TOEFL Preparation: Tips, Strategies and Authentic Resources

What is TOEFL Exam?

The full form of TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Moreover, it is a test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers who aspire to get admission to English-speaking universities across the world. Before you start your TOEFL exam preparation, it is important to know what this exam is and why it is important.

There are 2 types of TOEFL exams, which are the Internet-Based Test and Paper-Based Test. Both these exams differ in terms of availability and administration.

• The availability of the TOEFL iBT is more compared to the TOEFL
• The TOEFL IBT evaluates spoken English with a dedicated speaking section, whereas, the TOEFL PBT does not assess speaking skills at all.
• The TOEFL iBT measures a greater range of writing skills.
• The TOEFL IBT can last for 2-4 hours, whereas TOEFL PBT lasts for 2 hours and 20 minutes only.

Thus, it can be said that you require dedicated preparation for TOEFL iBT because it assesses the test takers based on real-life experiences. However, the TOEFL PBT is a much more limited assessment. Moreover, before TOEFL preparation, it is important to know that there are 4 sections in this exam, that are reading, writing, speaking, and listening. One more thing that every student should keep in mind is that checking the eligibility for TOEFL is important for everyone.

Key Sections of the TOEFL Exam: Tips and Strategies

During your TOEFL preparation time, it is important to invest proper time in all four sections of the exam. This is not only to get a good score but to engage with the native speaker in your host country. So, the tips to perform well in each section are mentioned below. Go through them to make your TOEFL preparation more effective.

Reading Section: Effective Reading Techniques

Firstly, it is recommended that students take the help of the TOEFL practice test to become aware of the TOEFL exam syllabus and the TOEFL exam format. So, some of the tips that are beneficial in the reading section are:

• Read as much as you can. Take the help of academic books from various backgrounds.
• Read short passages and convert them into a question-answer format to understand the idea behind that passage.
• Increase your TOEFL vocabulary with the help of newspapers, periodicals, and articles in English.
• Exchange your articles or self-grade them to calculate your rate of success.
• Practice regular reading to practice the proper pronunciations of the words.

Listening Section: Improving Listening Skills

There are several sources available to support your TOEFL online practice. So, utilize them and also work on some other tips which are:

• Take actual notes when someone is dictating to you as it is one of the most valuable skills of the TOEFL exam.
• Develop the habit of listening to long audio and then note down the useful information and use it to answer questions.
• Try to understand the genre of the audio to understand the main idea and then it will be easy for you to solve.
• Listen to some English podcasts and music and try to understand the meaning of each line in that particular audio.
• Listen to recorded TOEFL preparation material and stop the recording at various points. Predict what information or ideas will be expressed next.

Speaking Section: Overcoming Speaking Challenges

The speaking section can act as one of the most important parts of the TOEFL training. So, some of the effective tips to score well in this section are:

• Make a list of some familiar topics and start speaking on them in front of a mirror to gain confidence.
• Try taking an image from a magazine and describing it for a minute or two to practice thought-generation skills.
• Refer to the TOEFL online course to get the help of a coach and make your speaking section better than ever.
• Speak in English with your friends and family to bring fluency to your speech and conversations.
• Read newspapers and articles online and then share your opinions with your friends to practice passage-solving skills.

Writing Section: Structuring Essays Like a Pro

During the TOEFL preparation, it is important to put extra time into the writing section and work on some tips that are:

• Listen or read a short passage and try to write its summary in limited words to practice summary writing.
• Try to figure out the opinion of the text you read or the audio you hear and write it in your own words.
• Read multiple essays and understand the commonality of them to carry it in your essays.
• Learn the skill of paragraph framing by working on punctuation, spelling, and grammatical structures.
• Increase your TOEFL vocabulary to make a positive impression on the examiner and get the desired score.

These were the effective tips for the TOEFL exam based on every section. Thus, read them and bring them into practice for a better TOEFL result.

Effective Study Schedule For the TOEFL Exam

To support your TOEFL preparation, we have made an effective study schedule for the students which is divided into 6 months. Moreover, you will get information about what exercises are important in which month. Also, you will notice a positive change in your TOEFL exam result as well as your English language skills.

Month 1: Focus on building the fundamentals of the English language. Learn grammatical structures, build vocabulary and paraphrasing, learn synonyms, and develop good speaking fluency.

Month 2-4: Put those skills learned in the first month on the TOEFL practice test and try to use them in a real exam-like environment. Also, this is the peak time to take practice tests and make necessary changes in your exam preparation strategies.

Month 5: Review everything you learned in the four months and bring a fixed pattern of TOEFL preparation. Try avoiding any major strategy change after this period and work on the traditional methods to become perfect in them.

Month 6: This is the best time to start giving the mock tests and experience the real exam-like environment. Put a timer while solving the papers and build the skill of time management. Also, track your performance and progress throughout the month and appear in the test confidently.

