Over the course of your language learning, you may eventually find yourself facing a language proficiency test. For English learners, the most iconic ones are IELTS and TOEFL among others. In many cases, these tests are mandatory for education or working abroad, but they have become so ubiquitous [1] and accepted that takers rarely question their value. It is ironic that many feel that their performance in those proficiency tests does not always accurately reflect their real-life language competence. We cram [2] in preparation for tests, trying to memorize as much grammar and vocabulary beforehand only to forget them immediately afterward.
The purpose and design of language tests
Testing language proficiency can serve various purposes. For instance, a learner might want to receive feedback regarding their progress. Or, a language school might want to determine their students’ current level to assign them to appropriate courses by way of a placement test. Employers and university administration want to ensure that non-native speakers meet a minimum level of language proficiency.
Test designers then decide which skills or aspects of the language to include to reflect these purposes. For instance, a test for international university applicants should include materials and scenarios that they would encounter at university. A placement test at a language school should include increasingly complex questions to identify the test taker’s level.
It is important to keep in mind that proficiency tests can never be a perfect reflection but an approximation of one’s actual language competence. It is impossible to recreate a real-life situation in a controlled testing environment. We have to accept that all tests will likely fall short of [3] the complexity of what those tests are trying to evaluate.
How can we leverage test preparation for real language improvement?
Given the limitations of testing, learners should try to acquire speaking patterns and skills that they find useful even outside of the test’s context. It is recommended that they try to move away from narrow right-or-wrong answers, and instead shift towards free and open discourse with others by listening and writing about theirs and others’ opinions.
Some general tips when preparing for language proficiency tests
- Practice speaking alone and recording yourself: Record yourself answering a question, then transcribe your answer in writing and try to correct any mistakes you find. Better yet-- take a Ringle course and review the recording and transcript after.
- Turn off spell and grammar checking on your computer: When practicing writing, do so without the support of any tools. Try identifying your mistakes yourself before turning it back on.
- Practice speaking and writing with your Ringle tutor: Let them point out recurring mistakes, and try to correct them actively. Better yet-- take a Ringle course and review the recording and transcript after.
- Practice reading regularly (especially for intermediate and advanced learners): Try to read the news or a book at a constant pace. Don’t stop to look up words unless they significantly impede understanding.
After all, our teachers were right when they told us that we “learn for life and not for school.” Though cramming at the last second for a major test might provide some value, this should not be the default way of learning a language. Learners and teachers alike should always work to ensure that all studying, practicing, and testing serve the learners first.