If you’re asking yourself how to prepare for TOEFL, these 7 tips will aid you in your quest to be ready for the exam day.
For those who plan on attending college, university, trade school, or other institutions, you’ve probably heard of the TOEFL Exam. And, with over 10,000 institutions globally administering the exam, it’s more than likely than not, you would have to pass it (depending on the country you live in).
The TOEFL exam is administered to students applying for schools in English-speaking countries and is designed to measure the language proficiency of non-English speakers.
How is TOEFL Administered & What’s Tested?
Today it’s administered as a paper-based or internet-based (iBT) exam. The latter being the most popular of the two. During your exam you’ll be tested in four areas which are
- Writing
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
In most institutions, a minimum required score is 78 to be accepted into the degree-seeking institution, with a maximum score of 120 (scale 0 to 120). For more information on grading see our article on TOEFL scoring.
One of the primary benefits of the TOEFL exam is that it’s going to test you on everyday English conversation. You won’t be tested on complicated grammar that’s never used in daily conversation. So, think of it as speaking to a good friend or a normal conversation throughout the day. Looking at it in that fashion will help you better frame it in your mind as something that’s doable, versus something that’s impossible to achieve. Take this with you as you are preparing for the exam.
If you need specific scores for applying to university or moving abroad, you may want to consider prep classes. We have reviewed the best 7 TOEFL preparation courses that are available online.
If you need to get ready for the exam fast, see our article on the Top 3 TOEFL prep courses. They are the proven courses to prepare for the exam as quickly as possible.
So, where should you start? Consider a few of these tips to help you on your way to acing the TOEFL exam when you’re ready to sit in for it.
First, Know What You’re Walking Into.
Remember, we mentioned there are paper and iBT versions of the exam, so you should familiarize yourself with what each one offers. Likely you need the iBT version, which is the most used version for official TOEFL tests.
The iBT version
- Reading section is 54 to 72 minutes and contains 10 questions
- Listening section is 41 to 57 minutes containing 18 to 24 questions
- Writing section is 50 minutes and contains 2 essay passages
- Speaking section is 17 minutes containing 4 tasks
You’ll also get a 10-minute break in between testing.
Understanding what you’re walking into before the exam date is a necessary step to prepare yourself. You’ll know when your break is administered so you can recollect yourself.
So how to prepare for TOEFL exam?
We have collected the list of 7 tips that will help you prepare for the TOEFL exam. Here they are:
Read and Listen to English News
Listening to the news in English is a great way to familiarise yourself with speaking patterns. Listening to music is another great way to grasp certain words, and to the pronunciation.
Reading news is also a great way to see how the language is meant to be written. It’s advanced grammar in most instances, so this may be advanced for some non-English speakers. If so, there are specific course-prep websites you can utilize to help (see this page for TOEFL exam prep classes).
Regardless of whether you listen or read, try to do it frequently. The more you are exposed to the English language, the more it will become ingrained in you. Furthermore, listening to the language being spoken at a conversational pace, helps you better understand diction and how the words are meant to be said. All of this will help you in becoming more advanced in the language and improving your skill sets as an English speaker. Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary, and this is a must for the TOEFL exam. So, do it frequently and use the right sources.
Time Yourself
This goes hand-in-hand with knowing the test’s format. Remember, you will have a certain number of questions to answer, in a short amount of time. And, in the writing section, you’re required to complete a passage in a set period of time. So, make sure you’re timing yourself. With practice tests, you’ll see how long you’re taking to answer each question. If you are taking too long, you’ll train your mind to work faster.
Also, time yourself writing. Choose a topic, set aside 25 minutes (you have two writing essays totaling 50 minutes in the iBT exam) and write. Try to write freely and without thinking about the time. This will give you a good indication of where you are, and where you have to get, in order to achieve a passing score. The more you practice, the faster you’ll become, without compromising on the quality of your production. So, make sure you practice regularly and that you’re writing on topics that have been tested (again, check the practice exams for topic guides).
Take Practice Exams
This is another invaluable resource available to you. There are banks online, with thousands of practice exam questions, in each of the sections you’ll encounter during your exam. And, what’s even better is that you might actually run into the same question on exam day, as you do in your practice. Why are practice exams helpful? Some reasons are
- You can time yourself to make sure you’ll complete the exam on time (pacing)
- You get an idea of how the exam questions are constructed
- You’ll see where you are, and where you need to improve
- You’ll have a basic structure in mind and walk into the exam feeling more confident
The more you practice, the easier it is going to be for you on the day of your exam.
Speak the Language
Speaking in English, with native English speakers, is also a great way to engrain the language into your head. There is a speaking portion on the TOEFL exam, therefore, this can help you prepare for it. Engaging in basic communication helps you practice pronunciation. It will also give you the opportunity to say words you’re reading (but aren’t sure how to pronounce), and an English speaker can correct you and help you pronounce it properly.
You can join several groups, test prep courses, or even social networks and events, to engage in conversation regularly. Go to the grocery store, the park, or anywhere people are willing to talk and have a conversation.
Like anything, the more you do it, the better you get at it. And, your goal is to pass the TOEFL exam, so you’ll want to be good enough in conversation to do so.
Know Where You’re Making Mistakes
The practice exams are also a great resource as you get instant feedback. You can see which questions you got wrong and which ones you got right. Learning where you’re making the same error will allow you to correct those errors. Furthermore, if there’s a specific topic you’re not grasping, you can hone in on studying in that area a little more.
Analyze your mistakes and understand why you made that mistake before you move onto the next section, topic, or questions.
Hire a Tutor
For some, it’s tough to create a routine or know exactly what to study. And, if you’re struggling with the English language, a tutor, teacher, or study group, might be exactly what you’re missing. If you find you’re not improving with time as you’re preparing, this might be what you need. Tutors are qualified professionals. They know what is required to pass the exam, and they’ll prepare you accordingly. They’ll target your weaknesses, help you develop these into strengths, and focus on preparing you for the areas which you need to improve upon, to pass your TOEFL exam.
Make it a Job/Routine
Okay, it doesn’t have to be something you don’t enjoy, but you’ll want to have a schedule in place. When preparing for your TOEFL exam you should:
- Have a quiet study area in your home. Choose an area that only you go to, and which is quiet, so you can fully delve into your test prep
- Make a “Study Time” each day. Set aside 1-2 hours for preparing for your exam. The more comfortable you become, the less you’ll need
- Make sure you’re mind is clutter-free and only thinking about the TOEFL exam while you’re studying. Again, take it as a job, forget about the kids, your spouse, your job, and anything else you have going on, for the time you’re in your study area
- Keep it consistent. If you dedicate 1-hour a day at 6 PM for studying, make sure it’s consistent every day, in the same location, under the same settings
- Turn off your phone and log off social media
Also, set aside some time for breaks. During the actual exam, you will be given breaks. But, while you’re preparing and studying for so much time, you need to give your mind and body some recovery time. Make sure you plan study breaks and time for meals (depending on which time of the day you’re studying).
Are you ready for the exam day?
The TOEFL exam doesn’t have to, nor should it scare you. If you take the time to get ready, utilize the many resources which are available to you, and create a set routine/schedule to prepare yourself, you’re going to be just fine.
Don’t try to cram or wait until the last minute to prepare as this can prove disastrous. Dedicate yourself, make sure you put the effort in, and you’ll be ready to go when the time comes to sit in for your TOEFL exam date.
We hope these tips on how to prepare for TOEFL exams will be helpful for you.
Good luck with the exams!
