This guide will show beyond any doubt how taking a mock TOEFL is one of the best ways to improve your TOEFL results and ultimately prepare for the TOEFL in real-life conditions.
We’ll look at how the official TOEFL IBT test is organized into four distinct sections, where to find good preparation resources online, and why a mock test is an important step in your preparation process.
Get the most out of your TOEFL test preparation by taking a mock test for the best chances at success.
What Is the TOEFL iBT? General Overview and Presentation
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT (Internet-Based Version) is one of the world’s most highly regarded and widely accepted tests to confirm that a student has the English language skills needed to succeed in an academic setting. The test is accepted by more than 8,500 colleges, universities, and agencies in over 130 countries.
What is the structure of the TOEFL test?
There are 4 test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing.
- The Reading passage tests your ability to understand written material on many different topics, usually following an academic textbook style. You’ll have 60-70 minutes to complete this section, so you can go back and revise your answers if needed and if you have time. You can get access to TOEFL Reading practice tests on our blog and platform.
- The Listening section presents you with recorded conversations or lectures followed by a set of comprehension questions. Make sure you develop your listening and note-taking skills in English for this section by taking training with various TOEFL Listening practice sample questions and exercises.
- The Speaking section requires you to speak for a few minutes about either your point of view on a subject or following a prompt scenario you will hear or read. These test questions can be tricky therefore taking a mock exam will help you prepare to speak fluently and concisely to get your point across effectively. Make sure you practice this TOEFL Speaking section as much as possible as it will make the biggest impact on the examiner.
- Finally, the TOEFL Writing section presents you with various academic topics and asks you to develop a short essay that is well supported, connected, and coherent. The writing questions are not easy therefore practicing both writing and reading will help you develop your English writing skills. Reading as many TOEFL Writing sample essays as possible is another great way to get a better understanding of the requirements of this section.
TOEFL Mock Test: Reading Section Sample Texts and Questions
Here are 10 types of questions from the Reading section of a TOEFL mock test taken from the Global Exam platform:
Text
1. In order to understand the outbreak of war in 1939 it is crucial to grasp what happened in the 1930s and to remember the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany had been humiliated.
German resentment was often bubbling under the surface and it took an outspoken, passionate, nationalist leader to generate a culture in which war might break out. Just such a man started to speak out in the 1920s: Adolf Hitler.
2. In Hitler’s eyes the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh and was a constant reminder of Germany’s biggest failure. As a nationalist, this cut him deep. He referred to the German leaders who signed it as the “November Criminals,” He vowed to reverse it as leader.
Many of the other changes and plans he had directly led from this aim. Hitler wanted to get the land back that Germany had lost in the Treaty of Versailles. He believed Germans were a distinct race and as such, Germans living in Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland should rejoin Germany.
This is known as Lebensraum, also known as “living space,” for Germans. When Hitler went on to take over the Sudetenland, Austria and to invade Poland, he was trying to complete this aim.
3. Hitler believed Bolsheviks (what Hitler referred to Russian Communists as) had been partly responsible for Germany’s defeat in World War I. Hitler thought he could kill two birds with one stone by expanding the German Empire into the Soviet Union and destroying Communism as he did so.
4. In 1941, when Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet pact and invaded Russia he was trying to complete this aim. The path Germany took, particularly after 1933, reads like a blueprint for a country that wants to start a war. They gradually improved their strength and territory bit by bit, achieving their aims in stages, all the while not provoking the world’s powers (i.e. Britain and France) until they were ready to fight.
However one shouldn’t assume that Hitler had a grand plan for a war. Some believe Hitler gambled on a few decisions and was encouraged to continue by the reaction of countries who were supposed to be leading the League of Nations (Great Britain and France).
5. Hitler came to power in 1933. He immediately increased Germany’s armed forces. This was popular and gave jobs to many unemployed men, heightened by the Great Depression. By 1936 drafting (where men are forced to join the armed forces) was introduced and massive rallies were held to show off Germany’s military strength.
By 1939, Germany’s army had increased from 100,000 soldiers (the limit set by the Treaty of Versailles) to 950,000.
6. In 1936 Hitler moved German troops into the Rhineland. This had been forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles as the Rhineland was a buffer between Germany and France. It was his first big risk and Hitler had instructed his generals to back down if the French stood up to them.
