Preparation Tips

 

The best way to prepare for an ISLPR test is to build your confidence using English in real-life situations.

ISLPR is different from many other English tests. Rather than memorising model answers, predicting possible topics or learning complicated phrases, focus on communicating clearly and naturally. If you are taking the test for professional registration, spend time reading, listening, speaking and writing about topics related to your profession.

We offer individual tutorials to help you prepare. We can also provide personalised feedback if you have previously taken the test and did not achieve the level you need in one or more skills.

Please note that ISLPR does not publish sample tests. Use the following advice together with the information in the ISLPR Application Pack.

Speaking

How to prepare

Speak English regularly with a variety of proficient English speakers. Try to speak with people in the wider community, not only teachers or classmates, and ask for helpful feedback.

Focus on having genuine conversations. Avoid memorising short speeches or prepared answers that you hope to use during the test.

During the test

Treat the speaking test like a natural conversation. Remember to:

  • Take turns speaking and allow natural pauses.
  • Introduce and develop your ideas.
  • Respond, agree, clarify or correct yourself when needed.
  • Pay attention to the tester’s facial expressions and body language.
  • Explain or rephrase an idea if the tester appears unsure about what you mean.

It is perfectly acceptable to:

  • Say that you do not know a particular fact.
  • Explain that you would prefer not to discuss a sensitive topic.
  • Admit that you are finding an idea difficult to express in English.
  • Ask for a moment to think.

Be honest with the tester. Pretending to know something or inventing a reason to avoid a topic can make the conversation more difficult and increase your stress.

Listening

How to prepare

Listen to English in a variety of everyday situations. Speak with different English speakers in the community and pay attention to public announcements in places such as shopping centres, train stations and airports.

Australian radio and television can also be useful. Choose programs that interest you, especially news, documentaries, interviews, Australian dramas and programs connected with your studies or profession.

Practise listening to different types and lengths of material. You may also find it helpful to practise taking brief notes.

During the test

You do not need to understand every word immediately. If something is unclear, you may wait briefly to see whether more information helps you understand it. You can also ask the tester to:

  • Repeat something.
  • Rephrase it.
  • Explain what they mean.

When listening to a recorded text, use what you know about the type of material. For example, a news report usually presents new information, while an interview usually explores the knowledge, experiences or opinions of the person being interviewed.

Make sure you understand the context. You may ask where and when the recording would normally be heard. You can also check whether you should focus only on factual information or consider the speaker’s attitude and purpose.

You will usually show your understanding by discussing the text with the tester. Before the recording begins, you may ask approximately how long it will be so you can decide whether taking notes will be helpful.

Keep your notes brief and focus on the main ideas. Trying to record every detail may distract you from listening. Notes can be written in your first language, but using English is generally recommended because switching between languages may affect your concentration.

Your existing knowledge can help you understand a topic. However, when answering, focus on the information and ideas presented in the text rather than adding unrelated information that you already know.

Reading

How to prepare

Read a wide variety of English texts written for proficient English readers. Choose subjects that interest you and include material connected with your studies or profession.

Select texts that provide an appropriate level of challenge. You might begin with local newspapers and gradually move to metropolitan or national newspapers, professional publications and weekly magazines.

As you read, think about more than the facts. Consider the writer’s attitude, purpose and intended message.

Practise three main reading approaches:

  1. Scanning: Looking quickly for a specific detail or piece of information.
  2. Reading for the main idea: Understanding the general message or key points.
  3. Reading closely: Examining precise meanings and the relationships between ideas.

Many of the strategies used for listening are also useful for reading.

During the test

Listen carefully to the task so you know how you are expected to read the text. You may need to read the entire text for its main ideas and then examine one section more closely.

You may ask how much silent reading time you have. The tester will usually give you an approximate time because reading speeds vary. The aim is to see whether you can read at a suitable speed and choose appropriate strategies for the task.

Use the text’s visual features to support your understanding, including:

  • Headlines
  • Photographs
  • Subheadings
  • Print size
  • Paragraph structure

Introductory paragraphs and topic sentences may help you identify the main ideas, although not every paragraph will follow the same structure.

You may also be asked to make inferences by combining clues from the text.

You do not need to maintain eye contact with the tester throughout this part of the test. It is usually acceptable to look back at the text while discussing it.

When explaining what a text means, use your own words where possible. Simply repeating a sentence from the text may not demonstrate that you have understood it.

Answer questions directly. For example, if you are asked for the main point of a paragraph, state the main point without adding an unnecessary introduction such as, “In my opinion, the main point is…”

Writing

How to prepare

Practise writing in English regularly. Use the text types described in the Guidelines section of the Application Pack so you become familiar with their purpose, structure and approximate handwritten length.

Practise writing approximately 400 words in 60 minutes. This time should include:

  • Planning
  • Writing
  • Checking
  • Editing

Do not try to predict the exact test topics or practise only a small number of prepared answers. Avoid memorising large pieces of language that you hope will fit every task. Short standard expressions, such as greetings in a letter, are fine.

When writing on a computer, use spelling and grammar tools as learning resources. Keep track of repeated mistakes and think about why you make them.

It is also helpful to learn basic handwritten formatting and editing conventions, such as how to show a new paragraph or insert a missing word or sentence.

During the test

Read the task sheet carefully. It will tell you:

  • Who your audience is
  • Why you are writing
  • What topic you should address
  • What type of text you should produce

All of these details are important. Ask the tester for clarification if you are unsure about the task.

Where appropriate, imagine that you are genuinely in the situation described. This can help you choose a suitable tone and include relevant information.

Use the blank space on the task sheet to plan your ideas. Do not write a complete draft that you will need to copy into the answer booklet.

Plan a response that matches your current English ability. Clear and accurate writing is more effective than using language that is unnecessarily complicated.

Keep the following points in mind:

  • Reword information from the task sheet where you can.
  • You do not need to replace every repeated word with a synonym.
  • Short, simple sentences are acceptable.
  • Organise paragraphs according to your main ideas.
  • There is no required or “perfect” number of paragraphs.
  • Short paragraphs are acceptable when they suit the content.
  • Not every paragraph needs to begin with a topic sentence.
  • Use linking words such as “moreover” only when they add meaning.
  • Avoid memorised clichés such as “every coin has two sides.”

To remove something you have written, you can simply draw a clear line through it. You do not need to use correction fluid or erase it completely.

When checking your work, read it silently to yourself. Hearing the sentences in your mind may help you notice missing words, awkward expressions or grammatical problems.

General Advice

Focus on showing the tester what you can do in English.

Avoid telling the tester how important it is for you to achieve a particular result. Personal pressure or circumstances do not affect the assessment.

At the end of the test, do not ask the tester to tell you how well you performed. Your results will be provided through the appropriate ISLPR process.