How to be prepare for the TOEFL IBT test efficiently? How to train for each section of the exam? We provide you with all the answers you need in this article, and more specifically:
- Key preparation tips to pass your TOEFL;
- Practical tips for all the four sections of the exam;
- Our online preparation with GlobalExam.
TOEFL Tips: GlobalExam’s Top 5 Recommendations for a High Score
If you know why you should take the TOEFL and are set in stone to do it, then it’s time to start preparing. However, before we address the TOEFL questions and guidelines for every section, we’ll go over some general advice to be fully prepared for your exam:
Tip #1: Familiarize yourself with the overall format of the test
For you to avoid any unfortunate surprise the day of the test, you should first of all familiarize yourself with the TOEFL test, definition, structure, pattern of each section and so on. This way, you will know exactly what is expected of you on D-Day!
Tip #2: Choose the score you want to obtain
Before your test, choose the TOEFL score you wish to achieve and define the necessary steps to achieve your goal. Make sure to set realistic expectations and to take into account the amount of preparation time you have and your starting level.
Tip #3: Prepare in advance
Learning a language takes time: don’t wait until the last minute to start preparing! To prepare well in advance, make sure to set yourself weekly goals and plan ahead. This way, you will also be more confident and relaxed the day of your exam. This will also surely be reflected in your score!
Tip #4: Use high quality learning material
Do not take the first English magazine or book you find on your shelf. Make sure that the sources you select are of high quality! You can for instance ask your English teacher the material they would recommend. The internet is also full of reviews and resources you can choose from, for instance, GlobalExam has the best TOEFL resources on the market, which will definetly help you ace your exam.
Tip #5: Combine both passive and active learning
While quality is important, so is diversity! Make sure to select a variety of learning materials. You can for instance use academic resources such as grammar books and academic practicing material.
When you want to take a break, you can watch series or listen to English podcasts in English! This way, you will make learning English more fun and interactive!
If you still find yourself having troubles, you can take a look at other language exams and maybe even compare them to the TOEFL, for instance you could take a look at the the differences between TOEFL vs IELTS and see how both exams work.
The TOEFL Reading Section: How to Be Fully Prepared?
You want to improve your English reading skills but you don’t know where to start? Here are some useful TOEFL Reading tips you can use to help you prepare!
Tip #1: Read as much as possible
In order to be fully prepared the day of your exam, you need to read texts on a variety of topics. This includes both academic and non-academic materials.
Importantly, make sure to read about both topics that interest you and topics that don’t! This way, you will be able to expand your vocabulary knowledge as much as possible.
In order to further practice your reading capacities, you can also make up basic questions to test your understanding of a text. You can then write a short paragraph of what you’ve understood.
Tip #2: Learn to recognize how different texts are organized and structured
During the exam, you will have a limited allocated amount of time. Hence, it is important to be efficient and find the information you need quickly!
To practice, you can read an entire passage from beginning to end. Then, look for the main ideas of the article, as well as the supporting details.
You can also pay attention to the common patterns of organization in an article. To do so, look for connecting words and write a short summary that reflects the organizational pattern of the original text.
Tip #3: Last but not least: practice makes perfect!
When practicing for the reading exam, it is normal that you don’t understand everything you read. No worries! What matters is that you understand general topics and reasoning throughout a variety of different texts.
The more you read, the more you will be able to expand your vocabulary knowledge and understand various sentence structures. After all, practice makes perfect!
TOEFL Listening Section: The Best Ways to Prepare
In this section, we provide you with our best TOEFL Listening tips that will definetly help you to successfully pass the TOEFL exam. So listen carefully!
Tip #1: First thing first: Listen to English as much as possible
To familiarize yourself with English, there is no secret: you need to listen to it as much as possible! The good news is that you have plenty of options. You can listen to a podcast while you cook or tidy your room. You can also listen to English music and pay attention to the lyrics or watch English movies!
Tip #2: Become familiar with different speaking styles
While the American accent may be the easiest to understand, make sure you also familiarize yourself with other accents such as the British, Australian, and Irish ones! This way, you will be less surprised if you hear different speaking styles or accents the day of your exam.
Tip #3: Pay attention to signal words and expressions to understand the general topic
During your listening test, you probably won’t be able to understand every single word. What matters is that you look for expressions and vocabulary that can give you some general understanding of the matter at hand. In order to recognize the relationship between several ideas, you can also look for signal words or phrases that connect them such as “in comparison”, “for instance”, “therefore”, “furthermore” and many more!
