graduateshotline logo
Last Updated: November 26, 2023

TOEFL Tips

1. Master the Language

Every day, one should make an effort to converse in English. Every note they wish to take down should be made in English. Furthermore, one should realize that language is a part of daily life and that studying it doesn't always need to take place at a set time or location. To learn how to use good vocabulary in a context, one should make sure they include English words in their sentences when conversing in a foreign language.

2. Start Journaling as a habit

It is a good idea to keep a book where one can record daily tidbits of knowledge and random thoughts. Writing about themselves, their feelings, and their daily experiences is a simple way for people to practice writing and organize their ideas. One can evaluate themselves by reading this aloud later.

3. Listen to any American news channel/talk shows or podcasts

Watching news channels will help learners become more worldly-minded and enhance their listening abilities. With enough information, one can eventually talk more about subjects they might cover in the exam.

4. Writing

Candidates should select a topic and arrange the ideas that have come to them while honing their writing skills. They must choose their central ideas and ensure that all of their content is centered around them. Make a connection between these concepts. NEVER leave questions unresolved or unfinished. The relationship between concepts can be as simple as a list of ideas presented numerically, or it can be more complex and demonstrate contrast, cause, and effect. Ensure that even lists with numbers are written in the style of an essay, devoid of bullet points.

5. Listening

Pay close attention to the various accents that are frequently requested when preparing for the Listening portion. The majority of TOEFL speakers will have a North American accent, in contrast to IELTS. However, at least one accent will stand out and could be from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. Engage in active listening to international news and podcasts hosted by outside native English speakers. Use the ETS TOEFL CD. It is the best resource out there and essential for practice. After using the CD, candidates would see the same kind of screen (UI) and feel at ease.

6. Reading

Candidates ought to read everything they can. Fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, magazines, and any other intricate text they can find can all be included in this. This aids candidates in expanding their vocabulary and understanding of grammar. When reading, candidates should pay close attention to the argument's structure and the way ideas are put together so they can use those same techniques in their writing.

7. Reading Strategies

When attempting the reading section, people typically employ four strategies. Candidates can choose to read the questions first, then tackle the passage, or even answer the questions paragraph by paragraph. Alternatively, they can read the entire passage first or quickly scan it before responding to the questions. Candidates must practice and determine how comfortable they are with a method before adopting it for themselves.

8. Speaking

Applicants should try having online or in-person conversations with native English speakers. They ought to concentrate on correcting other grammatical errors and their pronunciation. They have to make sure that everything they say is intelligible and clear. As long as candidates do not pronounce words drastically incorrectly, accents are acceptable. When learning pronunciations, candidates should pay particular attention to English sounds that are absent in their native tongue. Candidates should record their speech and listen to it after practicing for the test on their own to identify any mistakes.

.
9. Answer all Questions

Unanswered questions do not result in a penalty or negative marking. This suggests that candidates can always guess an answer and move on to the next question if they are positive, they do not know the answer to a given question. There will always be four options for the multiple-choice questions, giving candidates a 25% chance to select the correct response even if they are speculating.

10. Read all Answer Choices

Individuals frequently err by skipping over reading questions and options completely before selecting a response. The questions might be challenging to answer correctly on the first try and generally a little difficult. Applicants should always make sure they have a firm understanding of the options before selecting the option that makes the most sense in the first reading.

11. Elimination Process for MCQs

Questions that don't have an answer right away must be carefully read and subjected to an elimination process analysis. It is advised that candidates search for blatantly incorrect answers, which might contain the exact opposite information from what they are looking for, or reference something completely absent from the passage. One by one, candidates should rule out each option until they arrive at the correct response.

12. Pacing is Important

After reviewing the fundamentals, candidates should practice with a time limit when they are getting ready for the test. Even highly proficient language users frequently receive failing grades because they were unable to finish an exam even though they knew the answers. Ideally, candidates should limit their time to no more than 20 minutes per of the three or four provided passages. They will find that if they divide this time even further, they can only read a passage in five minutes if they need at least a minute for each question.

13. Aim for 100

When preparing, always aim for a safe score. Candidates ought to set a goal for themselves that is at least 20 points higher than their starting point after completing a sample paper and scoring themselves. If this isn't feasible, they ought to aim for a score of 100, which is neither the highest nor lowest that applicants can obtain. Since most universities and departments have minimum requirements ranging from 78 to 100, a score of 100 or higher is a very safe bet.

14. Use the Best Prep Materials

Candidates ought to always select study materials that advance their abilities. the official books published by ETS, such as TOEFL iBT Quick Prep and Interactive Sampler. Candidates can simulate taking the actual test with the help of these resources. However, candidates may need to decide which book to invest in given how costly they are..

15. IELTS or TOEFL?

Instead of taking the TOEFL, individuals can take the IELTS exam (most universities accept both). Candidates are urged to make informed decisions based on the universities they wish to attend. Keep in mind that the TOEFL is a language proficiency exam and cannot be used to replace results from the GRE, SAT, ACT, or GMAT.

Good Luck!


TOEFL iBT- 2024


TOEFL Practice Tests


TOEFL Prep - Tips



TOEFL Scores


IELTS vs TOEFL