This is one of the most effective study schedules for the TOEFL exam designed by our academic experts.

Top Resources for TOEFL Preparation

There are several preparation materials for TOEFL that you will find both online and in the market. So, you can access them easily and start preparing for the exam. For example, several books are the perfect exam guide to support your TOEFL preparation. Moreover, you can take the help of the practice tests to learn the syllabus and the types of questions you may get on the exam. Thus, read about them below and support your exam preparation.

Best Books for TOEFL Preparation

Books are the best way to prepare and support your TOEFL preparation course not only for those who are taking classes to prepare for the exam but also for those who are dependent on self-study. So, some of the top books are:

• The Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test
• Official TOEFL iBT Tests, Volumes 1 & 2
• The TOEFL iBT Test Prep Planner
• The Complete Guide to the TOEFL Test iBT Edition by Bruce Rogers `
• Delta's Key to the TOEFL iBT: Advanced Skill Practice
• Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL Test
• Barron's TOEFL iBT

You will find these books both online and offline. So, bring the best one and prepare well for the TOEFL exam.

Free Online Practice Tests

Another beneficial resource is the TOEFL practice test. These tests are best to get aware of the TOEFL exam format and pattern. Also, it will help you figure out the weak points and will help you make the necessary changes in your preparation strategy. You can download them online or get a book containing several practice tests and then start preparing for the TOEFL exam.

These were the two most useful resources that will help your TOEFL preparation and help you score well in the exam.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During TOEFL Preparation

Some of the common mistakes that students make during the preparation of TOEFL exam are:

1. Student gets anxious before the test and loses confidence, because of which they do not appear well on the test.
2. Some students appear in the exam without complete knowledge of the exam pattern and syllabi.
3. Use of unknown and very hard words and also complicated grammatical structures without proper knowledge.
4. Not taking practice tests is again a major mistake that people make before appearing for the TOEFL exam.
5. Not making notes in the listening and reading sections is again a major mistake made by the students.
6. Reading the entire passage word for word is a mistake. This is also considered a waste of time. Thus, skimming is necessary here.
7. Getting distracted and losing concentration during the exam because of mental pressure is again a reason for low scores.
8. One other common problem is not understanding question prompts, or misinterpreting them.
9. Not reviewing your responses before submission is a major mistake. So, always review them once you are done with the test.

These were the common mistakes that people make during the TOEFL prep. Thus, practice more and avoid such mistakes for a better score on the exam.

Tips for Success in the TOEFL Exam

Some of the tips that will help you perform well in the TOEFL exam are:

Aim to arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

• Keep a positive mindset, and avoid stress and mental pressure. Remind yourself of your preparation and abilities.
• On the day before the exam, stay focused and relax your mind. Avoid last-minute cramming.
• Wear comfortable clothing on the exam day and keep your body relaxed.
• Stay attentive during the Speaking and Listening sections, as you will have to note several useful information from there.
• Stay focused and engaged during each section, even if you encounter challenging questions. Keep a positive attitude and do your best until the end of the exam.

By following these tips, you can stay relaxed and focused on the exam day and appear on the test with a clear and calm mind.

Understanding TOEFL Exam Score

In this section, you will go through the TOEFL score chart, which will help you aim for a desired score and put more effort into the TOEFL preparation with more attention.

• Each section has a score range of 0–30.
• These are added together for a total score of 0–120.

Out of 120, a 100+ score is considered a good and considerable score for almost all the top universities in the world. Also, there is always a cut-off as per the universities. So, any score above the TOEFL cut-off would immediately qualify their application.

Conclusion

This was all about the effective TOEFL preparation. Now, you can prepare as per the tips given in the blog and also avoid the mistakes that people make most commonly. So, practice more and invest extra time in the exam preparation for a better and desired score. However, if you face any issues, then reach out to our academic experts. They will assist you from TOEFL registration to providing the best study material for the exam. Therefore, visit them today and score well in the TOEFL exam.

FAQs

What Is the Best Way to Start TOEFL Preparation?

The best way to start TOEFL preparation is by reading academic books to learn about the formal vocabulary and structures. Moreover, take practice tests and become familiar with the exam syllabus and pattern.

Can I Prepare for the TOEFL in 30 Days?

If you have taken the test earlier and want to improve your score, then 30 days can be enough to practice more and improve the overall score on the exam.

Is TOEFL Harder Than IELTS?

The major difference between both tests is that TOEFL is easy for those who prefer American English and have a strong academic background. However, if you prefer British English and face-to-face interactions, then IELTS is easy for you.

Can I Take TOEFL From Home?

Students get an option of taking TOEFL iBT Home Edition. This is the same as the iBT edition but despite going to the test center, you can take the test at your home monitored online by the human protector tool.

How Often Can I Take the TOEFL?

There is no limit on the number of times you can take the TOEFL exam. However, you can not appear in this exam more than once in three days.