Liberty is often misused and then we complain. In the recent past, multiple developments have taken place on the immigration front, with much of the freedom that was earlier available has been taken away. Even though, prospective immigrants have mostly been at the receiving end, with little or no control over the changes. However, authorities cannot be blamed entirely for aspiring immigrants who have played their part as well. The latest addition to this situation is the PTE retake policy change.
What Does the New PTE Retake Policy Say
PTE test can be attempted a maximum of 12 times in a 12-month rolling window. Plus, you can book a new test only after you have received the results of the last attempted test, and only one test can be booked in a given time. This is not all, one can book tests only six months in advance, and in case anyone wants to attempt more, a special request will need to be submitted. A restriction has also been placed that one should not create a new account to jump over these rules as it may ultimately put the test taker in the malpractice policy.
All this guarding indicates that somewhere someone must have used these loopholes or better say, freedom, for personal commercial benefits. It was observed that some people take tests to collect information which they can use commercially. By frequently appearing for the tests, these people try to create a question bank that can be used in preparing mock tests helping people who want to attempt these tests. Some people may reason that this restriction will also impact genuine test takers, however, 12 attempts in approximately one year will be good enough to clear the test, provided the person has prepared well.
Increased Need for Test Preparation
As the number of attempts is limited, genuine aspirants will prepare well before attempting the test. This means there will be increased demand for comprehensive preparation materials. People would simply want to practice more to be thorough with the requirements and not miss out on anything.
Some prospective test-takers may also seek individual assistance something that can match their level of understanding increasing the need for targeted preparation strategies. Demand for tutors who can provide personal coaching will also increase. Such preparation will help in addressing specific weaknesses that a person may have. Given the fact that the number of test attempts is limited, it will certainly increase pressure on the test-taker, increasing the need for better preparation.
Pressure to Perform May Hinder Performance
The pressure to perform does have its effect on the overall performance and this theory applies in this situation as well. There will be a need not just to prepare well for the technical aspect of the test, but also for the psychological aspect of attempting the test. Talk to overseas education consultants in Chandigarh to know more about attaining high scores in the English language.
To perform well in the test, one will need to be aware of the deep breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practices, so they can perform better in the test under pressure. Clearing English language tests with flying colours also requires time management, and as the pressure to perform increases, it will also test how well you are in managing your time. Among the coping mechanisms that you need to be familiar with, time management is a must-have.
As Pearson rolls out new rules, it will come out with additional resources and workshops that can help test takers in better preparation. It is the need of the hour as well from this world-famous English language testing organisation, that can assist genuine test takers in managing their anxiety. As the number of attempts is limited, it is important to have a positive approach towards taking the test.
Reduced Administrative Burden and Improved Fairness
Limitation attempts will certainly reduce the number of people appearing for the test. PTE needs to have clear guidelines about changes and how exceptions will apply. It is important that test takers clearly understand the requirements. This means there will be fewer queries and reduced workload.
However, implementing the changes will call for a new system to be implemented, to ensure the changes are properly adhered to. There will be a need for additional staffing or training the existing one to ensure requests are handled accordingly.
Overall Assessment
While it is essential to protect the integrity of the PTE exam, it is also important that we know what impact it will have on the test-takers. PTE should establish an efficient handling system to handle requests exceeding 12 attempts. Since there will be an increased need to come better prepared, PTE should come out with resources to facilitate effective test preparation and manage test anxiety.
