There’s no reason at all to freak out before taking a Spanish test. We always say: preparation, consistency, and confidence! After having noticed that many of our students become a bit worried about passing an exam in a foreign language, we have decided to gather some tips to help them achieve their goals.
Tips for passing the written Spanish test
Let’s start with written texts. Mirror the experts: the more you read in Spanish, the better you will write afterwards.
Revisit Spanish vocabulary: you can use cards, lists or visual aids like drawings. There are apps with cards where you can insert the words and flip them tapping on the screen.
If you have artistic skills, you can even draw them yourself!
Avoid common spelling mistakes. Keyword cards are essential for this. Learn the words you find difficult and try to write and rewrite them often. This is the best way to integrate them into your everyday life. A good tip to help you remember specific words is to associate them with a picture, a colour or something fun. For example, if a word has a capital ‘V’, you can try writing it in an artistic way: like a bird in the sky, associating it with the movie ‘V for Vendetta’ or thinking of your Aunt Velma.
Feel free to create new and innovative associations, to boost your memory!
Tips for passing the oral test
As regards oral Spanish test, practice is key! With more people, in front of the mirror, or by yourself. Know your weaknesses, knowledge is power as they say! After you have mastered the dramatic arts involved in oral test examinations, you will feel more confident in front of an examiner.
Prepare answers to questions that are likely to come up by role-playing with friends or family (even if they don't speak the language, they can ask in their language and you can answer in English). Record yourself and then watch these videos to polish up any mistakes you may have. Memorising your answers is not good advice. The role of the ‘interviewer’ can suddenly change the subject, and you will feel surprised. In a pressure situation, this can lead to a block. Learn a few idioms and set phrases, to drop them casually 😉 and sound local. Although it's not advisable to learn by heart, learning idioms is good to have on hand when you find yourself drawing a blank.
Knowing exactly what the examiner is looking for is utopia. If you study hard and feel prepared, you will be able to develop your ideas in an organised and natural way.
Last tips for you
- Take practice tests.
Underline relevants parts of each question: why, when, who, what, where, for whom, etc.
- Warm up your brain: listen to music in Spanish, watch your favorite humorous clips, or read a short poem (everything counts!)
- Finally: prepare mentally. The day before the big day try to relax and have a good rest. If you have been consistent throughout the preparation, there’s not much you can do right before an exam that would make a significant difference. So instead, try listening to Spanish music or doing something fun like a quiz or game, but not grammar or intricated exercises.
