Here are some important tips and strategies for students who are preparing for the Cambridge examination.
Indian students often find preparing for Cambridge Examinations, whether it’s International Education or Language, to be a challenging task. When schools don’t offer quality in-house tutors, students often have to seek additional tutorials from various sources to feel confident about clearing the end-of-year examinations.
Having significant experience in coaching for various Cambridge Examinations, we have found the RRR approach, which stands for Read-Raise-Review, to be highly effective in achieving excellence and obtaining the coveted Grade A in the assessments. Here’s valuable advice from the expert, John D’Souza, Director of The English Advantage (T.E.A).
To excel in Cambridge assessments, students must focus on becoming well-read individuals. Extensive reading is a must, as it helps them better comprehend passages and questions they encounter in the exams. Developing a regular reading habit is crucial as it keeps them motivated and informed about various topics, which is essential for having a global perspective.
In addition to improving their knowledge, students should also work on enhancing their English language skills, including Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Engaging with podcasts, talk shows, interviews, debates, and casual conversations can be immensely helpful. Discussing current affairs and personal interests with friends reinforces contextual vocabulary and language usage.
Various language-based apps like Exam Lift offer games for language practice. Moreover, students can benefit from tools like ‘Write and Improve’ and ‘Test and Train,’ which allow them to practice exam writing tasks and receive immediate feedback. On the Cambridge Assessment website, students can find over 170 short tasks (5-10 minutes) to practice exam skills at different levels.
Candidates should thoroughly review the official rubrics and sample papers provided by Cambridge. Analyzing these rubrics helps students understand the examination expectations and assessment criteria. Cambridge provides guidelines for evaluation to its examiners, which can be accessed on its website. Additionally, reviewing past question papers can reveal high-frequency topics and recurring themes, enabling students to prepare thoroughly for them. Reading sample answers and comments also helps in structuring their own responses based on the rubric.