A student can speak good English and still do badly in an exam. The exam has its own shape: time limits, question types, and what examiners want. Teach the language and the shape together.
Learn the exam first
Read the format with the student. How many parts? How much time? What is marked?
Know the rules before you practise.
Practise one part at a time
Do not do a whole paper every lesson. One part, done well, teaches more.
Teach the useful phrases
Exams have repeated language.
In my opinion... On the other hand... I would like to...
Work on time
Many students lose marks by running out of time. Use a timer in practice.
Record speaking practice
Listen together. Ask, "What would you change?"
Keep the last month calm
No new material in the final month. Only practice and rest.
Words to remember
- exam — a formal test
- format — the shape and parts of a test
- mark — a score or grade
- opinion — what you think about something
Questions & answers
Q: How early should we start?
Three months is comfortable. Six months is calm.
Q: Should we do a full practice test every week?
Every two weeks is enough. One part a lesson is better.
Q: What if the student is strong but slow?
Practise with a timer. Speed is a skill too.
Q: How do I help with exam stress?
Practise in the same format, and teach one calm breathing moment before the test.
Q: What if the student fails?
Look at the parts, not the whole score. Choose one part to improve.