1. Skills
  2. Listening
  3. B1 listening
  4. Advice for exams

Advice for exams

A teacher in a classroom

Listen to the teacher giving students advice for exams and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills. 

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Remote audio URL

Transcript

Morning, everyone. Quiet, please. Right, OK. So, today I'm going to give you some advice to help you prepare for the exams next week. So, make some notes as I'm talking, please. Everybody ready?

Now, while you're studying, eat food that gives you energy. Don't be tempted to eat sweets or drink cola. Sugar won't help you study but fruit and cereals will. Apples, actually, are especially good.

Find a comfortable place with plenty of light when you study. But not 'too' comfortable or you'll fall asleep!

Try and keep a positive mind. It is easier to study when you are positive and relaxed. Now, if you start feeling anxious, have a little break. Go out for a stroll around the block.

Don't try to learn everything. There isn't time. Just choose the 'important' things, the things that'll get you the most points in an exam. And if you aren't sure about this, ask me.

First, learn the main ideas and don't worry too much about the details. If you have time, you can come back later and read the details.

Make notes of these key points and read them, then cover them up and try to remember all the points. Now, it might be boring, but repetition helps you to remember.

Use past exam papers to study. They will help you understand what kind of questions come up. There are plenty of past exam papers in the library. You can photocopy them and take them home.

Take regular breaks while you're studying. A five-minute break every half hour is usually enough. Get some fresh air and stretch your arms and legs. Drink a glass of water too. It's important to keep hydrated.

And, last but not least, good luck! I'm sure you'll all do your best.

Worksheets and downloads

Advice for exams - exercises186.02 KB
Advice for exams - answers242.29 KB
Advice for exams - transcript256.07 KB
Discussion

Does any of this advice surprise you? Have you got any good advice to share for studying for exams?

Language level
B1 English level (intermediate)
Topics
study skills
exams
school
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Comments

Submitted by thatskyling_ on Mon, 05/01/2023 - 02:23

The advice about not eating sugary food while studying surprised me. I usually eat Oreos while studying and I guess I should change to eating something healthier. I suggest using the Pomodoro method to study in which you take a 5 minutes break every half an hour of studying. Don't study for 1 or 2 hours straight as it could be really tiring.

Submitted by Winnie0900 on Wed, 04/26/2023 - 17:07

The advice about sugary snacks surprised me because I usually eat candies while I'm studying. I guess I have to try to eat fruits instead of candies. About the other advice, I follow all of them. Maybe my best advice for exams is to try the pomodoro method, I think it is an excellent study tool to avoid getting tired.

Submitted by ahgima099 on Mon, 04/17/2023 - 09:43

Yes, of course. I usually drink fizzy drinks while I am studying. I don't know sugar is not good for us. But I have known other advice. I follow some advice of theirs when I study my lessons now.

Submitted by pomelo on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 13:59

I think some are advice helpful and some advice are not helpful. when you want to remember some phrase just read and repeat again

Submitted by Dasha on Sat, 01/14/2023 - 08:15

I already knew almost all the advice and they didn’t come as a surprise to me. But they are really helpful! I decided to share them with my classmates because exams are really scary and difficult! It cause a lot of stress and a person becomes very anxious, but I am sure that the tips from this text will really help!
I think meditation or drawing can help! And what we really love, relieves stress and helps to relax after hard work on preparation! :)

Submitted by Bojunyixiao on Wed, 12/21/2022 - 11:57

Yes! You can study with your friends because it is more fun.

Submitted by mondereck18 on Wed, 09/14/2022 - 00:44

Exams have been always considered something stressfull. However, I think that these types of advices are not only helpful but also a relief for those who really need to feel confident. For instance, I am used to taking long and long notes, and sometimes I do not pay attention on important details, and then I feel frustrated. However, this problematic can be managed, and I have been learning these type of tips. In my opinion, having a good attitude makes the difference. You will feel neither overwhelmed nor dissappointed. I could say that doing yoga may work!!!

Submitted by rebbit2009 on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 12:06

I think it is good advices, I always follow them :)

Submitted by FranklyWrittenWrong on Wed, 07/13/2022 - 03:55

These are basic advices, they are pretty ordinary but works.

