TOEFL Preparation 2023: Section-Wise Preparation For TOEFL & Useful Tips

TOEFL, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the most widely accepted exam scores abroad to prove English proficiency for students who come from non-English speaking countries. 

It is used as a criterion for admission to academic institutions and visa applications for English-speaking countries. The test is conducted by ETS (Educational Test Services). TOEFL test scores are accepted in over 160 countries, including the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Candidates who wish to score highly in TOEFL to prove their English language skills need to understand the exam pattern and go through the TOEFL study materials. The TOEFL exam has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing to test the English language skills of the test taker. Each section has a score ranging from 0 to 30, and the total score range is 0 to 120. The scores are posted online generally six days after the exam. The official score reports are sent by ETS directly to the university or the institutions the students have selected during registration. Read on to learn about various section-wise strategies for preparing for the TOEFL exam and top tips on cracking the test. 

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TOEFL Preparation 2023

A candidate wanting to score well in the TOEFL exam must know the test format to understand how to prepare for the test. There are mainly two types of TOEFL examinations conducted by ETS. 

TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT At Home Test

The TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) and iBT At Home tests include the following sections:

Reading section of 60 to 80 minutes, including 36 to 56 questions

Listening section of 60 to 90 minutes, including 34 to 51 questions

Speaking section of 20 minutes with 6 tasks

Writing section of 50 minutes with 2 essaysThe TOEFL At Home Testing allows students to appear for the exam from the comfort and safety of their homes. However, candidates must meet some environmental and equipment requirements for this mode.

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TOEFL Essentials Test

ETS also offers the TOEFL Essentials Test, which has both academic and general-level contexts. The exam works in an adaptive format adjusting to a candidate’s skills. The candidate can take the TOEFL Essentials Test from their homes. The exam is of 1.5 hours and focuses on straightforward and quick tasks. The components of the TOEFL Essentials Test are: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections A 5-minute personal video statement at the end of the exam that is not scored. TOEFL exam preparation can be done through self-study or by applying for a TOEFL crash course through various coaching centres. The candidates can take TOEFL preparation tests to assess their level of preparation and understand the exam pattern. The Speaking and Writing sections for the exam are graded using a combination of human scoring and automatic computer scoring with the E-rater for Writing and SpeechRater for Speaking. Also read: TOEFL Home Edition Results

Section-wise TOEFL Preparation Tips

TOEFL Test Preparation must be done by keeping in mind the requirements of the various sections of the exam.

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TOEFL Reading Section Tips 2023

The TOEFL Reading section measures the ability of a candidate to understand academic texts, paragraphs, and passages at the university level. The reading section requires a candidate to go through three to four passages and answer ten questions, each related to the passage’s content. The candidate will need to answer about 40 questions in 54 to 72 minutes. The section is scored based on the correct number of responses to reading comprehension. Some of the tips for the reading section are:

• Read English language content to stay engaged with the language. Go through the content on TOEFL preparation websites.
• Increase vocabulary and understanding of the written language through newspapers, periodicals, and articles.
• Regularly read university materials and other texts covering various subject areas such as social sciences, sciences, business, arts, etc.
• Practice questions related to the passage by skimming through it and understanding the main idea, important facts, and major points of the essay.
• Increase reading fluency and reading rate.
• Choose the unfamiliar words in the passage and guess their meaning in the context of the passage. Then, check the word’s meaning online or in a dictionary.

Read more: TOEFL Vs IELTS Difference

TOEFL Listening Section Tips 2023

The listening section of the TOEFL exam requires the candidates to listen to 3 to 4 lectures along with 2 to 3 conversations. Candidates are required to answer approximately 40 questions in 41 to 57 minutes. The candidate has to answer six questions based on each recording. The section is scored based on the number of correct listening responses. Some tips for TOEFL preparation for the listening section are:

• Practice taking quick and accurate notes while listening to recordings, podcasts or while someone is dictating to you.
• Develop listening abilities. You should be able to listen for a long period and absorb or extract useful information.
• Try to understand the genre of the conversation or the dialogue – a complaint, an apology, or a suggestion.
• Identify the relations and connections between various ideas like cause or effect, compare or contrast, and steps in a process relation through different sample questions.
• Practice identifying the language of the conversation – casual or formal. Pay attention to the speaker’s voice – is it emotional or calm?
• Learn to identify the changes in the topic or digressions.

Also read: TOEFL Scholarship – Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

TOEFL Writing Section Tips 2023

The writing section of the TOEFL exam requires a candidate to write an essay that effectively describes the given topic. The writing essay should be well-developed and well-organised. It should make use of relevant explanations and support statements. It should display proper progression, coherence, and unity. The essay should have a syntactic variety, minimum grammatical errors, and appropriate word choice for a higher TOEFL writing score. A few tips to ace the writing section of the TOEFL exam are:

• Listen to recordings of short passages over the internet to write a summary. This way, you can write your interpretation of the audio.
• Practice with TOEFL writing templates to understand how to structure the essay.
• Read books with different types of connecting words. These are important as these expressions help show the relationship between sentences and paragraphs.
• Develop strong vocabulary and grammar skills. Increase your knowledge of idiomatic speech to use it appropriately.
• Look for the best TOEFL essay topics to enhance preparation.
• Learn about grammatical structures and use them naturally in writing.
• Use free resources to learn layout, punctuation, and spelling conventions.
• Read articles and make outlines using the major points and important details.
• Try to communicate clearly and briefly, and concisely.

Also read: TOEFL Writing Tips

TOEFL Speaking Section Tips

This speaking section of TOEFL tests the ability of a candidate to speak effectively in an academic setting. The candidates are graded based on the delivery of their answers, their vocabulary and grammar skills, and their ability to speak clearly and coherently. The tips for TOEFL preparation for the speaking section are:

• Make a list of familiar topics and then practice speaking about them. The topics can range from academic to non-academic.
• Collect pictures from various newspapers and magazines and then describe them in one minute using various adjectives.
• Pick up an opinion piece and state a preference or opinion for or against the topic while presenting a clear and detailed reason for the choice. Make use of connecting phrases or words to form their opinion.
• Increase your vocabulary and learn to use idiomatic speech appropriately.
• Learn grammatical structures and their usage.
• Work on communication skills and pronunciation, including intonation patterns, word stress, and pauses.
• Write down a few keywords and form an idea about them in your head before speaking.
• Use signal expressions or words to introduce new pieces of information, mark important ideas, and connect sentences and words. The listener should be able to easily follow through with what you’re saying.

Read more: What is TOEFL Exam Used For?

Taking TOEFL practice tests is one of the best ways for TOEFL training to maximise the score. Practice tests will help get an idea about the question types, test environment and time constraints. On the day of the TOEFL exam, the candidate must remain calm. Candidates must reach the exam centre at least half an hour early on the test day. They should go through all the sections and avoid spending too much time on any one question. 

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