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First, ask yourself:
First, ask yourself:
Which skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) are you better at? Which ones need more practice? Do you need a plan for increasing your vocabulary?
Which skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) are you better at? Which ones need more practice? Do you need a plan for increasing your vocabulary?
You may want to take a practice test to better understand what you need to focus on.
You may want to take a practice test to better understand what you need to focus on.
Learning about how the test is organized is essential.
Learning about how the test is organized is essential.
TOEFL Test Organization
TOEFL Test Organization
Productive skills: Speaking/writing
Productive skills: Speaking/writing
There are two sections on the writing part, integrated and independent. In the integrated section, you need to summarize two points of view that you will listen to and read. Here you can find some practice for the integrated section!
There are two sections on the writing part, integrated and independent. In the integrated section, you need to summarize two points of view that you will listen to and read. Here you can find some practice for the integrated section!
The independent section task is an essay. In order to have powerful essay answers, you need to have powerful sentences and paragraphs, and understand how to organize your essays in logical parts. You need to learn how to summarize ideas, how to effectively brainstorm and how to outline all of your ideas in an essay that captures your interests.
The independent section task is an essay. In order to have powerful essay answers, you need to have powerful sentences and paragraphs, and understand how to organize your essays in logical parts. You need to learn how to summarize ideas, how to effectively brainstorm and how to outline all of your ideas in an essay that captures your interests.
The speaking part is also divided into integrated (3) and independent sections (1), but these four questions are not long. For the independent question, you will have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to answer and give your opinion on a simple topic. The three integrated questions will have you read and listen to some discussions on a topic and then explain in one minute what you have understood. It’s important that you stay calm during this section, and always take notes that will help you organize your answers.
The speaking part is also divided into integrated (3) and independent sections (1), but these four questions are not long. For the independent question, you will have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to answer and give your opinion on a simple topic. The three integrated questions will have you read and listen to some discussions on a topic and then explain in one minute what you have understood. It’s important that you stay calm during this section, and always take notes that will help you organize your answers.
You can prepare for these questions by working through these options on magoosh, an incredibly useful page that will give you templates and activities according to your needs. Here is an article on speaking tips that will explain with more detail the four questions.
You can prepare for these questions by working through these options on magoosh, an incredibly useful page that will give you templates and activities according to your needs. Here is an article on speaking tips that will explain with more detail the four questions.
Other options that you can look for are:
Other options that you can look for are:
Receptive skills: Reading/Listening
Receptive skills: Reading/Listening
The TOEFL reading section comprises four university-level passages, each with 12 to 14 questions that you should answer in 20 minutes, for a total of 80 minutes.
The TOEFL reading section comprises four university-level passages, each with 12 to 14 questions that you should answer in 20 minutes, for a total of 80 minutes.
The reading excerpts will have information covering a multitude of topics, but everything you need to answer the question correctly will be contained in the passages themselves. It is important to read the passages in an effective way, to synthesize and organize the information that they hold. Usually, the order of the questions after the passage is sequential, with questions on the first paragraph at the beginning, followed by questions on the second paragraph, and so on.
The reading excerpts will have information covering a multitude of topics, but everything you need to answer the question correctly will be contained in the passages themselves. It is important to read the passages in an effective way, to synthesize and organize the information that they hold. Usually, the order of the questions after the passage is sequential, with questions on the first paragraph at the beginning, followed by questions on the second paragraph, and so on.
However, at the end there might be prose summary questions, that make you think on the passage as a whole, which might disrupt your process of thought and confuse you. A good way to prepare yourself for this is to do some mock exams, such as these two! You can also check these reading practice questions from the ETS webpage.
However, at the end there might be prose summary questions, that make you think on the passage as a whole, which might disrupt your process of thought and confuse you. A good way to prepare yourself for this is to do some mock exams, such as these two! You can also check these reading practice questions from the ETS webpage.
The TOEFL listening section comprises six recordings with questions. The recordings are 4 academic lectures (of 3 to 5 minutes) with 6 questions each, and 2 recorded student or teacher conversations (of 2 to 3 minutes) with 5 questions about each conversation. The questions evaluate comprehension and information synthesis, and the ability to draw conclusions from what you have heard. While you can’t return to the audio as soon as you start the questions, you’re allowed to take notes and use them during the test. Just as with the reading section, the best way to practice is to familiarize yourself with the structure of the questions and take as many mock exams as you can.
The TOEFL listening section comprises six recordings with questions. The recordings are 4 academic lectures (of 3 to 5 minutes) with 6 questions each, and 2 recorded student or teacher conversations (of 2 to 3 minutes) with 5 questions about each conversation. The questions evaluate comprehension and information synthesis, and the ability to draw conclusions from what you have heard. While you can’t return to the audio as soon as you start the questions, you’re allowed to take notes and use them during the test. Just as with the reading section, the best way to practice is to familiarize yourself with the structure of the questions and take as many mock exams as you can.
Here you can find 112 listening mock tests and other examples of possible questions that can be found on the test.
Here you can find 112 listening mock tests and other examples of possible questions that can be found on the test.
