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Here you can find some certification tests which assess your different skills using it in different study fields.

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Session 1 (online Aug 26- 30) Inphografic

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Here you can find different tips when taking a certification test for grammar skills.

1. You can find topics such as passive voice, conditionals, relative clauses, prefixes and suffixes, idiomatic expressions, collocations, and compound words.

Passive voice: In the passive, the person or thing that the action was done to becomes the topic or theme. We can leave out the ‘doer’ or agent, or we can place the ‘doer’ in a prepositional phrase (by + ‘doer’):

These houses were designed in the 1880s. (passive without agent)

These houses were designed in the 1880s by Edward Barnes. (passive + by + agent)

We use the passive when we want to change the focus of a clause, or if the doer of the verb is not important or not known or if we do not want to say who the doer is.

Conditionals: Conditional sentences consider imagined or uncertain situations and the possible results of these situations. The most common types of conditional sentences involve if:

[imagined situation]

If I get the job in Milan,

[result]

I’ll be pretty happy.

[outcome]

We’ll have the party in the garden

[imagined situation]

as long as it doesn’t rain. (or … if it doesn’t rain. or … on condition that it doesn’t rain.)

Relative clauses: Relative clauses give us more information about someone or something. We can use relative clauses to combine clauses without repeating information.

There are two types of relative clause: one type refers to a noun or noun phrase (these are defining and non-defining relative clauses) and the other type refers to a whole sentence or clause, especially in speaking.

Prefixes and suffixes: Prefixes are letters which we add to the beginning of a word to make a new word with a different meaning. Prefixes can, for example, create a new word opposite in meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. suffix is a letter or group of letters added at the end of a word which makes a new word.

Idiomatic expressions: A group of words in a fixed order that has a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own:

To "bite off more than you can chew" is an idiom that means you have tried to do something which is too difficult for you.

Collocations: A word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be expected from the meaning:

In the phrase "a hard frost", "hard" is a collocation of "frost" and "strong" would not sound natural.

Compound words: Individual words (or phrases that act as individual words) made from two or more words working together. They can be most parts of speech, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and even prepositions like inside, outside, within, and without.

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Certification tests assess reading skills and you can use some strategies according to the questions, strategies such as:

Skimming and scanning are two useful reading techniques. They can help you to find information really quickly in a text.

Skimming is when you look over a text quickly to get the general idea of it. You don't need to read every word - just pick out key words and sentences.

Scanning is when you look over a text quickly, line by line, hunting for key words, dates, names and numbers. It's a useful skill to use when you need answers to specific questions.

1. Skimming:

Read the first paragraph and last paragraph in full.

Read the opening words and closing words of the paragraphs in between.

Use headings, sub-headings, bullet points or key words

(those in bold, italics, capitals or underlined) to guide you.

2. Scanning:

You don't need to read every word. Just look for the information you want.

Again, use headings, sub-headings, bullet points or key words to guide you.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zdd9vwx

https://www.englishradar.com/english-exams/listening-tips-for-english-proficiency-exams/

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-levels/improve-your-english-level/how-prepare-speaking-exams

https://oxfordlanguageclub.com/page/blog/preparing-for-english-proficiency-exams-tips-and-strategies#:~:text=Practice%20speaking%20on%20various%20topics,to%20improve%20your%20writing%20skills.

https://www.englishradar.com/english-exams/writing-tips-for-english-proficiency-exams/

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Passive voice - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

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The listening component of an English proficiency exam typically includes four or five sections. There are common topics and the test has different types of questions. Our first tip is the same for the listening test as for the reading test – remember that the answers are given in the actual listening and you don’t need to use other knowledge to complete the questions.

The four main types of listening questions can include:

1. Multiple choice questions:

These questions usually give a list possible answers. You need to check how many answers are required (e.g. one or two) and choose from the options.

2. Completing gaps:

For these questions, you need to complete a gap with the correct information from the listening. This may include short information such as dates, times, prices etc. The exam paper may also give requirements for the number of words, e.g. complete the gap with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER and so on.

It is important to understand how words are calculated for your exam as well. A hyphenated word (e.g. full-time) is counted as one word, whereas compound words with spaces (e.g. shop assistant) count each word separately.

