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Most countries now offer the Internet based TOEFL (iBT) A

few offer only the paper-based test (PBT) Make sure you find
out which test you will be taking before you start studying for
the TOEFL You cannot choose to take the paper based test if
your country offers the iBT One reason people experience
exam stress is because they don't know what to expect before
a test Prevent stress on exam day by studying the format of
the test in detail ETS has very clear standards about the
format of their test This is why it is called a "standardized"
test

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The TOEFL is required for any non-native English student who

wants to go to a post-secondary school in the United States
Most people take the TOEFL in order to apply to a specific
school or program Before you begin studying, find out what
the requirements are for the schools you are interested in
going to Remember that the scores for the paper based test
are different than the scores for the iBT Some schools will
look at your scores from different sections Each iBT section is
scored out of 30 Many universities expect you to achieve
higher writing skills than speaking skills TOEFL scores are only
valid for two years

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TOEFL is used for a different purpose than other ESL tests The
TOEFL measures your ability to succeed in an American
university or college Other English-speaking countries also
require TOEFL scores as a prerequisite for admission You
don't have to know about the business world as you do in the
TOEIC test Instead, you should concentrate on studying
language that you would hear and see on campus and in the
classroom In other words, you should read textbooks,
encyclopaedias, journals and research articles rather than
advertisements and resumes You won't need to know any
background information about certain subjects, but it will help
you to become familiar with the presentation and language
used in academic material You should also watch modern
 television and movies If you have a friend who goes to an
English university, go to class with him as often as you can
Borrow his books and hang out with his friends

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The best way to prepare for the TOEFL is to practise doing the
tests If you are taking a TOEFL class, your teacher will
provide you with plenty of material If you are studying for the
TOEFL on your own, you will have to purchase a few key
resources Find a textbook that has exercises, vocabulary,
practice tests, CDs, and explanatory answers You might not
want to work through a book from front to back Work on the
sections that you find most challenging Don't just rely on one
book You might have a book that is much easier than the
official TOEFL Look for free samples on the Internet to
supplement your textbook Make sure the question types are
up to date

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A reliable native English teacher who knows a lot about the

TOEFL is one of the best resources a student can have You
will have many questions that your textbook can't answer for
you Frustrated students often give up It is important that you
have someone who will answer your questions and encourage
you when you feel down If you cannot afford a teacher or a
tutor, find a student who has studied for the test before
Sometimes other students can give you excellent hints and
help you with grammar questions You might be able to help
other students with their questions too Teaching another
person is a great way to learn If you use Twitter, search for
"TOEFL" You will find teachers and students to follow and
network with Join the 
 on MyEC Provide support
to others and share tips on finding free practice tests

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The TOEFL test takes a long time to write If you are taking
the paper based test it will take you about 2 5 hours The iBT
is much longer You can expect to be at the computer for 4
hours Many students have an attention span of about two
hours This is the maximum length of most classes After this
amount of time performance starts to weaken If you keep
 your study sessions to one or two hours, your brain will not be
prepared to work for four Start off with short study sessions,
and work up to longer ones It is absolutely necessary that you
get a good night's sleep before this test You cannot afford to
be tired

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If you arrive at the test centre with all of the things you need,
you will feel calm and ready When you are nervous, your
memory does not work as well Make sure you know exactly
how to get to the test centre and where you can park Bring
the correct amount of money for parking If you are writing
the paper based test, you should have a number of pencils, a
pencil sharpener and a few erasers that don't smudge It is
also important that your identification looks valid If you have
had problems with your ID before, make sure to bring a
backup photo Don't forget any paper work that ETS sends you
to prove that you have registered

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Plan to arrive at the test centre at least 30 minutes ahead of

time Wear a watch This is especially important if you are
taking the paper based test Some exam rooms do not have
clocks The iBT has a clock on the screen, however, you should
still wear a watch to make sure that you arrive on time! During
the exam, watch your time very closely Many students do
poorly on the TOEFL because they spend too much time on
difficult questions There is no break between the Reading and
Listening section You will get a ten minute break after the first
half before the Speaking section You will only have a short
time to write the essay Spend some time planning and
checking your writing

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You will have to fill out your answers on the computer and
type your essay If you rely on a few fingers to type, consider
improving your typing skills before taking the TOEFL Make
sure that you are confident typing on a QWERTY keyboard If
you aren't, search for typing practice drills online Even if your
typing skills are strong, try doing practice tests on other
computers Some students get so used to their own computer
 that they get nervous when they have to type on a new
keyboard or use a different mouse on test day

