CELIP test takers often wrestle with this: how can I be sure that my exam prep is actually effective?

The Problem:

When you have time set aside to practice for the exam, do you often find yourself haunted by this question:

“Am I doing the right thing to help me get ready for the exam?”

That question is followed by it’s evil twin which loves to whisper right into your ear,

“But what if that isn’t REALLY what you should be doing? What if there’s something better and you’re missing it?”

The evil twin’s question will get you to stop doing what you’re doing so that you can hop onto youTube to begin hours of searching for things like templates or the best way to prepare for this or that section of the exam.

And instead of finding the answers you need, the evil twin loves to keep sitting there whispering into your ear…”Hmm, that looks kind of right…but what if there’s an even better way in the next video. Keep looking!”

Before you know it, your small block of time has evaporated, and you feel frustrated because you’ve not made the progress you know you need to make.

A few study sessions directed by that evil duo of questions will lead you nowhere except to feeling frustrated or like you’ll never be ready in time for your exam.

What you need to focus on:

If you’re wondering what’s the most effective thing you can be doing in the little time you have available to get ready for your CELPIP exam, then here it is:

To practice effectively, Focus on your areas of weakness.

That might sound obvious, but it’s easier to skip over than you think! For one, we love our comfort zones! I know I do.

We tend to avoid things that make us uncomfortable, or things that we know we struggle with.

If your biggest struggle is in understanding a conversation with native English speakers because they just talk too fast, then your natural response is likely to not get into those situations, right?

On the CELPIP, isn’t it the worst feeling to sit through the listening section and have no idea what the right answer is because you got lost, or you somehow missed what that question is asking?

It feels super frustrating and very much like you’re a failure at this, and why bother with it?

The Awful Result of Our Comfort Zones

I know people who, at all costs, avoid getting into conversations in English because they struggle to get their words out. The feel so badly about this that they rarely put themselves into situations where they need to use their English skills – and so they never score well on the speaking section of the CELPIP.

I’m sharing this because the reaction of avoiding is a common one. I’ve done it. I bet you have spaces where you do it too.

We avoid that which we’re not good at.

But effective practice – practice that makes a difference – needs to involve your areas of weakness.

It’s the only way to get better at it.

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