/birkenhead-english/images/image-je69a.png)
There are certain studying habits that successful students adopt. I've been tutoring TOEFL and IELTS students for ten years, and I've seen how these studying habits change attitudes and create success. I hope you'll try them.
Too many students contact tutors 2 or 3 weeks before their deadline in a state of complete panic. Don’t be one of those students.
Studying for an English proficiency exam will probably take longer than you think.
That's because improving language proficiency is not the same as memorizing facts. Building language skills involves a lot of repetition and practice, and it will take time for your new skills to become automatic.
If you're used to preparing for exams by memorizing formulae and other facts then this way of studying could be a shock so be guided by your tutor. They will know the kinds of exercises that will help you.
Starting to study well in advance of your deadline is better for your studying because you’ll learn more effectively when you’re not stressed.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been speaking English since you were a young child or if you were educated in English or if all your English friends understand you perfectly.
Get used to the kind of English that is required in your exam. It’s not the same as everyday English.
You’ll need to understand some advanced vocabulary and to be able to express yourself in a variety of ways using complex grammar structures. Exam English is like a performance. It's your job to show the examiner the extent of your proficiency. Practice the kind of English you need for your exam over and over again.
As soon as a student contacts me about lessons, I can tell how organized they are by the way they follow instructions.
The best students I work with - the ones who have the fewest lessons and made the fastest progress - are the most organized.
Then, when we start lessons, organized students make time for studying. They do their homework and all the other exercises I give them, and they keep their studying resources in order so they can find everything they need.
Some people have this skill naturally but the good news is that learning to be even a little bit more organized will help you study more effectively.
If you’ve tried the exam several times, and haven’t achieved your target scores, accept that you’re going to have to change some things.
The absolute worst attitude you can have is to think you don’t have time to learn anything new and continue with your old ways.
This is something I've come across with far too many students and it normally results in a handful more unsuccessful and frustrating exam attempts.
So, identify your weaknesses - or get help to identify them - and work out what needs to improve. It could be a grammatical construction that you’re scared of using, a pronunciation sound that you've always had difficulty with, or a way of developing your topic in writing.
Whatever it is, make time to learn the new way, practice it and repeat it until you can use it confidently.
Understand that studying for an English proficiency exam like TOEFL or IELTS (or any other exam) is a big time and financial commitment.
Make sure you can allocate enough time and mental space to your studying each week.
So many students try to cram exam preparation into their already over-busy lives. Don’t take on additional responsibilities at the same time. If anything, see if you can reduce some of your commitments. It will only be for a short period of time but it may give you the mental and physical space which is so important for success.
Ask your family, friends and co-workers for support. It’s really hard to do this all by yourself, and if you have support, you’re more likely to succeed.
I’ve worked with hundreds of students, and I can tell you these study habits really do work. If you'd like to find out more about lessons and how I can help you to exam success then you can contact me here.