Failing english exam means poor in the language?

Question

I failed a major english exam a few years back. Till today, I am appalled as to how come I fail it.

Honestly, I do not think that i am poor in english. I had chat with caucasians. I can understand english jokes. I have no problem writing.

Furthermore, I am still exposing myself to the language even it is not my mother tongue.

However, my qualification will always state that I fail my english. Honestly, do you guys feel that someone is poor in a language just because he/she failed the exam?

Personally, language to me cannot be gauge by the examination. Through exposure, we are improving ourselves as we grow. How can an exam from one point in life determines my language skill for life?

Answer 1

What was the exam about? Perhaps you didn't study hard enough. School is not actually about intelligence. You can't ace tests and get good grades solely on intelligence in the subject...School is about diligence, organization, and uniformity.

However, if you don't think your English is good, i'd advise you to READ READ READ. It'll improve your reading comprehension, your writing, your English.

Answer 2

You're English is not at all bad. But there are many types of English tests. In the ones they have in my school 40% of the marks comes from Literature. (You have to mug up, which I'm not good at), 20% from Creative Writing (I'm not boasting, bu I usually score in that section), 20% from reading comprehension passages and 20% from Grammar. Some test are purely creative writing, or grammar, or comprehension. I usually get 90% in English.

I'm very good at Hindi, my national language. Yet I can't score over 70% in any Hindi exams. I can speak very fluent Hindi, though. Written and spoken language are different things. To pass an English exam, you must have a flair for creative writing and how the read comprehension passages. There's nothing you can do about literature but mug up, which not many are good at. My classmates say I'm more a science and mathematics student than an English student as I just cannot mug up!
Read classic novels like the works of Enid Blyton, Charles Dickens.

Answer 3

You don't have any reason to feel badly. Look at it this way...You speak your native language and English. That's one more language than most Americans can speak. English is one of the most difficult languages to learn, because there are so many exceptions to the rules of English grammar. So give yourself a pat on the back and don't think that your English is so bad. Listen to people who speak well, like news anchors. That'll help more than you think.

Answer 4

Unfortunately for those that are learning English as a second language, conversational English and written English are frequently in contradiction. Don't take it personally. Just keep trying and you'll get proficient enough to satisfy the requirements.

Answer 5

I was in the bottom class in English, and got a D in my exam. I am now completing my NVQ Level 3 in Business Admin. School english exams are absolutly ridiculous.. English is not about romeo and julliett!! ad half my questions in that exam were "How do you think romeo felt" "Was romeo right to do so" absolute balls.. DONT WORRY ABOUT IT!!