3 things to do to prepare Cambridge exams

The time has come in which you need to certify your English level one way or the other. Your degree, your  job, your next trip require some kind of certification. There are quite a few institutions that help you certify your level of English. And it’s precisely in this huge array of possibilities where most students get lost in. Our recommendation is simple. Usually certifying your English through Cambridge exams is the best thing to do.

However, taking a Cambridge exam is not as easy as it sounds and it is neither cheap.

Today, we want to talk about the 3 things you need to do before you prepare for Cambridge exams. We think these points will make it easier for you to prepare.

#1 Know why you need it

It is essential that you find out exactly which certificate (English level) the institution you are applying for requires. For some it may be B1 PET Certificate, for others the C1 CAE. Whichever it may be, make sure you know which one. Although, Cambridge certificates are accepted in most major institutions, you might require a different one when traveling to certain countries. Find out which one is the best for you.

#2 Know exactly what your level is

This is crucial in order to set out an effective action plan. If you know where you’re starting from, it’ll be easier to figure out how to get to the finish line. There are millions of online level tests, but not all are accurate enough. Let alone, accurate enough to tell you your Cambridge level.

You can try our Cambridge English Level Test here for free. It’s comprehensive and will give you valuable information about your level and useful recommendations to improve. The test is based on the Cambridge scoring system, which you can find here.

Know which certificate is the one for you

This is one of the hardest things to decide when trying to certify your level through the Cambridge exams. Although you know the requirements of your project, it unfortunately does not alway mean you can start preparing for that level. For example, if your Master’s degree requires a C1 level, and your level is around B1+, you can’t simply start a C1 course. Instead, try to maximise your time by focusing first on B2 basics. Develop and practise all the B2 knowledge you can get your hands on. Books, free or cheap online courses, exercising listening, reading articles. It’s very hard to skip levels in English. Your progression needs to be gradual and consistent. A balanced overall skillset is the key. So, be patient and consistent. It’s the only way.

If you wanted to see first hand what the preparation of a Cambridge Exam looks like, join our 10-day free course for Cambridge Exam preparation Course. It will give you all the information you need and all of it for no money. There’s a premium version, but you can first have a test-run with the free version.

So, now that you have a clear view of the three things to do before preparing for a Cambridge exam. The ‘why’; your level and the certificate you need to prepare, which isn’t necessarily the one you need, you can actually start.

And here are few tips to maximise your time and resources:

Time and effort are all you need.

Make it a habit to practise your Cambridge exam. 20 minutes a day, should be enough. Use an online platform or books. But practise every day. Listen to our podcast on How to make English a habit. It will give you some great tips.

Choose an efficient online platform.

To prepare for Cambridge there are great online tools that will make your preparation much easier. At least you won’t have to browse through hundreds of books and check each answer you write at the back. Good online platforms have great correction and tracking features. Most of them let you try them out, so DO IT! Write us at info@gogetterenglish.es and we will can show you how our platform to prepare for Cambridge exams works. FOR FREE.

Do and re-do.

At least practise the same exercise three times. Don’t repeat them on the same day. Leave at least two or three days between repetitions. Usually, after the third time you do something, learning happens.

Practise the listening and speaking parts DAILY.

Listen to at least one exam-related excerpt everyday. Read out loud useful phrases for the exam. If you can, record yourself while reading them out loud and listen to them over and over again. Subscribe to our podcast and have a great time practising your English.

We hope our suggestions are useful to you. If you are ready to prepare for a Cambridge exam, write us and try our online course to prepare for Cambridge exams totally free of charge. Send us an email to info@gogetterenglish.com and we’ll get back to you asap.