Preparing for an English exam: a four-week plan
Whether you're taking IELTS, TOEFL or a Cambridge exam, this week-by-week plan helps you use your last month wisely.
7 min read
A month before an exam, it's too late to learn a whole new level of English, but it's the perfect time to learn the exam itself. Many candidates lose points not because their English is weak, but because they don't know the format well, run out of time or panic under pressure. This plan focuses on exactly those problems.
Week 1: Know the exam and find your weak spots
- Read the official guide for your exam. Know how many parts there are, how long each one takes and how it is scored.
- Do one complete practice test under real conditions: timed, in one sitting, with no dictionary.
- Score it honestly and list your two weakest sections. They will get most of your time over the next three weeks.
Week 2: Target your weakest skills
- Spend about 60 percent of your study time on your two weakest sections.
- For writing, learn the structure expected for each task type and practice planning an answer in five minutes.
- For speaking, record yourself answering sample questions, then listen back and note repeated mistakes and hesitations.
- For reading and listening, focus on the question types you get wrong, not just on doing more tests.
Week 3: Build speed and accuracy
- Do timed practice for individual sections. If you regularly run out of time, practice with slightly less time than the exam allows.
- Learn a set of useful linking phrases for writing and speaking, such as on the other hand, for example and as a result.
- Review your mistakes notebook every day.
- Do a second full practice test at the end of the week and compare it with your first.
Week 4: Rehearse and rest
- Do one last full practice test early in the week, then switch to light review.
- Check the practical details: the test center address, the start time, the ID you need and what you are allowed to bring into the room.
- Sleep well for the final three nights. Rest improves memory and concentration more than last-minute cramming.
- On the day before the exam, stop studying by the afternoon. Go for a walk, watch something in English that you enjoy and relax.
On exam day
- Arrive early so you aren't rushed or stressed.
- Read every instruction carefully, especially word limits.
- Never leave a multiple-choice question blank if there's no penalty for wrong answers.
- If you get stuck, move on and come back later. One hard question shouldn't cost you three easy ones.
Not sure what level you're at right now? Take our free level test to see where to focus your preparation.
