| Nobody Likes Exams | | | | don't read them. In the event you don't understand the |
| Nobody says that they "like" exams. The truth is | | | | directions, then raise your hand and ask for |
| though, that they're not going to be abolished anytime | | | | clarification.o Failing to Bring Necessary Supplies |
| soon. English and other foreign language exams | | | | If I had a buck for every time a learner asked me for |
| actually do serve useful purposes for both the teacher | | | | a pencil, pen, eraser, "white out", etc. during an exam, I'd |
| and the learners. They're required by the administration | | | | be writing this from my yacht in Tahiti. You know you'll |
| and "system" too. Live with them and try to avoid | | | | need these things to take an exam, why not be |
| these seven common mistakes EFL learners make | | | | prepared with at least couple of pens, pencils and an |
| when taking exams. | | | | eraser?o Not Being Mentally and Physically Prepared |
| Here are the Seven Mistakes EFL Learners Make | | | | By the way, in case you haven't already heard this a |
| When Taking Examso Leaving Questions Blank | | | | hundred or more times before, I'll say it again, "you can't |
| Many exams are based on the number of correct | | | | go out partying until the wee hours of the morning right |
| answers. Leaving an answer blank simply guarantees | | | | before an important exam". You should be relaxed |
| that it will be scored as "incorrect". It's much better to | | | | and well-rested, have eaten recently (solid food, not |
| write in an intelligent "guess" than leave a blank. For this | | | | junk), physically and mentally prepared for taking an |
| you might still receive partial credit for your answer.o | | | | exam. At the risk of offending dentists and parents |
| Trying to Cheat | | | | worldwide, let me say that you can and should eat |
| Nothing grates an EFL teacher's nerves more than | | | | some candy or sweets at or near the start of the |
| futile learner attempts at cheating on exams. | | | | exam.o Relying on "hearsay" Answers and |
| Experienced teachers have often seen and | | | | Explanations |
| uncovered more ways to cheat than many learners | | | | A few raucous learners might blurt out answers and |
| will ever know. Why risk the deduction - or zero for | | | | responses to questions or problems before or during |
| the entire exam?o Not Asking Questions | | | | an exam. Don't trust it. This just might be a low-level |
| During some exam environments, learners are allowed | | | | tactic to elicit attention or help. It won't work. What you |
| to ask procedural or non-content-related questions of | | | | hear the vast majority of the time, in my experience, is |
| the teacher or examiner. At any rate, if in doubt, ask. | | | | wrong. Don't fall into this trap. |
| The worst case scenario is that the proctor will state | | | | Avoid These Seven Common Mistakes |
| the question cannot be answered. You won't be hung | | | | Nobody may "like" exams. Exams serve useful |
| for asking.o Not Reading Exam Instructions | | | | purposes for both the teacher and the learners, so |
| Instructions and directions are placed into exams to | | | | we're both stuck with them. Learners, however, should |
| help you thinking as to what is expected of you in | | | | find that their exam scores will generally improve if |
| answering a particular section or bank of questions. | | | | they try to avoid these seven common mistakes EFL |
| These do you absolutely no good whatsoever if you | | | | learners make when taking exams. |