Test day: before, during and after
By Michael Ukwuma
What to do in the final week and on the day itself so that nerves do not cost you marks.
The final week
In the last week, stop learning big new topics. Focus on timed practice, sleep and routine. Take one or two full practice runs under real time limits and review only the most common mistakes.
Confirm the test centre address, the identification you must bring and the time you must arrive. Plan your route and leave early. Small logistics cause more stress than hard questions.
On the day
Eat something light, drink water and arrive early enough to settle. At the computer, test the headset and the volume before the listening section begins. If the sound is wrong, tell the staff at once.
When a question feels hard, mark it mentally, choose the best answer you can and move on. A blank answer scores nothing, but a thoughtful guess might score. Never let one question steal the time of five others.
Between sections
Use any short break to breathe slowly and stretch your shoulders. If one section went badly, leave it behind. You cannot change it now, and the next section deserves your full attention.
Key points
- Do timed practice in the last week and rest well.
- Check the headset and volume before listening starts.
- Never let a single question use too much time.