Today, I had my exam: General Training. This was my third attempt with lot of preparation but this came as surprise to me that, I have done my exam worst then previous exams. I was shocked what happened to me. I never done this kind of mistakes. But after introspect, I came to know the problem-illusions, misconception and negativity.
People generally feel, if they scored 7+ in particular module, they can get it next time- Overconfidence. But this was not the case of mine. I was negative and in fear of getting the marks this time and I did mistakes due to my conscious behaviour and fear of what happen next if I will not get the desired band.
Here my suggestion is: forget about conclusion. Just do your best. Most important thing, stay positive and enjoy the whole journey instead of making yourself frustrate and demotivate.
Details of each module below:
- Listening: Before starting of the exam, I was trying to make myself normal and thinking about the practice I have done and how I corrected the answers during practice. But unfortunately, after getting the paper, I loose my concentration, though I tried to gather much but ended up with less. As you all know, loose of 1 sec concentration can loose 1 marks and its true.
Part-1 Job Assistant: Fill ups and MCQ
It should be easy correct but during the test, I feel fast accent as compare to the practice test with distraction in the first answer. I made my first answer wrong and I immediately knew this.
Part-2 Talking about some festival( MCQ): I tried to maintain the concentration without any delay but not sure, all are correct or not. Here sometimes, I feel, I need feedback of this exam result, where I did the mistakes in exam environment.
Part-3: Private and Public sector Job life( Easiest section): Though this considered to be the easiest one as per the language and fill-up they provide but still due to lack of concentration, I loose 3 answers in this. No guess because these are fill-ups so I loose here.
What next: Demotivated( My listening was not good), It’s OK, will try to do better in reading. - Reading Section: Para 1: Photography( Matching heading): I took time in this but completed with 1 or 2 doubts.
Para 2: About Snow shoes: True/False/NG- Due to time constraint, I did but not sure, if all are correct or not.
Para 3: All about Shushi- The Japanese dish: Now here, I came to know about Sushi dish and how it become famous. Length para as everyone knows.( Matching heading, Fill ups and MCQ)- I did all these together to save time. But clock is running and your heartbeat also. So anyhow I tried to complete with some frequent MCA guess and Yes, I did with some dilemma, that I did some mistakes because of time crunch.
During practice, I completed always on time but in exam, it’s like time is running and I am slow. - Writing: Informal Letter: Write a letter to apologise him for not meeting him in his city as per scheduled plan. Share the reason and also make some future arrangements to meet him again.
I wrote this on time and proof read also, but still in doubt as I am 6 band in writing so always doubted myself even after lot of practice.
Essay: Opinion based:Clothes previously wore by people is according to culture but now a days everyone is wearing similar all around the world. Is this a positive development or negative. Share examples from your own experiences.
According to me, this is an opinion essay so I wrote. Though this one is tricky and I never read this kind of essay in samples but no option, I have to generate ideas and so I did with two reasons why It is positive development. No caste generalisation and no perception and judgement according to the clothes.
I am not sure what I wrote but I did. - Speaking: I did blunder in speaking this time. I am a 7 band in speaking as I am confident while speaking, but the person(examiner) sitting in front of you can either make you confident or can make you conscious. This time, my bad luck: I became conscious due to rude behaviour of the examiner. She was not smiling at all and seems like, I am sitting in front of robot who is only judging me. I felt not like a conversation but like actual exam and due to this, I did blunder in my confident part: speaking.
So all and all, this is my experience to 11th Jan exam. Still, I have hope with my next exam preparation. I know the result of this exam is not up-to the mark, so why wait just prepare for the next one
My suggestion here: I know we are spending lot of money in this exam and not getting the marks makes us stressful and demotivate. But life is like that only, challenges always come in life whether it is career, professional or personal. Our responsibility is to fight with them without give-up.
Tips:
Listening: Concentration and listen to English news, movies. The point is you have to be used to it like your native language. Then it will become easy irrespective of the accent. It needs your time. Stick to the Listening related audio, we have like in exam( Podcasts etc)
Reading: Started reading articles, news and content of reading samples. Reading novels will also work but I thinks its a long process to inculcate things with continuous reading. Point is read everyday at-least one page.
Writing: Well, writers can be good in writing, so think in that way that you have to become a writer. Reading can help you to become good in writing. Whatever you are reading, just write it in your own words. Mind it, do it with interest of your topic then only you can pursue.
Speaking: The only way is to enjoy talking to yourself. Record yourself. You don’t need anyone. You can do it alone. Just work on yourself.
The only way is to enjoy this journey till exam, then only you can get what you want. I am also trying the same.
Do share your experience by commenting below:
I hope we collectively will make a community to help others and can get success one day.
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