English is a globally accepted and widely recognized language. It is used for discussing world matters across board rooms all around the world. Consequently, it is also a very important part of major competitive and government exams.
Any student aspiring for government exams needs a strong base in English to succeed. Even though the general English section is tricky, candidates can score good marks if they have good knowledge of the subject.
But, the point is, how to learn English for government exams? What must be the strategy to score high marks?
Here are the key points that should be kept in mind.
Reading skills
The first step towards learning English is to improve one’s reading skills. The ability to read long paragraphs swiftly will come as a blessing in the examination hall as it saves a lot of time.
One can boost their reading skills in several ways:
* Reading newspapers to learn difficult paragraphs
* Reading novels to understand the themes of stories
General English and Grammar Rules
To ace any English test, a firm grasp of grammar is very much necessary. One must be clear if a given sentence is grammatically correct or not.
Some tips to improve grammar skills are:
* Memorize rules of adjectives, forms of verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, tenses etc.
* Practice error detection questions to familiarize the rules of grammar.
* Practice grammar worksheets
Build vocabulary
A strong vocabulary is essential for understanding the meanings of words given in the examination. To strengthen one’s vocabulary, learning new words from various sources like English newspapers, books, movies or news channels is vital. One should also learn their antonyms, synonyms, usage and formation of sentences. Noting down new or difficult words help in this process massively.
Self-assessment
Self-assessment is highly recommended to check one’s progress. One should regularly sit for mock tests to get a better understanding of his present situation and understand the areas which require improvement. Regular practice improves his skills as well as his overall confidence.
Sharpen listening skills
A very underrated but foolproof method of learning English is listening to English podcasts or videos. Listening also boosts pronunciations, grammar, accent and intonation which can be used while communicating or writing in English.
Excelling at Error Spotting
Most of the questions that fall under error spots are based on subject-verb agreement and subject tense agreement. Candidates must practice old question papers and mock tests to better their chances.
Write regularly
Writing regularly will help to up one’s writing and English skills tenfold. Random incidents, description of places or even some paragraph writing can help one to achieve this.
Spelling mistakes and sentence formation
Spelling mistakes are a large part of the preparation of English for any government exam. A wrong spelling can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
Similarly, sentence fortune is an important aspect while writing the descriptive part of any exam. Proper concrete sentences with correct verbs and tenses help to put across one’s opinions and ideas.
Use of Dictionary
Dictionary is a bank of words that will assist to find out meanings of words. Some dictionaries will help you out to acquire the meaning of the statement or word in a similar language thus making it easier for one to understand.
Build a proper structure
Following a proper strategy and a time table is essential. One should keep solving question papers within scheduled timetables for better time management. One should keep a stopwatch and give mock tests to make sure that they can finish their work within the allotted time.
Focus on weaker areas
Special attention should be given for those areas where one is less confident. Practising those areas continuously helps in a massive improvement.
Communicating in English
A very useful method of learning English is communicating through the language. Once one starts talking in English, one learns different words, pronunciations, proverbs and various idioms. This helps to increase one’s vocabulary immensely.
Conclusion
English has become an important section in competitive exams and is often decisive in one getting the pass marks. So it is important to pay attention to it and increase the skills regarding the subject. Constant vigilance, determination and hard work pave the way for success. But simply hard work won’t do. One needs a proper plan as well to fulfil their dreams. With the help of the above tips, regular practice as well as the zeal to work hard, one is destined to be successful.