The way people learn English varies. Some people prefer getting enrolled in a course; whereas others rely on self-study. If you fall in the second category then you must read on. Many people have scored really high on the English proficiency test through self-study. So, it's a misconception that you cannot score well without a tutor or coaching center. If you want to self-study then you must apply some simple techniques to achieve your learning goals.

Learn phrases

It is better to learn new phrases than individual words. That way you will know in which context the word is used. Also, by learning the phrases you will be able to recall the words easily. Books can teach you grammar and new words but they can't teach you how to talk.

Use 'listening' strategies

Of course, reading is an effective way to learn the language, but you must also try listening strategies. Predicting the content of TV programs is a good listening strategy. For example, when a man sees a pretty lady waiting for a taxi in the rain, what will he say to her? Probably he will be offering help. Now carefully listen to how he does that. By predicting a conversation, the words related to that situation are triggered in our brains. Another strategy is to watch programs that provide detailed information about something.

Prioritize quality and not quantity

Don't try to memorize too many words at a time. That way you won't remember anything. You should learn a few words each time and try to recall its meaning.

Learn grammar with stories

Just memorizing grammar rules won't help. Read stories and identify the type of grammar used. You will find use of different tenses, verbs, articles, and others.

Watch movies

Watching movies is a very effective way to improve your English. Pick movies with nice stories and strong characters. First, try to watch the dubbed version of the movie in your native language. Then watch the English version with subtitles. The English phrases will become familiar to you. By watching movies, you can practice pronunciation too.

Write sentences

Pick a phrase with a different structure and write it down. If you come across a new word, put that word in a sentence. Try using the word in different ways in the sentence. This way you will learn the new word and also different grammatical structures.

Learn to spell

You can print out a text and after looking at it write it down on a piece of paper. Then check for spelling mistakes. Write down the misspelled words again. This way you will learn the correct spelling of words.

Have a conversation with a native speaker

You should find a native speaker to practice conversation. Try to convince him or her to give you 2 hours 3 times every week. You will improve all aspects of English through these conversations.

Listen to music

Listen to English music and look for the lyrics. Try to understand the lyrics. If you are new to any word, just google it. You will learn new words and sentence structures from these lyrics.

Practice online English quizzes

You will find various websites offering English quizzes on grammar, comprehension, and sentence construction. Practice those to improve your grammar. Some of these sites provide an analysis of the answers you did wrong.

Be active on social media

By publishing posts related to current affairs or commenting on a friend's picture, you will practice your English writing. You can share jokes and stories on your page. As the online social environment is relaxing, you can easily express your thoughts. You should read interesting news from your social media as well.

Read e-books and online magazines

Do lots of reading activities to improve your English skills. You can read e-books, online magazines, and articles to sharpen your mind. You will see new words and sentence structures.

Practice writing

Every day you must practice at least one writing. Choose any topic and start writing. You must learn the proper writing structure and then write accordingly. Here are some writing suggestions:
• Write down events and appointments on the calendar and grocery list • Keep a journal • Comment on social media posts • Tweet your thoughts • Write inspirational quotes and understand their meanings • Practice dictation • Write a blog mentioning your hobbies and interests, fictional stories, and more. • Get writing feedback from a native speaker.

Join language learning communities

You can join language exchange websites to find someone who would be interested in talking to you. There are other communities and forums available where you can join and discuss your status of English learning. You can share your story and know theirs.

Speak in English

Try to speak in English at home, office, or with friends. The more you speak the more fluent you will become and can perform well on the English proficiency exam. You can join debate clubs for speaking practice. You can record your speech on various topics and let a native-speaker friend check it out and suggest improvements.

Take practice tests

Arrange past papers of TOEFL, IELTS, or other English proficiency tests and practice as many as possible. They often come with the answers. You will find websites that explain the various answers so that the learners can learn from their mistakes.

Use online resources

There are lots of online resources available for teaching English. You can get access to podcasts, magazines, books, and other things.

With these tips, you can get a good score on your English proficiency test. It is possible to learn English completely through self-study. You just need to be determined and patient.