The Ultimate Mini-Guide

HOW TO PASS
ENGLISH EXAMS

WRITING
LISTENING
SPEAKING

SILA INGLÉS
 The Ultimate Mini-Guide
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ENGLISH EXAMS

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Writing

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Listening
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Speaking
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Contents
How To Pass an English Writing Exam
The Blank Sheet of Paper Syndrome
Brainstorming and Planning
Beware of Dictionaries
Electronic Translators
Keep It Simple, My Friend

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Practice, practice and more practice
Reading
Create More Volume with Adjectives, Adverbs, Connectors

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Style
Revision and Editing

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How To Pass an English Listening Exam
READ
One single word
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Tenses
Pictures
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LISTEN
Tone
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Interference
Different accents
Patience
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Letters and Numbers

Grammar
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Context
THINK
Deduction
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Prediction
How to Pass an English Speaking Exam
Try Changing Your Perspective
Top Tips for Speaking Tests

A final word
How To Pass an English Writing Exam
I'm not going to try and tell you that writing is easy... in any language... It isn’t.

Writing in our native tongue can be difficult enough so I know how hard it can be to
do it in English.

What’s more, when we bear in mind the fact that we usually only wish to learn how to
write in English out of necessity – either for work, to pass an English exam or simply

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to try and impress a girl or a guy – well, it's understandable that we start to stress out.

But here’s the good news… calm down, there's no need to panic!

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I have lots of useful advice for you on how to pass an English writing exam. All you
have to do is follow that advice and you’ll find your English writing becoming easier
and easier and then, when it comes to a writing exam, you’ll be ready!

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1) The Blank Sheet of Paper Syndrome ng
Is there anything worse than not knowing what to write?

Of course, there is. Sometimes you know exactly what you

should be writing about (because the exam has given you the
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topic) but you don’t have a clue where to start or what to say.
What I mean is, we all know how sitting staring at a blank
sheet of paper feels.
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You’re waiting for the ideas but nothing, nothing comes up…
you can't start... the tick-tock of the clock starts getting on our
nerves. Arrrrrrgggghhh!!!
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Not only do you have to think of something to say, but you

also have to worry about HOW to write it in English.
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Oh my God!! All this makes you so anxious that you can't think straight.

But don’t worry, the human brain is incapable of being stuck for long.
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So, my first piece of advice is, if you want to think clearly, you must first keep calm.

Take a deep breath… in… out… Ignore the clock for a moment. Now move on to point
number two.
2) Brainstorming and Planning
Once you feel a little calmer, the feeling of shock will go (I promise!) and suddenly, out
of nowhere, ideas start coming into your head.

“Thank goodness!”, you think. But it's not that simple, you cannot write down one
idea after the other as if you’re writing a shopping list; no way!

There's planning to be done.

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For instance, let's say the topic is pets… Take a separate piece of paper and write
down all the words, all the ideas that spring to mind.

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Next, decide which ideas to keep and which ones to discard.

Then, decide on the order in which you’ll write them.

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Now you have the content for your text and a plan.
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You’re ready to start writing!
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3) Beware of Dictionaries
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When you are practicing your written English, don't overuse the dictionary!

I'm not saying you can't use it at all... Of course, you should look up words and check
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spelling but if you use it too much, you're going to miss it a lot when it's
not there, such as for example, when you are in an English exam.

Written tests are not about simply putting a long list of words together.
You are supposed to be able to express yourself with the vocabulary
that you've got, either a lot or a little.

And while we’re talking about relying too much on artificial help, that
leads us to the next piece of advice, point number four.
4) Electronic Translators
Repeat after me: "Electronic translators are bad" Come on, everybody!!

Don't expect a machine to do your work, for God’s SAKE!!!!

An automatic translator can give you a hand, as a last resort, but it can not write a
whole text or essay for you! And if you do use one, then don't expect a good
outcome. Don't be surprised if your teacher catches you red-handed.

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You've been warned...

5) Keep It Simple, My Friend

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Why do you make it so hard?

