How to improve my scores in language?

It might sound like it is obvious, but in order to improve one’s language scores, one needs, firstly, to improve in
language. In fact, the very first goal of a student should be to put all efforts toward improving in Language and that can
only happen by using Language for communication. In a nutshell, the best way to do that, arguably, is by reading a lot of
serious and challenging literature and by listening to good quality speeches, debates and audiobooks. Parallelly, one
should try to develop basics of vocabulary by learning (and not cramming) 500-600 of the most high frequency words,
basics of grammar theory from a theory book such as the one by Wren & Martin and developing his or her verbal
reasoning by solving questions based on reading comprehension passages, sequencing of sentences and paragraph
based Critical Reasoning.

The problem is, most aspirants do not spend enough time trying to explore and learn language. They seek only to “take a
dip” to the extent as is necessary for them to clear the exam. Unfortunately such a temporary “dip” is not how language
works. As discussed earlier (as preface to Language RSMs), English is very different from the other 4 areas in, say, CLAT
or AILET. There is no distinctly definable syllabus, to start with, and questions could be asked in any number of ways.
Practicing 100 questions of a type, does not automatically ensure that the 101st question is soluble. Success is hence
based not on question types but on awareness of the underlying concept. If there is awareness, even a new type of
question can be solved easily. The following are a few tips on how to work toward really improving at Language:

1. Make a lot of use of a dictionary, especially to look up meanings of words that you have been using forever.

2. Practice Reading Comprehension Passages and Vocabulary every day. Grammar theory and Grammar-based-
questions can be limited to twice or thrice a week.

3. Reading never goes out of fashion. Keep reading as much as you can, subject to availability of time after your
studies.

4. Although it looks like the shortest method, you can’t cram strings of word-meanings. You are bound to forget or
mix the words up. Instead, study a small number of words every day, through reading a lot of sentences with
those words, then making your own sentences and then having a serious and regular revision schedule.

5. If you have enrolled with an institute that assists with your preparation, make sure you attend every single class,
and are not selective with your subjects/ topics.

6. Revise the classes that very day. That’s the quickest way to internalize and commit to long-term memory, what
you have recently learned.

7. Have a lot of patience. Language Improvement is behavioral training and it takes time. Don’t start expecting
consolidated high scores even before you have completed one full cycle of study.

8. Finally, keep things simple and the stress as far as possible. There’s virtually no benefit being excessively
competitive with our studies, tests and comparisons. That’s simply an overhead to an already difficult routine.
So stay happy and limit the worrying and effort to things that you can actually control.
How to make the most of MOCK tests?

That depends on what you think is the original purpose of a MOCK test is. The purpose of a MOCK is not just to test
oneself. Looking at MOCKs as only a tool to gauge one’s performance, and that too just by looking at the scores is not
only misguided, it is one of the major reasons why so many people start getting disappointed so early on and eventually
either give up too soon or waste their time doing random things.

1. Look at scores as well as accuracy. A less than 60% accuracy is simply groping in the dark. Let’s assume, you
attempted all 40 questions and scored (at an accuracy rate of 60%) 20. “A score of 20 doesn’t sound all that
bad,” one would say. But interestingly, it is worse than you’d think. A 20 out of 40 score says that you have a
confused overall outlook on what you know and what you don’t. Furthermore, one cannot be sure how much of
that score (of 20) was a result of definitive subject knowledge and how much was simply a stroke of luck. This
way, you will never know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Consequently, you will never be able to
come up with a deliberate study plan that will augment your strengths and address your weaknesses.

2. Mocks aren’t just tests. A better way to approach MOCKs, especially before the completion of the entire
syllabus, would be by using MOCKs to experiment and experience “test-taking”. Say, in the first 9-12 mocks, use
those 2-3 hours to get accustomed to giving an online/offline test similar to the one aimed at and to find your
own “sweet spot” such as the most suitable subject-order, to find out your strong and weak areas and finally to
use MOCKs as a parallel learning program to further one’s coverage of the English Language. Also, until the
syllabus isn’t finished, and until there is really some point of getting particular about MOCKS, look for other
indices of good performance, such as classroom performance, limited syllabus tests such as those at Legaledge-
ETs, iMOCKs, EssentiaLEs and CPATs.

3. Review your mocks. Since most students look at MOCKs as a testing mechanism and as a definitive index to the
health of their preparation at any given point, they are of the opinion that good scores are a sign of certain
success and that as long as they continue to maximise their score (even if by “over attempting”, they are going
to crack the main test. So once they have taken a MOCK, they focus on and remember only the scores, feeling
good about themselves if the score is good or sulking if it is not. In both cases, the specific questions given in
that MOCK are put aside to make way for the next one. Instead, after the result and solutions of the MOCK is
out, sit and go through all the questions that you marked correctly, to see whether the reasoning you employed
to reach the answer was roughly the same as the one given in the solutions-key or as explained by your
favourite mentor. Only after this little exercise can you safely be happy about your “correct questions” and
failing which, your scores might just be a stroke of luck. Once done with verifying your correct-questions, learn
all the other questions by solving them once more and then matching both the answer and the reasoning behind
the answers. Look for doubt clarifications, if you don’t agree with or don’t understand any questions in the
MOCK.

As a summary, there’s only a few tests that are actually meant to test you, such as CLAT and AILET and all the rest
leading up to them, no matter how difficult, or how scary, are attempts to make you learn something new. And that’s
pretty much the spirit, attitude and purpose of everything we are doing. So play along but keep it real.

Aasim Ahmed,

Faculty of English and Content Management@Legaledge