Study Tips for an English Exam

Managing your time wisely is one of the keys to success in exam preparation.

Exams typically require you to study hard, and an English exam is no exception. However, you also need to study the smart way, following recommendations given by administrators of English exams, arrived at after rigorous academic debates and research into what students need to do to successfully prepare for an English exam. In addition, ensure that you have a realistic plan of how to prepare for your English exam in the time frame available to you.

Preparation Plan

When studying for an English exam, establishing and following an exam preparation plan will allow you to train for the exam like a pro. First, analyze how much time you have to prepare for the exam. Basically, the more time you have, the better. After that, determine the topics you need to cover. Different English exams cover different topics, which may include word analysis, reading comprehension, written and oral English skills and essay writing skills. After you know the topics, assign each topic a certain amount of time for study, such as a week. The last couple of days of your preparation should be set aside for revising the material. Stick to your schedule, and study as much as you can.

Writing Tips

When preparing for the writing section of your English exam, practice answering essay questions similar to those you expect to receive at the exam. When practicing, follow the guidance provided by your English exam administrator. For example, the California Department of Education, in its publication the English-Language Arts Study Guide, recommends that students use precise language, action verbs, sensory details and active rather than passive voice to achieve clarity of narration. It also recommends that students develop the main ideas within the body of the composition, supporting each idea with strong evidence. In addition, after you are finished writing, revise your composition to improve logic and coherence as well as the precision of word choice.

Literary Response and Analysis

Some English exams have a section where you need to read and understand stories, poems, plays and essays. Accordingly, familiarize yourself with common literary devices and figurative language, particularly the types found in poetry. When reading literary texts, analyze interactions between the main and subordinate characters and be ready to explain how those interactions affect the plot. Also, interpret and evaluate the impact of subtleties, ambiguities, contradictions and ironies in the text. In addition, analyze the style of the text, paying attention to the impact of diction and figurative language on the tone, mood and theme of the text.

Rich Vocabulary

A rich vocabulary will help you understand the meaning of words from different contexts, speeding up your reading comprehension. To enrich your vocabulary, read different texts relating to different fields. In addition, check the words you do not know in the dictionary.

References

• California Department for Education: English-Language Arts Study Guide

Resources

• Academic Tips