
Like any other exam, passing the TOEFL is always a stressful experience. However, students must cope with all the obstacles to focus on the exam and get the required score. In the article, we’re going to discuss how to prepare for the TOEFL exam and eliminate the stress level.
First of all, let’s make a short introduction to what the TOEFL is. The abbreviation stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). It’s an internationally accepted, standardized test that measures a student’s skills and knowledge of the English language. Testing is aimed at evaluating four general aspects, namely, listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Passing the exam provides a comprehensible outlook on the level of language skills.
Note that the exam lasts for 3 hours and can be held in three variations, namely:
- in the classroom (TOEFL ITP);
- on paper (TOEFL PBT);
- online (TOEFL iBT).
The importance of the test for students who plan to enter English-speaking universities is hard to overestimate since the certificate is valid in over 11,500 educational institutions around the world. So, we’re going to provide readers with a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for passing the exam with flying colors and avoid common mistakes.
Table of Contents
Best TOEFL Preparation Tips
Source: onmanorama.com
Note that TOEFL preparation requires time and effort. So, it’s better to start preparation in advance to avoid hurrying and make sure to manage all the steps. Move through the below-mentioned stages to improve all aspects and feel confident in your knowledge base.
Study the Format
First of all, pay attention to exam regulations and study how it passes. Even if you’re confident in your language skills, you should realize in what format the exam passes. Thus, make sure to visit the official website and study all the available information.
Remember that it’s possible to pass the exam both offline and online. Yet, the latter option is more popular nowadays. Both options imply testing and writing essays, but each solution has specifics. For instance, an offline exam requires one essay, while an online — 2 essays. This is why it’s necessary to study the exam format.
Pick Suitable Educational Materials
Next, study top sources of useful information. Although the variety of educational materials is wide nowadays, there are tutorials and books specialized in the TOEFL exam. Educational programs are developed, taking into account the specifics of the test to ensure clear information presentation and easy memorization. So, it’s recommended to surf the Internet in search of specialized tutorials for passing the TOEFL.
Schedule an Education Process
It’s important to allocate the educational volume within the available period. By scheduling the material, you’ll manage to study it in time. For instance, you can leave 1 hour per day for studying the material, memorizing rules, or practicing key skills. The amount of time depends on how early you start preparation.
If you are planning for your child to take the TOEFL exam in the future, enrolling them in a private school in Moscow with English language instruction from an early age can be a great option. Such a school will provide a strong foundation in English, ensuring that your child will be well-prepared for language proficiency tests like TOEFL. With consistent exposure to English in both academic and social settings, your child will develop the necessary skills to excel in these exams with ease.
Practice All Aspects: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
Source: congress-intercultural.eu
A successful passing of the TOEFL test is possible if all aspects of the language mastering are at a high level. This is why it’s important to develop all skills evenly. Do not neglect one of them. You should only focus on a lagging aspect. However, make sure to practice all language skills.
Read books, articles, and newspapers to enrich your vocabulary. Do it regularly to improve both visual and mental memory. By reading articles, you train not only the brain but also the eyes, memorizing word spelling.
Listen to all sorts of English-speaking audio materials, including songs, podcasts, audiobooks, movies, interviews, etc. Listen to different speakers to make your ears get accustomed to different pronunciation features and speaking manners. This skill will help simplify word differentiation and perception in a speed flow.
Keep speaking a lot. Even if you don’t have anyone to speak to, do it alone since your articulatory apparatus should adjust to pronouncing foreign words without an accent. So, the more you speak, the better skill you gain.
Write essays on any topic to train your spelling and writing skills. When passing the exam, you’ll be pressed for time which usually causes stress. You need to get ready for clear thinking and quick thought generation. Besides, writing will help gain a list of common writing phrases and word combinations that make your essays coherent and easily perceivable.
Practice Note Taking
Source: unimy.com
This skill will be useful at the listening stage of listening. When passing the exam, students have only one opportunity to listen to an audio clip. Taking notes is useful to keep the key facts of text fragments.
Learn to Touch Type
If you pass the TOEFL exam online, you’ll have to type the “writing” section using a QWERTY keyboard. If you do not have skills in typing using such a keyboard, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to find the needed letters. It means that you have little time to think about the essay topic and type your thoughts. So, if you plan to pass the exam online, make sure to train typing in English.
Keep Resting Regularly
Although the exam is a responsible step that requires a lot of attention, remember that the success of the preparation process depends on the correct allocation of rest and study time. Take time to rest and entertain. Do not get too addicted to studying and training. If the brain is overloaded with information, it won’t perceive it effectively, so your training process will go in vain without proper and timely rest.
Keep in mind these tips to develop an effective strategy for preparation for the TOEFL test. If you manage to pass these stages and schedule your time correctly, the preparation process won’t cause trouble, and you’ll be sure of your knowledge and language skills. Still, you can attend preparation courses arranged by educational institutions, where experienced tutors help students master all the needed skills and materials from childhood.