3. Sentence completion:

These types of questions require you accurately complete a sentence with specific information from the listening text. Typically, there will also be a limit on the words or numbers that you can give in the answer (e.g. NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER).

4. Matching items:

These types of questions usually involve one listening text and four or five questions. You are required to listen to the text and match items given in the questions (e.g. the names of companies) with the options that are given (e.g. the services that they provide).

5. True/False:

Listening exams may also include questions that require you to decide whether a statement is TRUE or FALSE based on the information given in the listening text.

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Engage in conversations with native speakers or join language exchange programs. Practice speaking on various topics and work on your pronunciation and fluency.

To get ready for the exam, speak English as much as you can! Make a big effort to speak in class, with other candidates or whenever you have an opportunity to speak.

Practise answering questions similar to the exam questions and do at least one full test from start to finish. Recording yourself and listening back to it may help you to find ways to improve.

Prepare some answers about common topics such as work or travel, but don't plan to give a memorised answer in the exam. The questions probably won't be exactly the same as the ones you’ve practised, so be ready to adapt your answers. Memorised answers also sound unnatural, and the examiners might give higher marks to natural speech.

Before the exam, warm up your English by speaking to someone or to yourself. Arrive at the exam centre early. Make sure you won't be hungry or thirsty. Mute your phone.

Most people feel nervous before exams, so take some deep breaths to calm yourself down and focus your mind on the task ahead.

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Write essays, reports, and letters regularly. Focus on clarity, coherence, and proper grammar. Get feedback from teachers or use online tools to improve your writing skills.

English writing exams are designed to assess your English level with different writing tasks. This can include:

writing short messages, postcards or emails (in lower level exams);

describing information that is presented visually – the visual information could involve a graph, chart, diagram, or table etc;

writing an article, review or report about a given topic and to a target reader;

presenting an organised and well-supported argument – the test taker is given an opinion or problem that is related to a specific topic;

writing a letter in response to a specific situation, which may be formal, neutral or informal.

Some English writing exams have one test for all levels (e.g. IELTS, Pearson PTE) and are divided into two areas, Academic English or General English. Other writing tests may have slightly different tasks if the exam is designed for a specific level. For, example, the Cambridge Key (KEY) exam is targeted at English level A2, and has simpler writing tasks than the Cambridge First (FCE), which is for English level B2.

Therefore, we recommend that you first consider why you need to take the test (e.g. for study, work or visas), and this will help you to decide which test is most suitable for your requirements.

In an English writing test, you are required to complete specific written tasks, and each provides guidance on the number of words that you should use. Your English writing skills will then be assessed to decide your English level of proficiency. Examiners have specific criteria to determine your English level, and these normally include the following areas:

Task achievement (Content)

How well do you complete the task that you are asked to do?

Is the writing content relevant to the actual task?

Grammar

Does your writing show a good range of grammar?

Is your grammar accurate and appropriate for the task?

Vocabulary

Does your writing show a good range of vocabulary?

Is your vocabulary accurate and appropriate for the task?

Coherence and cohesion (Organisation)

Do you structure your writing in a logical sequence (e.g. use of paragraphs for an introduction, main body and conclusion)?

How well do you link ideas and information in clauses and from sentence to sentence?

BEFORE THE EXAM

1. Familiarise yourself with the format of the writing test in advance

The writing exam will be more difficult if you have not researched the format. Key points to check are the length of time, the number of tasks and the type of tasks that are included in the exam.

2. Find examples of the writing tasks for the relevant exam.

The same types of tasks and topics are used in English writing exams (e.g. an email or letter, describing information, providing a well-supported argument). There are examples of specific exam papers online and in books that you can read in advance.

3. Prepare by practising writing

The best way to improve your writing skills and timing for the exam is to practise answering specific exam questions in a set time. Sample examination papers often come with suggested answers or actual examples taken from test takers who sat the exam. Therefore, you will be able to compare your written work and set targets. You can also consider enrolling in an exam preparation course so that a qualified English teacher can read your work, make corrections and give feedback to help you to develop faster.