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Don't try to write in English at the same level you would in your mother tongue. I
know, you feel frustrated, but that's the way it is. We can't start building the house
from the roof.
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At the beginning you will use simple sentences and then, as your command of the
language improves, you will gradually write more complex and expressive text. But
don’t try to run before you can walk; take it step by step.
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6) Practice, practice and more practice

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You learn to write when you write.

The more you write, the more fluent and natural you get. So write, write and then
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write some more. When the test comes, you will be glad you practiced so hard.

7) Reading
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Reading all kinds of written English will help you improve on many levels. Not only
will you improve your comprehension, but also enhance your vocabulary, fix your
grammar structures, correct your spelling, etc.
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Best of all, this will all be reflected in your test.

8) Create More Volume with Adjectives, Adverbs,

Connectors…
Quality is what matters, not quantity, but… what if you must write a specific number
of words and the mark depends on it?
It can be such hard work that you’re asking for time out when you're only half way to
the target.

Here's a trick to pad your text out and, at the same time, make it richer.

There is a world of possibilities in adjectives, adverbs, and connectors.

Take these phrases for instance:

• Mary was in her bedroom.

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• Yesterday, Mary was in her bedroom.
• Yesterday evening, Mary was in her bedroom.
• Yesterday evening, my friend Mary was in her bedroom.

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• Yesterday evening, my friend Mary was in her beautiful but small bedroom.
• Yesterday evening, my friend Mary was in her beautiful but small bedroom
alone.

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Wow!!! Don't be surprised, there's nothing new here. How you say things is what
really matters. Some decoration here, some adornment there, and… voilà!
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You've got three times as many words.

Be smart, administer this resource wisely.

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Excess is never good, if you write too many words, you risk boring the reader. Also,
remember that the more words you write, the more opportunities you have for
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mistakes!

For more on using connectors easily, try this free guide: Writing in English: Connectors
(post in Spanish).
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9) Style
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There are different structures that should be used for different styles of text.

A formal letter won't have the same format as an argumentative essay, for example. If
you want to find out more about essay types and structures, you can download this
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fantastic guide to learn how to write academic essays in English ;-)

10) Revision and Editing

After all the suffering, you are dying to put the final full stop to your masterpiece but
STOP!!!

You need to read the text again, otherwise, you may not pass your English writing
exam :/
“But I've already read it… I even know it by heart…”

NO... buts! You must do the last check. You will mainly be looking for these common
mistakes:

1. Subject-Verb Agreement: People is happy --> People are happy

2. “-s” for the third person present tense: I see him and he say hello --> He says
hello
3. Change of tenses and relative clauses: He told me that he is late --> He told me
that he was late

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4. Articles: An university--> A university
5. False Friends: Actually --> Currently

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Okay, those are my ten top pieces of advice when writing in English. Put them into
practice whenever you’re writing English text and by the time of your exam, they’ll be
second nature to you.

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Now, I’m sure you're going to get an
outstanding mark!!
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How To Pass an English Listening Exam
A lot of people worry too much about a Listening Exam... What if I don't hear the
question? What if I don't understand the accent? etc...

But a listening exam is like any other test; there are easy to learn tips and techniques
to reduce the stress and make it easier.

Here is my READ – LISTEN – THINK methodology for giving your very best performance

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in an English listening exam. It's worked for me many times and it will work for you! ;)

READ

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One single word

If the instructions say that you must complete such and such exercise using only one

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word, do not use two or three… it says one word!

Sometimes they will ask us to fill in the gaps (listening gap-fill exercises) with a single
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word and we fall into the trap of writing down everything that we have understood.

Huge mistake! The examiners will penalise us or mark the answer as incorrect. It’s
easy, just follow the instructions… ;)
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Tenses
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It is very important to determine which tense of the verb the person is speaking in
(present, past or future). Knowing which tense the question is in or to when it is
referring helps us understand the information (and therefore give the correct
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answers).