Germany was still nowhere near as strong as the French army; however, they got away with it! France was distracted by events in Abyssinia, plus had an election coming up – and no one wanted to be the politician who took France into ANOTHER war. This attitude was to prove increasingly common over the next few years.
7. Now Hitler knew no one had an appetite for war (except himself perhaps) and needed motivation to start completing his aims. Germany received a further boost by successfully trailing its new air force during the Spanish Civil War. By 1938 Hitler and Germany were ready for the next big step: Anschluss. This is the political union between Germany and Austria – again forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles.
8. Austria had a number of powerful ties with Germany – many Germans lived there, they spoke the same language and there was a strong Nazi Party there as well. Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to stir up trouble.
The Austrian President asked for help from Britain and France, who refused, and then for a plebiscite. This was not satisfactory for Hitler so he marched the German troops into Austria to ensure a “fair” plebiscite was conducted.
The result was a 99.75% victory for Germany. The outcome of all this, you know. And one could debate and speak of the subject for many hours.
Questions
- How is the text organized?
- When can one infer that Hitler enlarged the army?
- How would you best describe the expression ‘kill two birds with one stone’?
- What does ‘it’ refer to in Paragraph 6?
- How many men were in Hitler’s army in 1939?
- What can be inferred about the Treaty of Versailles?
- Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘resentment’ in Paragraph 1?
- Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘stir up’ in Paragraph 8?
- Why did Germany succeed in marching into the Rhineland?
- What does ‘it’ refer to in Paragraph 2?
Are you interested in more TOEFL sample tests, practice exercises and questions? Join GlobalExam and get access to all our mock tests to improve your TOEFL score!
TOEFL Mock Test: Why Is It the Best Training Resource?
We will be going over the reasons why taking a mock test is one of the best ways to train for the TOEFL
1. Taking a mock TOEFL will build your confidence and reduce stress
TOEFL practice tests always follow the same pattern as the real test, with the four sections outlined above. It’s like taking the official test risk-free! By becoming familiar with the format and types of tasks demanded, you’ll alleviate your level of stress, which can be a significant obstacle to giving all you can on your testing day.
2. You’ll learn how to manage your time efficiently
The TOEFL iBT takes about 4.5 hours in all – that’s a long time! By practicing with a TOEFL mock test one or several times, you’ll get a feel for how you do on certain sections and where your weaker areas are.
That way, you can focus your time on the parts that matter the most and breeze through the easier parts. You’ll be sure to build your stamina to stick through to the end of the test. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
3. What about all the online resources?
Although you can find countless free online sources to practice reading and listening in English, the quality of these examples do not necessarily match those found in the real TOEFL. When it comes to matching the length and format of the TOEFL, it makes sense to get the experience of a TOEFL practice test, and not rely solely on free materials for your TOEFL preparation.
4. Finally, sticking to a mock TOEFL will give you an accurate idea of where your strengths and weaknesses lie
Like many test-takers, you might find that you excel at the Reading portion of the test, but struggle with the TOEFL Speaking section. By correctly diagnosing your weaknesses, you’ll have a clear idea of which part or parts you need to spend the most time and effort improving. Ideally, you should feel comfortable taking on all of the four skills before you sit the actual test. Practice makes perfect!
Where can you find free TOEFL mock tests online?
There are many resources offering to take a free mock test online.
ETS Global, the official administrator of the TOEFL, offers free training exercises on its website. This is a great way to become familiar with the subject matter likely to be found on the test, but the practice tests are not timed, so you don’t really get a feel for the actual testing conditions.
Other independent sites like PrepMyFuture and BestMyTest offer plenty of study material and practice TOEFL simulations, but they lack a free version.
Get Access to TOEFL Mock Tests on GlobalExam’s Platform
As a complement to other sources of practice tests, the GlobalExam platform is recommended if you want to study for the TOEFL, take timed, full-length mock exams for free to get great results on your TOEFL exam.
Plus, you’ll have access to targeted vocabulary and grammar files, themed exercises to practice each skill, and tips on how to develop your test-taking strategies.
The best part is the live statistics tracker: simply enter your target score and track your progress in real-time. You’ll get all the tools you’ll need to earn a winning score!
Do you want to work on a particular language skill that is related to the test you’re taking? Grammar and vocabulary worksheets are available on the platform for you to practice and improve your performance level.
Reach your goal score for your upcoming test date by joining our platform!
