8 Ways To Prepare For TOEFL iBT

• Research: Do your homework to find out the TOEFL score requirements of the college/ university you are interested in applying to. The average minimum score required is approximately 70. However, prestigious universities may demand higher scores.

• Learn academic English: Campus and classroom conversation in the US is a little different that colloquial English spoken in India. Concentrate on the English used in these environments. Textbooks, encyclopedias, journals and research articles will get you acquainted with this kind of language.

• Practice, Practice, Practice: Several textbooks with exercises, vocabulary, practice tests, CDs and explanatory answers are freely available in the market. The internet too, has copious amounts of free samples and information that you can have access to, in addition to your textbooks.

• Develop Greater Concentration Skills: TOEFL iBT requires the student to sit at the computer for atleast four hours at a stretch. Most classes in colleges are for a span of two hours. Beyond this period, the student’s concentration ability starts to dwindle. Organizing personal test sessions at home will help build performance and concentration and also help you time yourself. Remember to pack in a good night’s sleep before the test to kill fatigue before the big day.

• Listen Carefully: In the TOEFL iBT you are allowed to take notes in the listening section. When practicing at home, don’t replay the CD more than once. The TOEFL iBT allows the test-taker to hear everything only once, without the option of replaying the passage. Train your ears to take in all the information in the first listen itself.

• Read, Answer and Revise: Skim through the passage given and read the questions that follow. Then, return to the passage for details to answer those questions. The questions usually come in the order the information appears in the passage. Solving several practice tests helps gain a picture of the kind of questions that could be asked in the exam. Engrain the habit of revising your answer before you proceed to the next section.

• Keep writing simple: Language used must be simple and clear. Don’t be ambiguous. Stay away from unsure vocabulary and over-punctuating your sentences. Using examples to support your essay adds credibility. Transitional words and phrases makes the essay breezy. As a rule, revise what you have written.

• Practice One-Minute Responses: Think up a list of familiar topics and practice speaking about them. Describe a familiar place or recount a personal experience and see how spontaneously you can come up with interesting points. Practice giving one-minute responses to topics.

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