Pictures
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Needless to say, if there are images accompanying the question it is important to

study them closely; they provide clues to the correct answers. Take a look at the
pictures before you hear the recording to get an idea of what you are about to hear; as
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the saying goes, "forewarned is forearmed".

LISTEN
Tone

Even if we don’t catch all of the words, often the speaker’s tone of voice gives us a
clue as to whether their opinion or response is positive or negative. Be careful using
this tip; sometimes the intonation may be ambiguous or even ironic but if you missed
the words and the question is asking you how the speaker feels, ask yourself, What
was their tone of voice?

Interference

We must understand the conversation over all of the extraneous noise. The noise is
there for the sole purpose of making the exercise more complicated.

Depending on the level of the listening exam, the extraneous noise can be more or
less intrusive, ranging from monologues against a silent background to group

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conversations in busy cafes during rush hour. If there’s a lot of background noise, just
do what you would do if you were actually in that situation (in a bar, at a railway
station, etc.) and try to block out the surrounding noises while focussing on the words

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of the person speaking to you.

Different accents

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If we are used to listening to American accents and then find ourselves listening to a
Londoner during the exam, we will think that we are in the wrong room listening to
Korean. Don’t panic!
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You can prepare for this possibility in advance. If you search the Internet, you will find
thousands of examples of different accents. At the very least, practice understanding
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the difference between American and British accents.

Patience
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Try not to write while you are listening to the recording. Yes, yes….I know that people
can do two or three things at the same time (nearly everyone…) but it is better if, at
least for the first time you listen, you leave the pen on the table.
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Depending on the type of listening exam you will have two or three chances to listen
to the dialogue so, at least on the first listen, don’t write anything down, just listen
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carefully with your eyes closed!

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Closing your eyes may seem a little over the top but I have seen that when my
students listen with their eyes closed they can repeat what they have heard with
much less difficulty because all of their attention was focussed on the sounds.
Letters and Numbers

Be very careful when you hear letters, quantities, dates or phone numbers. You
should pay close attention as they usually pass like a whisper and are often difficult to
catch.

Remember that numbers can be said in different ways. For example, you can say “one
thousand two hundred” or “twelve hundred”, both meaning 1,200.

Another potential trap is the English expression “a fiver” or “a tenner” when referring

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to money. The first signifies a five-pound note and the latter is a 10-pound note.

To learn the numbers in English, you can download this free PDF by IESBecquer. With

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this PDF you will learn to express not only the numbers but decimals, percentages,
fractions etc.

Grammar

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In a listening exam, our grammatical knowledge also works in our favour. Do not try
to listen and just repeat parrot-fashion or write too quickly. Try to understand what it
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is that the speakers are talking about and take note of whether they are speaking in
the past or future tense. Recognising the tenses helps us to understand the
conversation more clearly. It is also important to master pronouns in order to
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understand who the speakers are talking about.

Context
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Remember that you are not expected to understand every single word.

It is more important to understand the context of what is being said, the topic of the
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conversation, who they are talking about and the tone in which they are saying it.

If we accept that there may be parts that we don't understand we will put less
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pressure on ourselves during the exam which takes a great weight from our
shoulders.

Focus on what we do understand, what they are asking of us and don’t be distracted
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by secondary information which is placed there specifically to distract and mislead us.
So…don’t fall into the trap!

Close your eyes and listen!

THINK
Deduction

Be a detective and use your ability to deduce information. We should not assume that
the information in the recording is worded exactly as it is in the question.

For example, when asked, “Are you coming to the party?” the person may respond
with, “I won’t miss the party”, which is the same as, “Yes, I’m coming to the party”. It is

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usually quite evident, but we must be alert to these little twists as they are often
included to increase the level of difficulty.

Prediction

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When reading the questions, we can try to predict the possible answer. I don’t mean
you should invent the answers, but it is possible to anticipate where we are being led.

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For example, if a question asks you for a street try to hear, for example, road or street.

Likewise, if it asks for a date, a price or a phone number, that is the moment you put
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your antennae up and be alert to capture the numbers perfectly.