Submitted by aycauzz1 on Wed, 06/08/2022 - 05:45

I'm trying to follow most of these advice

Submitted by Edaa on Wed, 06/08/2022 - 05:39

I'm not surprised because our life is full of exams. My advice is to try guys

Submitted by 01Aras on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:37

I'm not surprised at all that I know all of this advice.

Submitted by goksu on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 08:27

A very useful piece of advice

Submitted by Rekk_z on Mon, 05/02/2022 - 02:51

None of these advices can surprise me as I've already known that. I often see online like study tips. I'm a lazy student and I don't prepare a lot for exams.

Submitted by vi_chi_ta on Wed, 12/15/2021 - 09:50

awesome!!1
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Submitted by natsu on Mon, 10/18/2021 - 16:27

None of this advice has surprised me. I already knew this advice. I don't have any good advice

Submitted by DanOrtiz on Sat, 10/09/2021 - 00:03

I think they are excellent tips to study, I’m not a person who studies very often, well I don’t prepare to take an exam, but some tips caught my attention so I will put them into practice

Submitted by mayounesse on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 17:02

i've done this task while i was sleepy. i need some sleep before new school day :((

Submitted by Vuquan on Tue, 08/10/2021 - 14:33

This lesson help me to learn a lot of new words. I also learn how to study before the exam. I really like this lesson.

Submitted by Saagii on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 03:45

This advice is so helpful. I like it. My advice is to have a little bit of sleep when you feel lazy and fall asleep. It is so important thing. And take a regular break with between every twenty-five minutes. Some people listen to music when they can focus. Most people go to the library and they can focus. Good luck with your test Do your best

Submitted by Saagii on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 14:58

It is so helpful advice

Submitted by Yati on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 06:54

I really love your advice but I want to tell you more. You should read every article that will be in your exam and underline every important word and phrase. If you find exercise from other websites, that would be better. The best thing is to listen to song when you are studying.

Submitted by mariap_09 on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 14:15

It's very exciting because this advise give me some recomendations to do when I have to study for a exam
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Submitted by Kostantinus on Sat, 01/16/2021 - 09:47

I knew about all of these things before, except the advice about don't eat sugery food during preparation to an exam. It really surprised me!

Submitted by Lozahasan on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 11:25

I completly think that all these advices are good for student especially who are not clever enough.

Submitted by altair28 on Tue, 10/20/2020 - 03:50

the apple, i didnt know that

Submitted by inandosouza2020 on Wed, 09/16/2020 - 19:07

i am surprised about eat food during the exam, by the way, i´m gonna take the exam next year and i was preparing me for it, and i was so anxious for taking it, especially abou the nervousness, well, and i also am going to avoid eat sugar before take it.

Submitted by Voetbalbingo on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 08:32

easy

Submitted by cookiepg on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 03:53

This homework make me study harder
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Submitted by Xuka on Sun, 08/23/2020 - 17:06

I think this advice is essential and important for those who want to better prepare for their exams, including me. I also have a good tip to share for easier collecting knowledge before the exams. I usually flow charts and diagrams to write down main points about a topic of the subject, and then highlight where the gaps lie. Next, I study my materials to accomplish the topic. Do like I made you remember what you learned for longer.

Submitted by pln on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 11:00

actually, ı am suprised about past exam papers, because my high school doesnt allow to take them and take them home. also we cant photocopy them too, we arent allow to do this. the rest of these advice are useful for student who study their exams

Submitted by dma98 on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 20:53

All the advices that the teacher gives are good, they are very important tips that help to be well prepared and arrive without stress to the exam
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Submitted by Caspiterin89 on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 14:40

For me the advices were good, eating healty it's important for being energetic but I think that sleep enough hours is also important, I'll say even more important than eating healty! Another thing that I really care about is the reason why we do things, in this case studying. If we don't have a motivation we won't accomplish things enjoying them, but we'll do them only for a goal and not for an inner cause. So resuming my thought about studying I'll say that first you have to be energetic getting enough sleep and eating well, then you have to find your personal motivation to study, all the others thing are going to come later. Ah! I was forgottening, that school marks are just a number, so you shouldn't care them so much, aim instead on the knowledge!
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Submitted by Andrii on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 18:04

The first advice, that you should eat food that gives you energy was surprising for me. And my advice is that you shouldn't learn any grammar or maths rules by heart, but you should understand them.

