Learn more about Courses and the requirements, fees and other details.
Ask Questions to get an education expert’s advice immediately.
Get the latest information about education news, tips and career opportunities.
Find out information about different Institutions and apply to them directly.
A link will be sent via e-mail to initiate password reset. Please check your inbox.
If you have not received it, Seconds, please click here.
If you have not received it, please click here.
You have reached your password reset limit for today. Please check your spam folder, retry tomorrow or contact us now
A One Time Password (OTP) has been sent to your number at Update Phone Number
Skip Now
Back
Want to change your mobile number? Update Mobile Number
Didn’t get a call from us? Retry now Want to change your mobile number? Update mobile number
Want to change your mobile number? Update mobile number
We have saved your mobile number successfully! You may retry tomorrow.
Your IVR verification call has been initiated.
Visit the International Students section on our website to find out the latest news and everything you need to know about studying in Malaysia.
Published by Afterschool.my on Apr 21, 2017, 02:20 pm
English tests are often required by international universities in western countries. Malaysian students have to face MUET in order to enroll in local universities.
Unless you are undertaking a course that incorporates an English component that meets the requirements of your target university, you may be required to take an English test and achieve a certain score before being accepted into a particular institution.
Two of the most common international English tests to take are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). English tests are used to evaluate how well you utilise and combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills in performing either academic tasks or daily tasks.
However, taking IELTS or TOEFL is not as simple as walking into an exam hall armed with just pen and paper. They should be treated like academic English papers, which students are expected to study and prepare for.
Here are some tips for acing your English exams:
It is important to know the structure of your English test and its assessments. You can get more information about tests on websites or through the exam centre. For example, information on IELTS can be found on www.ielts.org and information on TOEFL can be found on www.ets.org/toefl. Or you can also check the detailed comparison between MUET, IELTS and TOEFL here.
The test is usually segregated into different sections – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each section contains own set of assessment criteria, which you should be familiar with to ensure that you meet the requirements that examiners are looking for.
Knowing the structure and criteria of each section will also allow you to prepare for your test better, which is important if you want to maximise your chances in scoring well and work within the allocated time comfortably.
There are a number of ways to prepare for an English exam. You can purchase relevant exercise books for the English test or download sample test questions from the official websites. Some books are catered towards achieving a certain score, so ensure that you are purchasing the ones that suit your requirements.
Get started on sample questions and refer to the answers provided to ensure that you are right on track. A tip is to practise doing your sample questions within the time limit so that you can gauge how fast you need to pace yourself in the actual exam.
Knowing what to expect will take away any unnecessary pressure felt during the actual exam that may cloud your judgement, or worse, cause you to not finish your tasks on time.
Alternatively, you can join a centre that specialises in preparing students for English tests, either through tuitions or workshops. Working with a teacher may help improve your prospects of scoring a higher grade in the exam, so it may be worthwhile to consider the option if it suits your needs.
Often times we do not see our own mistakes. If you have a mentor, teacher or parent with a good command of English, it would be wise to seek out advice from them for your test. For example, they can spot any grammar mistakes that you have missed or offer suggestions on how to improve your sentences.
It is particularly useful to practice your speaking component with someone else, as a simulated performance may change completely with the presence of an individual. This comes in handy in instances where you are required to answer oral exams that involves an examiner asking certain prompt questions, which are usually listed in any practice speaking exam that you can pass to someone else to help you practise.
In subjective papers such as writing, having someone else mark your paper may be useful as they can provide feedback on your mistakes as you yourself may not recognise the mistake you have done, particularly if you are trying to achieve a level of English higher than your current level.
Although the topics of each section may differ from test to test, its structure will not. Therefore, it would be wise to strategize your approach to answering each section.
For example, the IELTS’ writing task is split into two sections. Be strategic and know which task you wish to complete first as well as your approach to the task. Some may choose to start writing immediately, while others may take a few minutes to plan their essay.
The strategy will depend on the individual’s skills and aim in the test. Being prepared and systematic also means that you can control any anxiety or pressure you may feel during your English test.
Instead of burning the midnight oil, aim to get at least seven hours of sleep before your English test. This will keep you from feeling anxious or nervous on the day of your exam as well as allow your brain to register all that you have prepared for.
Try to arrive early before the test to settle down and sort out any administration that needs to be done. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water and maintain a calm mind to avoid making mistakes.
Ultimately, it is your performance on the day that counts. But, with good preparation and a healthy mind, you will stand a higher chance of scoring your target grade in your English test.
KUALA LUMPUR – 18 January 2023 – Ramboll, a global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm is inviting engineering and architecture students from tertiary institutions in Malaysia to participate in The Paper Power Project challenge. The Paper Power Project competition, cond..
Gaining admission into a renowned university is certainly every student’s aspiration and with the right stepping stone, it’s not impossible to get there! The tried and tested best programme to lead you there is the A-Level Programme. It is known as the ‘Worldwide Academic Gold Standard’ for ..
In our previous article, we have touched on the crucial role nurses play in the healthcare system, plus the benefits you’ll get for furthering your studies in a bachelor's of nursing programme. Pertaining to that, Are you aware there is a shortage of nurses right now in Malaysia? ..
Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) dominated the Individual category of the Deloitte Tax Challenge 2022 at the national level after bagging the Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up, Merit Award, Best ACCA Presenter and Best ACCA Writer awards. At the competit..
TAR UMT’s Cheerleading Squad ‘Puzzle’ had all the right pieces to dazzle the judges at the Cheer Out Loud 2022 and went on to win the Champion title in the University Coed Level 3 Team Cheer category. Cheer Out Loud is an annual competition organised by the Cheerleading Association & Regis..
Launching ceremony of Microsoft Academy TAR UC. (From left):Ally Tan, Dr. Chook Ka Joo, Vice President of TAR UC, Ms. Pinkky Chong, Channel and Partner Marketing Lead, Customer Sales Organisation at Microsoft Malaysia, Ms. Dearna Kee June Chen, Dean of the Faculty of Communications and Creative..
We think it’s fair to claim that Gen Z’s are constantly changing the course of traditions, and making it entirely their own; part of that is adding a dash of fun into their convocation ceremony!Besides, why so serious? You’re finally graduating, the moment you’ve all been wai..
Join Senior Lecturer and researcher Dr Ismail Nizam for a live webinar on Sunday, 18th December at 2pm to learn: How to Choose a Suitable Research Topic for Your Postgraduate Studies Tips and strategies to choose the best topic How the topic you choose can influence your career ..
They say you’re stronger than you think you are, and Imran Mat Shah's story is the prime example of that.The 26-year old Political Science student is put through an unimaginable situation, when he did not get just one, but three different types of cancer from year 2015 to 2020.&l..
As remarkable as the Seven Wonders of the World, your wondrous mind is meant to satisfy its curiosity by ingesting new knowledge.Wonder how creative content and online businesses are mastered?Wonder how cybersecurity and laws function?Find out the answers and hone your aptitude at Multimedia Un..
Get the information first
Afterschool.my
Shares
1
0
Need help?