Ok that’s it for listening exams…

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Remember READ – LISTEN – THINK!

Understand what the question is asking for, pay close attention to the recording and
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then apply your brain to what you have heard.

It may seem very difficult at the beginning but, as we always say, practice works on
the ears in much the same way as a cotton bud. The more we listen to the sound of
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English the easier it will be to understand what we hear. Obviously, to begin with we
will only pick up a few words but bit by bit we will be able to understand complete
sentences.
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By practising these tips, the listening exam will be better than just ok.

In other words… ATTACK!

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How to Pass an English Speaking Exam

How to Pass an English Speaking Exam

Every time we face an English speaking exam, we panic. Some people are very good at
communicating orally, but others are not and can be become afraid of being exposed.

However, if you approach the speaking exam differently and follow certain rules, you

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will surely be successful.

Try Changing Your Perspective

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Rather than seeing the speaking exam as a terrifying ordeal, take a moment to
consider the ways in which it is easier than other types of test.

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What? You don’t believe me? Okay, how about this…

• Being face to face with a person enables us to interact with that person asking
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the questions, which is not possible during the written or listening tests.
• You can correct your mistakes by rephrasing or repeating.
• You can ask the person/teacher to give more detail or elaborate on what they
want.
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• During a speaking exam, you can exchange ideas with the other person, which
makes the conversation more enjoyable and makes time flies.
• Again, just remember that you can make amendments and additions to your
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answers, giving you more opportunities to gain marks and pass than you have
in other tests.

Of course, part of your confidence will also come from preparing well, but the beauty
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of the speaking exam is that you can also be spontaneous. Looking at speaking tests
from this perspective is one of the keys to feeling more relaxed… and when we are
relaxed.
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Top Tips for Speaking Exams

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A speaking exam is a type of performance and it is all too easy to suffer from “stage
fright”!

When that happens, one of two things may happen.

You may freeze up and find it difficult to say anything, even the speech or presentation
that you have prepared. On the other hand, you may overcompensate for your fear
and talk too much, trying to add extra phrases and therefore risking making extra
mistakes.

Don’t worry!
There are lots of tips and techniques you can use to overcome your fear of speaking
English ;)

1. Lots of Practice

Practise the interview in the days and weeks before your test with someone who can
play the teacher.

This way you can test how well you know the topics and just going through the
process will make you feel more confident. Do this as often as you can. You know it’s

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true: practice makes perfect!

2. Don't try to use everything you've learnt in books

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If you try to show absolutely everything you've learnt during your studies, you will
make things too complicated and you will struggle and lose control of the interview.

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Don’t ask more of yourself than you can handle. So, when you are preparing your
speech, make it as impressive as possible for your level, but not so impressive that
you fail the exam! During the test, if you find you are trying to add extra unplanned
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elements, just slow down, take a breath and return to what you have been practising.

When you take control, your confidence returns.

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What’s more, be careful of learning and repeating exact examples and phrases from
the textbook. If you do this it could lead the teacher to believe that you just
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memorised stuff and don’t understand it.

3. Be an Actor
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As Shakespeare used to say:

"All the world's a stage,

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and all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;"

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Listen to Shakespeare and become a great player during your speaking test.

If you’re naturally shy, pretend you’re playing a role or a part in a film; a character
who can speak English more confidently. And remember, if you’re actor, be a good
one; tell yourself you’re an Oscar-winner or that your speaking test could win you this
year’s Goya! Move over Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep!

When you are feeling confident, that feeling with help your ‘performance’ and the
teacher will give you a better ‘review’ for sure.
 4. Non-verbal communication

In a speaking exam, as in everyday life, you're judged, approved or failed, not only for
what you say and how you say it but also for your appearance and manner while you
speak. In other words, your non-verbal communication (or body language) will affect
your success.

Here are some tips on body language for your speaking

exam:

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Hands

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Don't hide your hands, take them out of your pockets and let them move naturally.
However, try not to point with your index finger, it might be mistaken for an
aggressive attitude.

