Technology As Innovator

General

• The computer-based is adaptive, that is, if you answer a question correctly, the subsequent one will be more difficult and will give more marks. You can’t return to previous questions in computer-based test
• Focus on vocabulary
• Less grammar is tested
• Time is your worst enemy
• Practice a lot of English
• Consider between test centres, there can be differences in the way the test is conducted. In HCMC: British Council or IDP
• Get enough sleep, eat a good breakfast (not so square), arrive early

Reading

• Read the questions before reading the paragraphs, trying to find an hint what information is being asked
• Never leave blanks, just guess the answer
• Don’t spend too much time on a question, leave it there and get back later
• Try and predict the content of each paragraph from the opening sentence. The summary of a paragraph is usually asked.
• Don’t give more than one answer. If more than one words/phrases can answer the question, choose one of them
• If they specify “three-word answer”, give them exactly three words
• Articles “a” and “the” count as one word
• Spend at least 3 minutes to copy your answer to answer sheet. You don’t have extra time for this as in Listening.

Writing

• Learn a variety of sentence structures, with which you can write anything about
• Write task 2 first
• Must complete both tasks. Even if both are not meticulous, both complete ones give more marks than [one excellent plus one unfinished].
• Don’t copy exactly the topic. Use different words and phrases to describe the topic.
  Example: The topic reads “Discuss negative aspects of the youth’s entertainment.”
  You may want to start the essay with “This article aims at identifying the problems of how young people spend their leisure time.”
  See that ‘problem’ replaces ‘negative aspect’, ‘young people’ replaces ‘youth’ and ‘how to spend leisure time’ replaces ‘entertainment’
• Cohesion: one paragraph, one idea
• Coherence: use different linking words: additionally, besides, furthermore, what’s more, moreover, however, firstly, finally, eventually
• Try to recognize how 150 words (for task 1) and 250 words (for task 2) look like in your handwriting. Don’t spend time to count during the test.

Listening

• Exploit the silence time to anticipate the expectation of the questions. See if it should be time, or name, or place.
• Often the speaker will give you an answer and then correct themselves. It’s a common trick.
• If it happens that you missed one answer, forget it and focus on the following ones immediately. Regretting only makes you lose concentration.
• Write the first letters of the answers to save time and get back to them later. Example: you can note down ‘hu bld’ for ‘huge building’
• Don’t leave blank what you missed, try to guess the answer

Speaking

• Fluency is no less important than grammatical correctness
• Talk about what you’re most familiar with, not necessarily your favorites
• Develop your answers as much as possible
• Always speak more than the examiner
• It is not to test your knowledge, but how you give your opinion. Giving simple opinion fluently and confidently is enough - no need for in-depth but difficult explanations.

Reference

British Council britishcouncil.org

rxpgonline.com

Best of luck, task-takers!!!