Test preparation and strategies for success

Knowing what a test will look like, creating personal goals for test preparation, and developing strategies for success all help build confidence in learners and help them reduce stress.

This booklet and activities help prepare students for language assessments, such as IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC, as well as any tests that evaluate learners’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. To build confidence, an essential part of preparing for standardised tests and test techniques is to be familiar with the test format and to develop test-taking strategies. While doing practice papers is a great habit, this booklet and activities encourage students to use meta-cognitive strategies while using practice papers. Students are active and independent in getting to know the test and reflecting on what preparation is most effective for them.

The booklet and activities are great materials to use in test preparation courses or in courses that work towards high-stakes tests. They can also be used for tutoring students outside of class. Activities could be done by assigning individual students or groups to one skill or covering one skill each week.

Booklet contents and activities:

• General questions to get to know the test

• Self-reflection pages for analysing performance after a practice test to see what went well and what their next goals should be

• Collaborative and interactive tasks to share strategies and experiences of taking the test

• Strategies to develop balanced thinking and reduce stressful thoughts

• Attractive design to engage students

• White and SEN-friendly background options

• SEN-friendly font, text colour, pt size and character spacing

• Can be used for reading, writing, speaking and listening skills or for focusing on individual skills

• Use with practice papers - ones for analysing test format and ones for post-test self-reflection

• Easily adaptable materials - different elements can be used individually or collaboratively with a partner or small group.