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Posture ng
Keep a relaxed posture, don't be tense or stiff; drop your shoulders (this will help you
breathe more easily too).

Walk in
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When you walk in the room, do it graciously, not too slow, not too fast. Take strong,
deliberate steps, but don't make holes in the floor.
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Sit down

When you sit down, lean backwards but don't slouch. Try and look as natural as
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possible, but beware of giving the appearance of a "Who cares what I do...” attitude.
Find a balance between the formality of the situation and the idea of “life is a stage”.
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The best position to adopt when sitting is with both feet on the ground and both
knees together.

It’s much better to cross your legs than open them widely as if you were having a drink
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with your friends... and certainly, do not sit like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct... that's
not what you're there for...

Equally, don't sit rigidly still like a mummy either, you can lean forward when you
have something interesting to say and change positions subtly and naturally.

Avoid sudden movements when the teacher asks a question in case you look hesitant
or uncertain.
Eye contact

Make plenty of natural eye contact but don’t stare at the teacher until your eyes
water! If you don’t dare look at the teacher in the eyes, look at the space between the
eyebrows. From the teacher’s point of view, it's hard to tell the difference; at worst,
they may think you are a little cross-eyed. Better that than nervous, right?

Try not to stare at some other part of their face as you may seem a little odd, and
don't stare at the mouth or the teacher may think you want a kiss! That’s not what
you’re there for! ;)

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Hold a pen

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If you find it difficult to control your hands or you don’t know what to do with them,
rather than crossing your arms try holding a pen. It looks natural, it gives your hands
something to do and so long as you don’t start tapping or drumming on the desk, you
won’t be distracting the teacher from your great presentation.

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Head
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By the way, keep your head up, don't stare at the floor... the floor is for cockroaches
and ants.
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Nails

One sure sign of anxiety is biting your nails or chewing your lip; don’t do either!
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Smile

If you find something funny, smile. Try not to release all your tension in a lunatic’s
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laugh; the smile is enough. You will have time for laughing later (LOL) with your
buddies, once you've passed the test.
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Practice

Lastly, one key point, practice all these gestures in front of a mirror before the
speaking test takes place – you need to know that what feels natural also looks
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natural.

Clothing and accessories

Clothing is a big part of our personal appearance and while the

teacher shouldn’t give you marks for dressing well, you
certainly don’t want them to be distracted by your choice of
wardrobe while you’re trying to demonstrate your mastery of
English!
Here are a few hints and tips:

• A pair of dark jeans and a plain shirt is a good choice for both men and women.
• Shoes must be informal but not too casual. Leave those Converse at home.
• If you're a woman, don't wear too high heels, stick to low shoes. Avoid any
falls!
• If you decide to wear a pair of trainers, choose a nice, clean black or white pair.
• Avoid sequins and other sparkly items; use your English to dazzle the teacher!
• And most importantly, don't wear too much jewellery, you're not attending a
ball.

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So, dress well, brush your hair, but don’t go mad; after all, it’s an English speaking
exam, not a wedding!

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Much of the above tips can be condensed to "BE NATURAL!"

You will only feel tenser if you try and be someone you are not so in a speaking

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English exam; you should behave as naturally as possible and use vocabulary
according to your level and the topic assigned.
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I recommend you don’t overreach yourself and try to use too many technical or
difficult terms because it will only lead you to make mistakes.
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So, all in all, being natural is the best way to feel comfortable and to show the
assessor how confident you are. If you prepare the test properly, you'll see there's
nothing to worry about; and once it's all over, you'll realise it was easier than
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expected.

Well then, what are you waiting for…?

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Stand in front of that mirror and start

practising for your English speaking exam!! ;)
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A final word…

Well, that’s about it on how to pass your English exams.

By now, you should have all the information you need on what the different types of
exams (written, listening and speaking) involve.

I hope you’ve found this guide fun as a well as practical and useful.

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I do know that in these pages you have all the trips, tricks and advice you need to pass
your English exams with flying colours.

Good luck! ☺

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- Sila Inglés

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