3 Areas for Improving TOEFL scores

There are three main areas that you need to focus on if you want to improve your TOEFL score.

General language skills

These skills are reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar. Wait a minute? The TOEFL doesn’t test grammar any more. Why do you include grammar? Good question. Grammar is tested on the iBT TOEFL based on how well you communicate in speaking and writing. Without complex grammar and sophisticated vocabulary, you will not get the scores you are trying to get. There are many ways to improve your language skills. The most important thing to remember, however, is to use English every day. There are numerous websites you can go to for listening and reading practice. TOEFL Tip: Search for a listening passage that discusses a similar topic as a reading passage you find to practice the speaking and writing integrated questions.
Test-taking strategies

These are the strategies you use to best approach the questions on the iBT TOEFL. For example, in the Reading section, should you first read the whole reading passage and then answer the questions about it or just begin answering questions? TOEFL Tip: A strategy many students use is to simply begin answering the reading questions without reading the passage since we know that the questions follow the order of the reading passage. When they use this strategy, students find they can answer the questions well even if they don’t ever fully understand the whole reading passage.
Time management

In order to finish all the questions in the time given, you will need to pay attention to the clock on the screen or your own watch (Don’t use your cell phone for a timer!). In the reading section, the 1^st section of the iBT TOEFL, you have 20 minutes to answer 11-13 questions. That is approximately 1 ½ minutes for each question. Some questions will obviously take less time, but you should 3-4 questions in each 5 minute period. Check the clock regularly to make sure you are staying on pace. TOEFL Tip:: Be sure you leave enough time for the last question on each reading passage. It is worth more points, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete it.

Which of these 3 do you or others you know have the most trouble with? Did you already know these TOEFL Tips? Do you have any other TOEFL tips you would like to suggest? Your comments and/or questions are welcome.

faisal Says:

January 3, 2009 at 2:20 am

Nowadays, many institutions are providing scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate students to study overseas. The number of participants are usually under the quota because only few people around the world can meet the requirements set by the scholarship providers. One of the most difficult requirements to meet in order to apply for a scholarship is the TOEFL. Scholarship providers often set 550 (PBT) as a registration requirement for Master Degree program and 600 (PBT) for Doctoral Degree. These such high scores become dream scores for everyone. For some people, these scores remain mere dream forever. In fact, 550 and 600 are indeed very high and very difficult to get. However, once the scholarship providers set these numbers, there should be a way (or several ways) to get them. In this case, you can not succeed in a month, you will need a year by doing different learning activities every month.

For the first three months, learn a TOEFL books, which you can download Here for free, as perfectly as you can. Complete all exercises and check your mistakes. Then take an ITP TOEFL. You will get around 460 – 493 I believe………

TOEFL Tips