Tips For All Exam Courses

Purpose of This Page

This page is designed to be a starting point for your search to the virtual world of standardized test advice. It is something you should perhaps do before you begin a tutoring course. There is so much out there, so I hope I can let my experience guide you to the most credible and useful sources that give free advice or if they do require a fee do give something worthwhile in return. I have tried to give a balance between websites, YouTube audios and textbooks, since different learners have their different preferences. Please give us your feedback about these sources because occasionally my view might be different from an actual test taker so please feel free to let me know what you think of these.

To keep things manageable, I have chosen the top 10 sites but that does not mean there are not a whole lot more. I want to stress to the cynics (and I mean cynics in the most complimentary way since it is right to be a cynic when it comes to the whole test prep industry) that I gain nothing from these links - if a source is well established and high quality, they get enough traffic on their own and if I find students do not really think they are as useful as I thought I will take them off.

I also do give my own tips (see below) and will be archiving them regularly. If you require free study practice go to our free study practice page and look for practice in a specific test

What to Do With a Good Test Preparation Source

First and foremost bookmark so you can go back to it easily. With IELTS, SAT and TOEFL there are just too many to remember and even the ones easy to find on google are full of many pages that may not be that useful for you

Second, put your bookmarks in a folder according to the parts of the exam. A suggested set of folders might include:

IELTS & TOEFL & CELPIP (General)

General
Reading
Writing
Speaking
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar

 
BC Provincials

Stand Alone
Synthesis
Composition
Literary terms

LPI

Grammar
Reading
Writing

SSAT

Synonyms
Analogies
Reading
Writing

SAT

Grammar
Vocabulary
Reading
Writing

Third, give them a read. Sounds funny, but many students will bookmark them but never really read them carefully thinking they are already  test-wise. As they say, “a fool thinks he’s wise, but a wise man knows he’s a fool”

IELTS Tips

If looking for tips on IELTS, go to our IELTS tips page for a good list and as well some advice of our own. Bookmark these sites and make a goal to read them ALL (that is another reason why only list 10) before you take any classes with a tutor.​ If you find them too much to read in a 2nd or 3rd language, translate them using Google Translate. 

SAT Tips

SAT is one of the most frequently discussed exams and there is certainly no shortage of free advice. I have chosen, on the SAT Tips page, what I think are the best. Make sure particular with the SAT, you do not frustrate yourself by diving into practice tests. In fact arguably an SAT score is really most improvable through clear knowledge of the test and its strategies – skill play a role but to a lesser extent, since it does involve skills developed over many years. 

TOEFL Tips

TOEFL has no shortage of tips and advice that can be found in almost all languages. On the TOEFL Tips page, there are 5 really well done sites, 3 good YouTube videos and 2 textbooks. Be careful of any advice that is not current. TOEFL changes its approach within the structure more frequently than IELTS or CELPIP. 

BC Provincial Exam Tips

BC Provincial Exams has a lot of stuff, mainly from various tutorial and schools that offer advice on their sites. On the BC Provincial Exam Tips page,  I have posted 5 websites, 3 YouTube videos and 2 textbooks. Do not forget that your teachers in high school are an excellent source, so do not be afraid to tap them for any advice or practice you can. 

SSAT Tips

SSAT is an exam that many children and adolescents underestimate, particularly with regards to the vocabulary demands. On the SSAT Tips Page, I have listed 4 online sources, 2 YouTube videos and 4 textbooks

CELPIP Tips

CELPIP is the hardest one to find information on. I have however managed to find on the CELPIP TIps page, 3 textbooks, four YouTube videos and 3 websites. Unfortunately they are all about the general/L&S and I can find little specific to the academic test. 

LPI Tips

LPI is relatively new compared to IELT and TOEFL but already sites are appearing as well as YouTube videos and books. Go through my LPI tips page Make sure that you do go through the comments about the tests before just trying out the tests. For example, there are a limited number of grammar structures featured in the sentence structure and English usage sections.

CELBAN Tips

For nurses, CELBAN is often difficult to find self study material but  there is a grwoing number of youtube and some books. Check out my CELBAN tips page

CAEL Tips

CAEL is a new test so there are not many websites offering tips for CAEL. We do offer a page devoted to CAEL advice at TPS CAEL Tips as well as a CAEL blog

CanTEST Tips

CanTEST is a test started by the Unoverstiy of Ottawa and as of yet there are limited resources to help you prepare. TPS has started a CanTEST tip site and shortly we will produce a CanTEST blog

MELAB

Although well known in many parts of the world MELAB is relatively unknown in Canada but is now becoming accepted at many Universities. We have  TPS MELAB tips page and a MELAB free practice site to help you understand the test and to help you with strategies

Pearson Test of English (PTE)

PTE has been used extensively around the world and is now recognized at a variety of Universities. in Canada. For tips on the PTE visit our TPS PTE tips page and receive some practice tests on our PTE Free Practice site