TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language)

Key Preparation Tips for TOEFL

A.    Get Know the TOEFL Format

Section	Order	Time	# of Questions	Score Range	Details
Reading	1	60 – 80 mins	36 – 56 questions	0 – 30	Answer questions based on 3-4 academic reading passages
Listening	2	60 – 90 mins	34-51 questions	0 -30	Answer questions based on audio clips of conversations, classroom discussions, and lectures
Break	3	10 mins	-	-	-
Speaking	4	20 mins	6 tasks	0 – 30	Express your opinion and speak about topics relating to reading passages and audio clips
Writing	5	50 mins	2 tasks	0 – 30	Write about your opinion and in response to a reading passage and audio clip
Total	-	About 4 hrs	-	0 – 120

B.     Set a Goal Score

A goal score is any total score that meets all of your schools’ minimum required (or recommended) TOEFL scores.

C.     Give Yourself Ample Time to Prepare

Before you register for the TOEFL, set aside ample time to prepare for the exam and hone your English-language skills. Three to six months of study time should generally suffice. However, exact time frames will vary depending on your English ability and the amount of time you can dedicate to studying.

D.    Personalize Your Study Plan

As you study for the TOEFL, always focus on what you don’t know rather than what you do know. Doing this ensures you’ll spend more time honing your weaknesses and will have a better chance of getting high scores on all four TOEFL sections.

E.     Improve Your Vocabulary

To do well on the TOEFL, you need to have a high range of English vocabulary. Knowing different words allows you to more readily understand the English you read and hear, and gives you the tools to express yourself more clearly and effectively in speech and writing.