This document provides an action plan for preparing for English language exams through extensive reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar and vocabulary practice. It recommends reading widely from books, magazines, newspapers and past exam papers. Writing practice should include varied genres and models while focusing on organization, style and accuracy. Listening skills can be improved through English media and practice exams. Speaking practice involves interacting with advanced English speakers and activating new vocabulary. Grammar and vocabulary studies should be thorough and continual with a focus on understanding word forms and meanings. Regular practice of exam tasks and previous papers is also advised along with consulting recommended language learning books.

1. Brushing up your English via exams preparation:
an action plan
Higor Cavalcante

2. What do we need to do know about the language we
teach?

3. Teachers need to know a lot about the subject they are teaching (the English language).
(…) Language teachers need to know how the language works. (…) a knowledge of the
grammar system and understanding of the lexical system. (…) They need to be aware of
pronunciation features such as sounds, stress and intonation. (…) Students have a right to
expect that teachers of the English language can explain straightforward grammar
concepts, including how and when they are used. They expect their teachers to know the
difference between the colloquial language that people use in informal conversation and
the more formal language required in more formal settings.
Jeremy Harmer in How to teach English. Pearson, 2007.

4. Among the consequences of (…) a limited knowledge of language are: a failure on the
part of the teacher to anticipate learners’ learning problems and a consequent inability to
plan lessons that are pitched at the right level; (…) an inability to deal satisfactorily with
errors, or to field learners’ queries; and a general failure to earn the confidence of the
learners due to a lack of basic terminology and ability to present new language clearly
and efficiently.
Scott Thornbury, in About Language. Cambridge, 1997.

5. Why exams
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They provide a target to aim at
They make us study harder
They make us revise what we have learned
They show other people what I’m capable of
They give me qualifications I can put on my CV
They ultimately provide a sense of achievement
Adapted from How to teach for exams. Pearson, 2005.

6. Which exams
• Cambridge English: Advanced (aka CAE) – CEFR C1
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (aka CPE) – CEFR C2

7. What is tested
CAE
CPE
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Reading
Writing
Use of English
Listening
Speaking
Reading and Use of English
Writing
Listening
Speaking

8. Preparing for international exams
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Read vastly and variedly
Study grammar
Study vocabulary
Expose yourself to a lot of English
Speak with proficient speakers
Be curious

9. READING

10. What should I read?
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Books (varied genres)
Magazines (assorted topics)
Newspapers (different regions, various themes)
Exam-like tasks / past papers
• Amount and range

11. Exam sample

12. WRITING

13. Tell a partner
• What you’ve written in the past two weeks
• How much writing you normally do
• Which genres you usually practice

14. Practicing writing
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Varied genres: letter, report, review, essay, article etc.
Good writers read vastly and variedly
Study models
Text organization (paragraphing, layout), register, range and accuracy of
lexis and syntax, punctuation, coherence & cohesion
• Write a lot!

15. Exam sample

16. LISTENING

17. Improving listening skills
• Study phonology
• Listen to a lot of English
• TV (movies, series etc.)
• Podcasts, websites
• www.ted.com
• Do exam-like tasks / past papers
• Focus on language

19. Exam sample

20. SPEAKING

21. Working on your speaking skills
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Teaching (usually) won’t help much
Practice speaking with advanced and proficient speakers
Make a conscious effort to activate new, interesting language
Suggestions: book clubs, study groups, Skype, record yourself
Exam-like tasks

22. Exam sample

23. USE OF ENGLISH

24. Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
• You can’t separate them.
• No matter what happens, I am never going to stay in that hotel again.
UNDER
• Under _______ stay in that hotel again.
• Under no circumstances am I ever going to stay in that hotel again.

25. Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
• Be sure you know all a word can mean.
• The company _____ its awards ceremony in March last year.
• John _____ the ladder firmly while his father painted the window frame.
• The file that was destroyed ____ some extremely important information.
• held

26. Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
• Study word formation. Understand their grammatical forms.
identification
Apparently
accompanying
checkout
update
timely
painstaking
offenders

27. Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
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Study grammar conscientiously
Keep a vocabulary notebook at all times. Be curious.
Do exam-like tasks / past papers
Read vastly and variedly.
Revisited previously studied vocabulary.
Make a conscious effort to put new language into use.

28. Good grammar books
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Advanced Language Practice, Michael Vince. Macmillan.
Advanced Grammar in Use, Martin Hewings. Cambridge.
Practical English Usage, Michael Swan. Oxford.
Grammar for English Language Teachers, Martin Parrott. Cambridge.

29. Good vocabulary books
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How to Teach Vocabulary, Scott Thornbury. Pearson.
English Vocabulary in Use – Advanced. Cambridge.
English Collocations in Use – Advanced. Cambridge.
English Idioms in Use – Advanced. Cambridge
English Phrasal Verbs in Use – Advanced. Cambridge.

30. Other good language books
• About Language, Scott Thornbury. Cambridge.
• English Pronunciation in Use – Advanced, Martin Hewings. Cambridge.

31. Bibliography
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How to Teach English, Jeremy Harmer. Pearson.
How to Teach for Exams, Burgess & Head. Pearson.
About Language, Scott Thornbury. Cambridge.
Certificate in Advanced English 1. Cambridge.
Expert Proficiency – Student’s Resource Book. Pearson.
Objective Proficiency, Capel & Sharp. Cambridge.

32. Thank you!
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higor@higorcavalcante.com
www.higorcavalcante.com
Skype/Twitter: teacherhigor
Facebook: Higor Cavalcante