<p>I am taking a foreign language subject test with listening in November-any tips/strategies?</p>
<p>-Practice the listening a lot. Try to understand everything that’s said, not just looking for specific words. This is where a lot of distractors try to get you.
-Take mental notes rather than just going with the flow.
-Don’t spend too much time on any reading question. The test is designed largely for native speakers, so there may well be 60 or 70 questions in 40 minutes.
-Don’t take the test if you’re not okay with not getting 750+. Due to the number of native speakers taking the test, there’s actually kind of an anti-curve; getting one wrong may get you a 770 or 780. Since no one grows up speaking physics, the Physics SAT II has a hefty curve.
-This test may burn you out and will require a lot of concentration. Take it as your first test and don’t take any after it if you’re too tired.
-Recognize that what you’re doing is pretty impressive. The average American knows a bit about biology, history, and simple math and
might get a mid-range grade on one of those tests well into adulthood, decades after taking a class in it. Foreign languages, in contrast, are seen as much harder and more enigmatic. Pick 100 random people and you’d be lucky if one of them knew any words in Japanese besides “ninja,” “tsunami,” and MAYBE “kawaii” or “desu.”</p>
<p>Wow-thanks so much emberjed-that was all super helpful information. I definitely would’ve not known some of those things.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, which one are you taking?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>really? hm, never knew that… although at where I’m from, being bilingual is the norm.
I’m taking Japanese in November! I hope I don’t get distracted during the listening section haha</p>
<p>Hey, emberjed gave some really good advice already, but I’d like to encourage you and say that you CAN get a 750+ even if you’re not a native speaker! I got a 760 on German and I’m not one.</p>
<p>For Listening, take notes while you listen! I honestly felt like that part of the test was more about memory than language comprehension because I understood everything I just couldn’t remember everything. If you take notes hopefully that won’t happen to you.</p>
<p>Make sure to review grammar! I’m not too good with grammar (I learn languages by “feeling it out”) so before my test, I went and reviewed all the grammar concepts that could possibly come up. I don’t know what level of Japanese you’re taking, but I’d advise to review all the grammar rules you can.</p>
<p>Also, this is a vague suggestion but obviously the more vocabulary you know the easier the test will get. If you have time, maybe you could look up often used Japanese words and make some flashcards or something.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the great tips, to everyone! Wish me luck on it-it’s tomorrow!</p>