Tip #4: Know what to expect before the test
While you must practice your listening, becoming familiar with the specific structure of the Listening test is also part of your preparation. To do so, take a look at the official TOEFL Listening papers and pay attention to the format and style. Take a look at the question types and try to answer the questions as best you can.
This way, you won’t be surprised on the day of your exam!
Tip #5: Practice makes perfect: start now!
As you may know, learning a language is a process that requires time and commitment. If you don’t understand everything at first when practicing for your listening test, keep going! The more you practice, the more you will gain in confidence and strengthen your listening skills without even noticing!
TOEFL Speaking Section: Our Most Useful Recommendations
Do you become nervous when trying to speak English? Do you struggle speaking in public? Are you too self-conscious about your accent? No worries! These are all perfectly normal concerns.
In this section, we will provide you with our best tips to improve your TOEFL speaking skills and gain confidence!
Tip #1: Take notes on oral expressions
As you must surely know, being able to understand English and being able to speak it are two different things. While you think you finally get to understand most of what people talk about, it doesn’t mean you can interact with it. One way to start building your English speaking skills is to pay attention to oral expressions when others talk. Make sure to take notes of them so you can use them yourself!
Tip #2: Practice with a native speaker
If you wish to get a good TOEFL score and study abroad in the USA or any other English-speaking country, you’ll have to master your pronunciation. Which is why, whether it is with a native speaker or your English teacher, it is very important that you practice your conversation skills with someone who can correct you. You can also have a language exchange buddy and teach them your native language in return! This will also be a great occasion to learn about new cultures and perspectives. To make sure to improve, call or meet up as regularly as possible!
Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
One of the main reasons why people sometimes struggle to improve their speaking is that they’re afraid to make mistakes. But if you don’t try, you never learn! When practicing, try to create new sentences and use all the expressions you know. Your interlocutor may correct you at times, but this is how you will learn!
Tip #4: Make sure to use English in your daily lives
Throughout the day, make sure to speak in English as often as possible, even if you’re alone! For instance, when cooking or tidying your room, practice your English speaking and talk about your day or the things you’re planning on doing. This will help make English part of your daily life. Later on, you will be much more confident when having a conversation with an actual person!
Tip #5: Patience is key: keep on practicing!
While it may seem frustrating at times, keep on practicing your speaking as much as possible. With time and effort, you will be fluent before you even know it!
TOEFL Tips and Tricks for Succeeding the Writing Section
Let’s go over some tips for the TOEFL Writing section:
Tip #1: Practice your writing through reading
While it may seem intimidating at first to start writing from scratch, start with reading other academic and non-academic articles. Summarize the main points and write down how the text is structured. You can also spot expressions and connectors that you will be able to use in your own writing.
Tip #2: Make vocabulary flashcards
While reading other writing samples, take notes of all the vocabulary you deem useful. You can instance sort them out according to different themes. This way, you will be able to expand your vocabulary knowledge and enrich the quality of your writing.
Tip #3: Ask for feedback
While it is important to practice on your own, make sure you also receive feedback! You could for instance ask a native English speaker or your English teacher to review your writing samples and correct them! You will be able to learn from your mistakes and continuously improve your writing style.
Tip #4: Familiarize yourself with the Writing test
To understand what is expected of you, make sure to understand the format and style of the Writing part. The structure of your writing is indeed as important as the vocabulary and grammar you use!
Tip #5: Practice in real exam conditions
During the Writing test, you will have a limited amount of time. Hence, you need to make sure to use it wisely! To do so, try to take a TOEFL practice mock writing test and give yourself a limited amount of time. This way, you will be able to become more efficient and improve your time management before the D-Day!
If you keep these tips in mind while preparing, you’ll be ready to register and choose your TOEFL test center in no time!
Get Ready to Ace the TOEFL Exam With GlobalExam’s Help
If you’ve made your choice and are all ready to register for the TOEFL exam, then you’ve come to the right place. With GlobalExam, improve your language skills and be ready for the day of your TOEFL iBT test! Designed by language professionals, our platform guides you throughout the learning process and helps you improve the skills you need.
With GlobalExam, you will be able to practice your language skills on multiple exercises via the Training mode. The Exam mode will also provide you with mock exams and TOEFL practice tests and sample questions for you to complete tasks in real exam conditions.
Moreover, our platform includes English grammar revision sheets as well as English vocabulary study sheets. We also have revision plannings to help you organize your time and be fully prepared! Are you ready to join us on this learning journey? Let’s go!