Submitted by Salva23m on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 18:52

Make a sumery. While I study I should be in silence

Submitted by Mamou1 on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 10:39

None of this advise surprise me because they are the best one. One advise I can also give is not to panic stay calm and you get it.

Submitted by ALFREDO0190 on Tue, 06/16/2020 - 20:18

I like the activity since being a conversation of 2 people is more difficult to identify but it is also more fun

Submitted by ALFREDO0190 on Tue, 06/16/2020 - 05:56

I like this topic because, since there are no subtitles, it is more difficult to understand, although the second activity was always 50%
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Submitted by quarantine_studies on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 15:07

no, I'm not surprised of any advice, I have already known it and I would like to add some more: 1) get a planner so you can visually see what you need to do. use graphs, pictures, webs, color code, or anything that makes you active and engaged with the information to better remember it 2) study at a time of day that makes you focused 3) study between classes in school. you’re there anyway, so go to the library and use your time well. that way you can chill when you get home and get your homework out of the way 4) you should have a clean table or space to work in. clutter and mess is distracting

Submitted by Bumbli on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 12:37

Theses tips are good, I usually follow these and I would like to add one more, having music without lyrics as a background noise, such as (my personal favourite) Lo-Fi Hip Hop, at least for me, it helps to focus on the subject I'm studying. I don't know, you can try and see for yourself.

Submitted by RAPulido on Tue, 04/14/2020 - 13:54

I don't have any advice. I do many of these advices, I study every half an hour, I study in a place with plenty light, and I keep hydrated.

Submitted by slavchic12 on Sun, 04/05/2020 - 07:14

I want to talk about concentration in study. To realize your plan well, you need perform several rules or recommendations. Every person, to my mind, gets new information by surfing the Internet or from the books. Your brain develops sensitivity, vigilance otherwise you will be distracted. While you read you can make fast break, for example: to eat fruits, vegetables, nuts; drink water, juice. Doing your home assignment or completing a project you can`t use phone, because this device decreases concentration. The only way is to remove it until the end of the homework. Maybe you can use your phone to write down something during a lesson and you will be able to remember information from lessons. Homework will be easier to do if you don`t miss your classes. In conclusion, last but not least- you mustn’t distracted on different interference.

Submitted by peachygirl on Thu, 04/02/2020 - 10:39

I have never had a part-time job, but I really want to. I think it is very good to do part-time job, because it makes students more free of their parents.

Submitted by Girish_12 on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 13:35

very nice advice!!!

Submitted by user on Tue, 03/24/2020 - 16:07

Most of these advices are not new for me and I accept them for a long time. But I must say glucose is the single energy source of brain, so I don't agree to the advice about sugary things. But of course it does not mean that we should eat 5 pack chocolate and drink 3 liters cola when we studying. Consequently I think we should eat sugary things while we studying but enough and from healthy sugar sources.

Submitted by GiulioEca on Sun, 03/22/2020 - 16:55

Yes for example don’t learn evrything and don't eat sugar and sodas. I think sugar is necessary for the brain. I don-t give other advices. the teacher give a lot of advices.

Submitted by Rymix on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 17:25

I agree with the advices given in the record. They are very helpful!

Submitted by mg1208 on Thu, 03/19/2020 - 14:42

No, I'm not surprised of any advice- I have already known it. If you want to have a good grade you should take a lot of tests and even more exercises, you should also try reading something more about the topic you have to learn. Maybe try watching some videos e.g. on YouTube . If you have been learning something try to tell your parents or siblings about it-it's the best in learning languages- try talk to them in language you're learning. I can assure you it'll work well. If you like studying with people study in groups, if you don't -don't. And believe you can score 100% on the test. :) M.G

Submitted by gabij54 on Wed, 03/18/2020 - 19:51

It's nothing new to me because I've heard these advices before. I even use some of them. In my opinion making notes and repeating the most important informations are the best ways for studying. But don't forget about taking breaks, they're as important as two previous ways!
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