Stage 1 Exam techniques

Hello, everyone.
As mentioned in yesterday's class, here are my suggestions on how to handle a number of the First Certificate exam activities. They're designed to save you time and get you better marks, so please refer to them when doing any of the avtivities for HW or in class.

                          FCE Exam techniques.

Word Formation:

First predict the form of the missing Word. Is it a verb, an adjective, a noun perhaps? This may seem like a waste of time under exam pressure, but it will get you better marks. Answer everything.

Gapped reading:

1.      Read missing phrases.

2.      Skim text, underlining anything that seems connected to the missing phrases

3.      Now complete the gaps which seem clearest.

4.      Finally, read the paragraphs you haven’t completed, paying special attention to the sentences immediately before and after the gaps.

5.      Remember to answer everything. Even if you’re guessing, you may be right.

Reading: (See suggestions in SB p.58-60)

1.      Read the questions carefully, they test detailed understanding.

2.      Skim the text, underlining anything that seems connected to the questions.

3.      Now answer the questions that seem clearest to you.

4.      Look for the sentences specifically related to the questions you haven’t answered yet. (They are asked in the same order as the paragraphs in the text.)

Listening – Sentence completion:

1.      Before listening, read the questions, and underline the key points.

2.      During the first listening, take notes.

3.      During the second listening, confirm.

4.      Answer everything: you don’t lose points for a wrong answer.

Writing:

Refer to all the notes + an idea of your own.

Take time to plan. You’ll write a more coherent essay.

Use linking words and phrases. You’ll sound much more fluent.

Compare and contrast ideas.

Remember structure: include an introduction, separate your ideas into paragraphs, and come to a conclusion, (of more than a single sentence!)