. It always depends on a diverse set of factors.
Is there anything we can do to overcome test anxiety? Let’s examine each strategy properly.
Strategies to overcome test anxiety
- Be well-prepared
Preparation over time seems to offer a plethora of benefits, mainly in terms of building up your confidence, feeling more well-educated, as well as familiarizing yourself more with the subject matter. Behind every success, there is a purpose, and it is important to stress out that there should be a careful consideration of why you are currently learning English.
- Is it a matter of qualifications?
- Is it your inner need to explore the language more?
Regardless of the reason, focus on it and get prepared. Once this is established, make a list of the things you are good at and practice the ones you feel most unsure of. How can you do it? The answer is simple- start studying well in advance, do your study in parts and revise regularly. In doing so, it will feel better in the end.
- Practice & Simulate Mock Exams
Some of you might be wondering what the usefulness of simulating exam conditions is, or some others may be thinking about asking when it is the most appropriate time span to get started with this area. The answer is the sooner the better! Let’s face it! Students’ levels and needs vary, especially when you work with groups of students. There needs to be time for meaningful tasks that will allow students to learn through their experiences, rather than traditional ways of learning; as teachers, you need to develop their skills, and this is something that can be done through thorough examination and meaningful preparation in advance. Last minute preparation, though, could be detrimental.
- Time Management
There are some questions on which you need to reflect.
- Do you know how much time you need for each part of the exam?
- Do you set time limits when you do a test?
- Do you even write a writing task in 30’?
If you’ve answered negatively, then you will need to make up your mind and change your whole perspective. This is a prerequisite for anyone wishing to be successful in exams. Creating a realistic time limit as well as a study schedule will eventually allow you to attain that goal that seemed impossible to you in the beginning.
- Be kind to yourself
Have you ever noticed that exams are just a fight among so many others you will be called to give? Remember, yourself is above everything, marks or success. You ought to treat yourself with care and kindness and always consider that growth is far more important that perfectionism and excellence. Don’t underestimate the need to relax and take some deep breaths when you are at a loss. Indeed, stepping back for a while is effective.
What are some of the best resources to deal with the exam requirements?
As aforementioned, qualitative and effective preparation is the key to success. You must have spent a big amount of time reflecting on the best material that can reinforce students’ learning. Here are some recommendations about how we can actively engage learners in the process.
- YouTube videos/channels
Now that technology has inserted into our lives so intensely and learning has become more experiential and communicative, including a video in the lesson is a must. This way, such a resource arouses students’ interest and senses holistically. It is worth mentioning that what students always seek out is the incentive and the opportunities they are given, so being deprived of such an opportunity will turn them into indifferent learners, observing the lesson in a rather passive way, and not active. In fact, active learning increases participation, engagement and development.
Practice Papers and Mock Tests
As said before, practice papers and mock tests give a realistic idea of what the learner is to deal with on the exam day and thus contribute to his own improvement step by step, along with the support of an educator. The main aim is to be given an idea of what the exam format is like, what it really takes to do a test along with a timer, plus develop your skills to reduce the stress of anxiety that frequently overwhelms you.
- Notes
Keeping notes is undoubtedly one of the most valuable resources when getting prepared for exams, provided they are well-organized, boost revision efficiently and can be your personal guide to learning better. Notes tend to take different forms, such as self-made, notes during class time, summary or even digital ones, all of which appear to highlight a few key features. Some of them could be about paraphrasing when written in your own words, direct notes which are based on what teachers usually stress out or digital notes which can comprise of images, pdfs or links.
Conclusion
In summary, exams can be perceived as a unique experience which has a lot to offer, provided that the students are given equal opportunities of learning, follow a balanced study schedule and they are ultimately given different incentives that will assist them not only to succeed but also thrive.
