By: Sarmad Riazi

TOEFL: run by ETS(Educational testing Service) , a non-profit organization, also responsible for GRE, GMAT,TWS,…

TOEFL has been around for more than 50 years

TOEFL vs. IELTS: Not so different from IELTS except for :

More Popularity Better testing criteriaFair and standard Evaluation

TOEFL Givers: Sanjesh Amirbahador Mojtama Fani,…

Valid for two years

Consists of 4 modules:

listening, reading, writing and speaking

2 Major Types of TOEFL:

IBT

PBT

iBT Advantages: Frequent tests Faster Evaluation Handy speaking module for

TA-SHIP Seminars Academic Life

PBT advantage: No major advantage over iBT except for

being cliché and no speaking section (which is virtually a disadvantage! )

3 to 5 large passages Academic topics No need to know every word, but

common knowledge wouldn’t hurt When reading on monitor, use your

hand to follow the lines When out of focus, lean back and

stretch, take in more Oxigen! You may take notes Be ready to face difficult passages as

well( Use KAPLAN)

2 ConversationsBetween studentsBetween student and professorAll in standard American Accent

4 LecturesWide range of Academic TopicsNote taking skill is vital (use Barron’s)Be prepared for all difficulty levels (Use

Barron’s)Now take a 10 min. break !

Independent tasks Ask your idea on familiar topics

Speak clearly and coherently and have a SIMPLE but

CLEAR message

15 seconds to think, 45 seconds to talk.

Kind of Freaky, right?

Summarizing problem and solution Between 2 people, usually in academic settings

Take notes

Prepare your answer for 30 seconds, talk for 1 minute

Again, be clear and coherent, there’s no point in

speaking hastily

Integrated tasks:Read a short passage, take notesListen to a lecturePrepare your response for 30 secondsSpeak for 1 minutes

You need toBe clear and coherentConvey relevant informationBe good at reading and listening+ note

takingUse a variety of words and grammars

CORRECTLY!

Integrated task: Read a passage Listen to a lecture and take notes Listen to the question Prepare your response and type! Note that usually passage and professor contradict

You need to Be prepared for this type of question Know how to type fast Be good at using a variety of word and grammars Be clear and coherent and convey relevant

information

You should at least be at Intermediate level to be eligible to start preparing for the test

Take these books:Delta (for general practice)

Contains tactics, exercises and sample examsBarron’s ( for finalizing your study)

Contains only some tactics and full-lengths exams

Advanced listeningLongman (for more beginner test takers

Easy listeningKaplan ( for advanced study)

Advanced reading

If already not at intermediate level:

Go to English class, it’s the only place you learn language skills together

be advised: Pay attention to what kind of class you enroll You need be at the REAL level, not higher ,

not lower, you should be the HOTSHOT in the class.

Try to get your instructor to work, don’t be passive about what’s going in the class

Show up in classes while knowing what to expect at TOEFL, get your instructor to advise you.

Reading: Get Reader’s series according to your level Read in a wide variety of topics, use WIKIPEDIA Get TOEFL Flash Reading EAT the DELTA’s samples, Get used to read on computer screen Use your hands to follow the lines

Listening Get Tactics for Listening Listen to your class samples Listen to Longman, Delta, … OVER AND OVER Learn note taking technique (from Barron’s)

Speaking: Go to standard conversation class to get started Go to free-discussion class

Expensive Irrelevant issues

Pay attention to your pronunciation and accent!!! Memorize listening scripts and say them out loud Talk to yourself, think directly in English, DO NOT

TRANSLATE FROM PERSIAN TO ENGLISH!!! Use mp3 player to record your voice when doing

DELTA’s exercises Give yourself enough time to practice. Hard work pays off, it takes a long time, but it

pays off!!!

Writing:

Get “practical write with readings” and read the first 80 pages, strongly recommended

Practice the TOEFL samples Get your instructor correct your writings, really

important at beginner’s level Expand your grammar, Vocabulary, speed up

your typing speed. Remember that practicing on your writing also

boosts your speaking!

Register early for the test Register for two consecutive tests Try your best to get a safe score,

upper 94/120 is quite OK. It’s important for your future life, take the test

seriously Being fully prepared also helps you save some

money!

At the final stage of your preparation, drown yourself with test materials, you have to do this to get to your peak performance.

Take it easy!