Failed ELSA twice — what am I missing in my study approach? — Forums

Sofia R.OP

May 27, 2026

So I've been trying to pass the ELSA for about four months now and honestly starting to feel defeated. First attempt I scored a 62, needed a 70. Second attempt last month I got a 68 — closer but still not there. I'm spending maybe 8-10 hours a week on this but clearly something in my approach isn't clicking.

I've been mostly doing an ELSA practice test from a third-party site and re-reading the official materials, but I feel like I'm just memorizing without really understanding the listening assessment framework. Has anyone found a study guide that actually explains the why behind the scoring criteria? That's where I keep losing points — the spoken language evaluation sections.

My test is rescheduled for July 14th, so I have about six weeks. Any exam tips from people who passed on a third attempt or later would mean a lot right now. What changed for you?

Chloe W.

May 28, 2026

I was in almost the exact same spot — scored 67 on my second try and wanted to quit. What finally helped me was switching from passive review to active recall. Instead of re-reading the study guide, I'd close it and try to explain each scoring concept out loud. Sounds silly but it exposed the gaps I didn't know I had. Give yourself at least two weeks of that before your July date.

Carlos B.

May 28, 2026

Honest question — are you timing yourself on practice tests? I wasn't, and that was my problem. I understood the material fine but kept running out of time in the listening evaluation section because I'd pause to overthink. Once I started simulating real test conditions — no pausing, strict timer — my scores jumped about 8 points. The ELSA exam tips that actually matter are mostly about pacing, not just content knowledge.

James R.

May 28, 2026

Six weeks is plenty of time, don't panic. Focus hard on the spoken language scoring rubric — that section trips up almost everyone on their first few attempts. You're already closer than most people realize when they're at 68.

Failed ELSA twice — what am I missing in my study approach?

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