How To Prepare for The TOEFL

Firstly, let us understand what TOEFL is, how it is structured and how with dedication and the right tools you can get the highest score.

TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests your English reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. The reading section requires you read several pieces of comprehension and answer questions related to those;the listening section, in a similar fashion, requires you carefully listen to information and answer questions. The writing section is the most challenging for most students as you are given topics to write about and have a limited amount of to make your point in an articulate manner. The speaking section as several small tasks that require to answer and elaborate on certain questions where the listener focuses on how precise and concise you are in the way you deliver information.

Structure

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Test Section

Questions

Maximum Score

Time allowed

Reading

36-56

30

60-80 minutes

Listening

34-51

30

60-90 minutes

Writing

2 Tasks

30

50 minutes

Speaking

6 Tasks

30

20 minutes

TOEFL Tips

Reading Section

One must have a blend of good reading speed and comprehension skills to complete this section of TOEFL in the stipulated time. The questions can be lengthy and technical but a few trickier questions are added to the mix to throw off your balance. Skim the passages and use elimination techniques to narrow down your correct answer choice. Go back to the passage and look for evidence and then choose your final answer if you could not answer certain questions before.

 

Listening Section

There are various types of questions in the listening section. Know your strong and weak areas, that is, questions which you are able or unable to answer most of the times. The multiple-choice questions, tables and diagrams pose problems for a majority of the test-takers. For native English speakers the listening section can be very easy but as an international student, you will need to invest time and effort into understanding American accents.

 

Writing Section

Make yourself comfortable with both the tasks asked in the writing module and try ways and means of paraphrasing the data given in the writing schedule. Ensure that you get sufficient practice by taking mock tests. Reading past writing assignments will help you understand how to score on this section.

 

Registration

To register, you need to create an ETS account, select a date, time and centre, follow the instructions to fill out the application form and pay for the test. You will require some basic information for the registration process so you should keep it handy.

 

Before test day
Get your travel plans in order before the day of the test. See how long it takes you to travel and be certain to reach before time as late entries are not allowed to give the test.
Do not change your appearance compared to your photo ID before the test day. Your face needs to match the ID perfectly so if you have any alterations, you might face issues.

 

Test day prep

Confirm your appointment centre, date and time.
Things you should carry- appointment confirmation, photo ID which is the physical original in plastic card format and not on paper, a photocopy or an electronic version, a small snack for your break and water.
Things you should not carry- any electronic devices including your phones, stationery material, big bags, jewellery, weapons, books, etc. Calculators are not allowed as well but you will be provided with an on-screen calculator during your test. You will be asked for your ID, biometric information might be required and you will have to take a digital photo.

 

Before test day

Get your travel plans in order before the day of the test. See how long it takes you to travel and be certain to reach before time as late entries are not allowed to give the test.
Do not change your appearance compared to your photo ID before the test day. Your face needs to match the ID perfectly so if you have any alterations, you might face issues.

 

Test day prep

Confirm your appointment centre, date and time.

Things you should carry- appointment confirmation, photo ID which is the physical original in plastic card format and not on paper, a photocopy or an electronic version, a small snack for your break and water.

Things you should not carry- any electronic devices including your phones, stationery material, big bags, jewellery, weapons, books, etc. Calculators are not allowed as well but you will be provided with an on-screen calculator during your test. You will be asked for your ID, biometric information might be required and you will have to take a digital photo.

Who Needs To Give The TOEFL

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Top Universities in the US

Even if there may be some options for students who are not planning to give the TOEFL, if you want to study at a well-ranked university like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and University of California, the TOEFL is indispensable. Find more about studying in the US here.​

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Top Universities in the Canada

Similar to the US, there may be a few universities in Canada which can allow you to apply for a masters program without the TOEFL but if you want to enrol at the best universities in the country like the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia or McGill University, a good TOEFL score is required. Find more about studying in Canada here.

FAQs

120 is the highest score you can get in the TOEFL.

You should ideally study for at least 1-2 months. This depends on your ability to grasp information and the time you can dedicate to studying and practicing. If you are giving the GRE/GMAT or SAT/ACT as well, you should consider giving TOEFL close to those exams as they have very extensive sections dedicated to the English language. In that case, you will not need to study for as long as a couple of months.

No. We will not be able to get you a particular date as the availability depends completely on the organization in charge of the schedule.

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