Friday 8 February 2013

Prepare for the Exam



For many people, taking the TOEIC test is a difficult experience. It is often, though, not a problem with their English. Often it is a problem with the stress of the exam. They do not expect to feel so much pressure and when they get into the exam, they crack. They find themselves swimming. So, it is important to be ready for the stresses of the exam.

I also recently read an article in TIME Magazine that said many schools in the USA are starting to spend a lot of time not just teaching their students the information they need for their exams, but also teaching them to cope with the stress of doing the exams themselves.

The first thing to do here is to be clear on what it will be like in the exam room:

1.       It will be quiet. You are not allowed to speak in the exam. So be ready for the silence. Do not let it get to you.
2.       The examiner will be strict. The TOEIC examiners have to follow a strict script. They must read it that way. It sounds very harsh. It tells you all the things you cannot do and explains that you be thrown out of the test for breaking the rules.
3.       It will be long. The exam lasts two hours. You need to be prepared to invest two hours of your life to the test.


You cannot change any of these things, so you need to be ready to deal with them.

There are a few actions that you can take to help yourself feel better and to do well in the exam:

1.       Be Positive. If you know that the examiner is going to be very negative and give you lots of instructions. During this time, stay positive. Don’t worry about what he says. Focus on what you are going to do in the exam.
2.       Don’t let the start make you nervous. It takes over 30 minutes before you actually begin the test. You have to fill in your exam sheet and you have to answer questionnaire questions. Do not worry about this. None of it is hugely important. Do not let it distract you from your thoughts and from the exam.
3.       Go to the bathroom before. The test takes two hours and you will be in the room for two and a half hours. This is a long time. Go to the bathroom before! You cannot leave the test.
4.       Get a good night’s sleep. The test takes a long time, so you need to be alert. Do not stay up late studying. Go to bed early and be fully rested.

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