And here is another sample of questions, sorted by different topics. https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-reading-practice-pack-sample/
And here is another sample of questions, sorted by different topics. https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-reading-practice-pack-sample/
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Tutor advice: The best way to gain confidence is to study at your own pace - you need to find your footing, and your best stratgy to confidently build new vocabulary.
Tutor advice: The best way to gain confidence is to study at your own pace - you need to find your footing, and your best stratgy to confidently build new vocabulary.
Try learning five words per day, 25 per week, 100 per month! But don’t just grab random words to learn, try to create association groups in order to learn in context. For example, take a category (Education) and break it into sections (People, groups, actions, feelings, etc.) and inside these sections write words that you want to learn!
Try learning five words per day, 25 per week, 100 per month! But don’t just grab random words to learn, try to create association groups in order to learn in context. For example, take a category (Education) and break it into sections (People, groups, actions, feelings, etc.) and inside these sections write words that you want to learn!
Every week try to commit to using a category, and try to keep a table with all the words you want to practice during the week. Remember to add a definition to the words; it can be from a dictionary, or it can be your own definition, whichever you find more useful! You can always add synonyms and antonyms, if you feel comfortable.
Every week try to commit to using a category, and try to keep a table with all the words you want to practice during the week. Remember to add a definition to the words; it can be from a dictionary, or it can be your own definition, whichever you find more useful! You can always add synonyms and antonyms, if you feel comfortable.
Which vocabulary should you learn?
Which vocabulary should you learn?
Use a TOEFL vocabulary list or select words that you might not be completely familiar with in news articles. You should be able to use the words confidently, not just recognize them.
Use a TOEFL vocabulary list or select words that you might not be completely familiar with in news articles. You should be able to use the words confidently, not just recognize them.
Check out these other webpages with more advice on studying vocabulary for the TOEFL https://www.fluentu.com/blog/toefl/how-to-learn-toefl-vocabulary/ https://magoosh.com/toefl/how-to-study-vocabulary-and-grammar/
Check out these other webpages with more advice on studying vocabulary for the TOEFL https://www.fluentu.com/blog/toefl/how-to-learn-toefl-vocabulary/ https://magoosh.com/toefl/how-to-study-vocabulary-and-grammar/
Test-taking practice
Test-taking practice
There are several possible ways to practice the actual test-taking.
There are several possible ways to practice the actual test-taking.
First, you can take the TOEFL free sample test which comes with real questions that have been used on previous tests and sample answers for the writing and speaking sections (you can also practice with these IELTS mock tests). The only disadvantage is that, while these tests have the answers of the listening and reading sections, you won’t be able to have your speaking and writing sections scored.
First, you can take the TOEFL free sample test which comes with real questions that have been used on previous tests and sample answers for the writing and speaking sections (you can also practice with these IELTS mock tests). The only disadvantage is that, while these tests have the answers of the listening and reading sections, you won’t be able to have your speaking and writing sections scored.
Closer to the test date, ETS has a detailed planner of eight weeks, which also includes sample questions and scoring guides to measure your advances and results. Check it out here!
Closer to the test date, ETS has a detailed planner of eight weeks, which also includes sample questions and scoring guides to measure your advances and results. Check it out here!
Resources
Resources
The Official YouTube channel for the TOEFL test has many good resources and tips!
The Official YouTube channel for the TOEFL test has many good resources and tips!
ETS, the institute behind the TOEFL, has prepared this guide with an organized structure to follow in your study for the exam: https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_student_test_prep_planner.pdf
It is an 8-week plan to prepare for the TOEFL iBT® test, including samples from it.
ETS, the institute behind the TOEFL, has prepared this guide with an organized structure to follow in your study for the exam: https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_student_test_prep_planner.pdf
It is an 8-week plan to prepare for the TOEFL iBT® test, including samples from it.
There is also a free practice test available by TOEFL https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/free-practice/start.html
https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-reading-practice-pack-sample/
https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-listening-practice-pack-sample/
There is also a free practice test available by TOEFL https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/free-practice/start.html
https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-reading-practice-pack-sample/
https://tstprep.com/courses/toefl-listening-practice-pack-sample/
Here is a handout with 100 questions that can help practice for the speaking and written sections of the TOEFL https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AYhjQSfl1RPghD2INFXrk-SRdsDIZMq0/view
Here is a handout with 100 questions that can help practice for the speaking and written sections of the TOEFL https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AYhjQSfl1RPghD2INFXrk-SRdsDIZMq0/view
Remember that tutors in Coffee Time are available to work with |you on the practice materials and help you use new vocabulary.
Remember that tutors in Coffee Time are available to work with |you on the practice materials and help you use new vocabulary.
Happy studying for the TOEFL!!
Happy studying for the TOEFL!!
Uniandes Coffee Time offers workshops to help with test-taking skills. Follow us on FB and Instagram: @coffeetimeuniandes to hear about workshops and events!
Uniandes Coffee Time offers workshops to help with test-taking skills. Follow us on FB and Instagram: @coffeetimeuniandes to hear about workshops and events!
Guide written by Andrea Pineda - Site design by Paula Barriga for Uniandes Coffee Time
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