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 criteria Fair 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 Conversations  Between students  Between student and professor  All in standard American Accent  4 Lectures  Wide range of Academic Topics  Note 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 notes  Listen to a lecture  Prepare your response for 30 seconds  Speak for 1 minutes  You need to  Be clear and coherent  Convey relevant information  Be good at reading and listening+ note taking  Use 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 exams  Barron’s ( for finalizing your study) Contains only some tactics and full-lengths exams Advanced listening  Longman (for more beginner test takers Easy listening  Kaplan ( 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!