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You will be able to take notes in each section as you take the
TOEFL iBT Note taking is allowed because it is an important
skill you need for taking university or college courses As you
study, practise taking notes on the main idea of what you read
and hear as well as on the main details Do this throughout
your day as you listen to news reports, read websites, and
watch TV Create your own shorthand for frequently used
words and phrases

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Never leave a question blank Eliminate all of the answers you

know are wrong and then make an educated guess You have
a 25% chance of getting the correct answer When you finish a
section or question, try to put it out of your mind Whether
you are reading, listening, or answering a question, put all of
your concentration on the task at hand

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The iBT does not test grammar separately as previous TOEFL

tests did You will still need to prove that you have a strong
grasp of grammar in the speaking and writing sections It is
helpful to familiarize yourself with key academic vocabulary
There are helpful textbooks for this purpose Keep in mind that
you don't need to know every word in a reading passage to
answer the questions Practise reading without a dictionary
close by When it comes to the questions, concentrate on the
areas that the questions pertain to Skim through the passage,
read the questions, then read for more detail The questions
usually come in the order they appear in the passage
Anticipate the type of questions you will be asked in this
section Many of the readings have a main idea question You
will be asked at least two vocabulary questions from each
reading You will also be asked some detailed questions and
some inference questions You will not have time to reread a
whole passage Share your own secrets for the TOEFL Reading
sectionhere
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When you are practising for the listening sections, don't play
the tape or CD more than once On the real test you will only
hear everything once You have to train your ears to listen
fully the first time During the real exam, don't look back at a
listening question after you have decided on an answer You
cannot change it The clock will not start running until you
start the answers Learn to listen for main ideas, presentation
(compare/contrast etc ), and key details Share your own
secrets for TOEFL listening section here

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It is okay to hesitate for a moment or two when it is time to

respond However, it is best to fill as much of the time as
possible with your response If you have a few extra seconds
you can sum things up in a short conclusion You will lose
marks for poor pronunciation, so don't try to use big words
that you can't say properly You will also lose marks for
improper use of vocabulary and idioms Make sure you know
how to use an expression properly before you try to use it on
the exam Share your own secrets for the TOEFL Speaking
section here

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Don't forget that you will have to make connections in the first
part of the Writing section Memorize phrases from practice
tests that show you how to do this The most important thing
is to keep your writing simple and clear You will not have
access to a spell check function Don't use vocabulary and
punctuation that you are unsure of Spend some time planning
your essay before you write it Your outline will save you time
in the long run When you practise for the essay, find a format
that you are comfortable with Use this format every time For
example, your thesis might always be in the third sentence of
your introduction You might always end your conclusion with
a question Make sure to use lots of examples to support your
essay Transitional words and phrases will make your writing
easier to read Memorize a list of these and practise typing
them Always leave time to review what you have written
Read your essay silently in your head as you check it Share
your own secrets for the TOEFL Writing section here
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Some people make the mistake of taking the test too soon
Perhaps your reading, listening, and writing skills are ready,
but your speaking skills still need work If you do very poorly
on one section of the test, you will have to retake the entire
test You can't redo one section Make sure that you are ready
to take the whole test when you register

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Dress in comfortable layers on test day You never know

whether or not the test room will be cold or warm Wear your
favourite shirt When you feel comfortable you perform better!
Don't wear tight clothing You have to sit in one place for a
long time Though you want to be comfortable, do take time to
look your best on test day In other words, dress for success

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Four hours is a long time to go without a snack You will not be

allowed to bring any food or drinks into the test room with
you Eat a sensible meal before you take the test Avoid too
much caffeine as it will give you the shakes Don't consume
large amounts of sugar right before the test You will get tired
very quickly Make sure that you have had plenty of water (but
not too much as you will not want to waste time in the
washroom)

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The official TOEFL website (www toefl com) has a number of

helpful things that you can download for free They will supply
you with a list of writing topics for the essay You can also find
important information about test centres and test updates
Many of your questions can be answered here You will also
get hints about which resources are worth buying

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After you take the exam, reward yourself for all of the time
and effort you put into learning a second language! Treat
yourself to a gift or a night out No matter how well you did on
the exam, you deserve a reward Write down what your
 reward will be before you take the exam It is always helpful to
have something to look forward to