Top Tips about TOEFL

Consider the following situations:

► You have acquired a very good level of English and are willing to be accepted in one of the universities in any of the major English speaking countries. How can you be absolutely sure that your English is good enough to interact with native speakers, understand teachers, hear lectures, write papers, and carry out all the activities required for specific topics?

► You want to qualify for a new position and an almost “native-like” command of English is a must. How can your prospective employers realize you have the English level they need for that job?

► You have requested a Visa for Australia or the UK. Sometimes, you are asked to show you can use the language. How can you do that?

The answer to all these questions is simple: take the TOEFL!!

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an exam that best measures your ability to speak, read and write in English. So, if you take it, it will tell you whether you are ready or not to apply for the English speaking university of your dreams; it will show your future employers that your English will be an asset for their company and it can help you get those Visas you want.

Maybe, your reaction now is: Ok. I am sure I need to take that exam. Where can I take it? How do I prepare for the test? What does it consist of?

The TOEFL has two formats:

► The Internet-based test (IBT): it is administered online at testing sites around the world and it measures listening, speaking, reading and writing skills

► The paper-based test (PBT): it is only administered in countries with little internet. It measures listening, reading and writing skills.

At present most students take the IBT. You can register online and the TOEFL site has plenty of information about dates, places, cost, etc. One important thing to bear in mind: you can take this test as many times as you wish as long as there are more than 12 days between one test date and the next.

At Wall Street English we have a TOEFL Exam Preparation course. This enables you to practice all 4 skills to an excellent level, preparing you for each part of the exam. You have a dedicated native English level teacher to help you with areas that are more difficult for you, and you can start this course at any time of the year and study when you want so it’s flexible for your schedule!

Reading section:

You will be asked to read two or three passages of a text from any subject that a first-year student can take – biology, physics, marketing, public relations, just to mention a few – and then you have to answer comprehension questions. Don’t worry! You are not supposed to have any previous knowledge of those topics, but you should be able to read the text and then understand what you have read!

Listening section:

In this section you have to listen to academic lectures or conversations once, before looking at the questions – you can take down notes while listening – and then answer the questions about what you have heard.

Speaking section:

This includes two types of questions:

► “Independent” speaking topics about personal experiences, opinions or ideas which are meant to see how well you can express yourself.

► “Integrated” speaking topics are about academic topics and they integrate reading or listening with speaking for you to show how well you can find the most important ideas in a lecture or text.

Writing section:

This section is similar to the speaking one. It contains two tasks you’ll have to type on the computer:

► Integrated writing: you have to read a short passage, then listen to an audio clip on the same topic. You will be given a few minutes to prepare your response, which should be about the topic mentioned in both sources.

► Independent writing: You’ll get a question on a specific topic and after a few minutes given to plan your response, you can write about your own points of view regarding the topic.

It may sound difficult, but it’s NOT! Accept the challenge and for sure, things in your life will change for the better! Have a look at our English Courses page to find out more about TOEFL Preparation courses now!