TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS

Chapter 1 How to Use This Book to Get a Top Score I f you are planning to take the TOEFL exam, you are not alone. Worldwide more than 700,000 people will likely take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) this year. Native speakers of 145 different languages—representing more than 220 countries and regions—take the TOEFL exam annually. And, over 4,500 colleges, universities, programs, and agencies in the United States and Canada will use the TOEFL exam to evaluate applicants who are not native speakers of English. This important test measures your ability to read, write, and understand English so you can succeed in a college classroom or professional program. To prepare for the TOEFL exam, unlike other standardized tests, you can’t just memorize a list of vocabulary words or math formulas and expect to do well on the exam. You need to understand conversations and other spoken English, know grammar rules, understand and process what you read, and be able to 1 2 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS express yourself effectively in writing. As you sharpen your English-language skills to prepare for the exam, this book will highlight what you need to know to get your best score. If you have looked on the shelves of your local bookstore, you know the volume of test-preparation tools and guidebooks can be overwhelming. That’s why this guide is designed to focus on the most important parts of studying for the TOEFL exam, without weighing you down. TOEFL Exam Essentials pulls together all the pieces of test preparation for you: ■ what to expect on the test ■ successful test-taking strategies ■ how to make your own study plan ■ a review of the content and skills you need to know You can take this book with you wherever you go. Take it out while you wait for the bus, during a work break, or while you exercise at the gym. It fits in your pocket or purse so you can fit your study time into a busy schedule. By using this book, you are taking your first steps to earning a top score on the TOEFL exam. Good luck as you prepare for the exam and pursue the education you need for a successful future. WHAT THE TOEFL EXAM IS ABOUT The TOEFL exam has two formats: a computer-based test and a paper-and-pencil version. You can take the computer-based test (CBT) at test centers around the world throughout the year. In some areas, the CBT is not available and the paper-based TOEFL exam is offered instead. The paper test is offered six times a year at specific locations. Although the test designs for the HOW TO USE THIS BOOK TO GET A TOP SCORE 3 CBT and the paper-based test are different, both versions measure the same skills and use similar content for reading passages and recorded conversations. The computer-based TOEFL exam has four components: listening, structure, reading, and writing. ■ The listening section tests your ability to understand North American English. You will use headphones to listen to conversations and lectures and then answer multiple-choice questions about them. You will be asked to locate main ideas, supporting ideas, and understand inferences made in the conversations that you hear. ■ The structure section measures your knowledge of grammar and usage in standard written English. You will read sentences and locate grammatical errors or complete sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. ■ The reading portion of the exam will measure your ability to read and understand short, written passages. The passages will have a style and subject matter similar to that of college-level academic texts. ■ The writing section will ask you to compose a short essay on a general topic selected by the computer from a large set of possible topics. It measures your ability to write in English and develop and organize ideas about an assigned subject. You will have about four hours to complete the CBT. Before you begin the test, you will go through a tutorial about basic computer skills, including how to use a mouse, how to scroll, and how to use testing tools. Each test section also begins with a tutorial that 4 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS will demonstrate how to answer test questions in that part of the exam. These tutorials are not scored, and you can spend as much time on them as you need. You can also take these tutorials prior to the test for no charge at or purchase a downloadable file. It is a good idea to practice your computer skills ahead of time and become familiar with how to answer test questions using a computer—this will be an advantage to you on exam day. The paper-based TOEFL exam has three sections: listening comprehension, structure and written expression, and reading Computer-Based TOEFL Exam Number of Time Computer Section Questions Limit Adaptive? Tutorials 7 tutorials No time limit No Listening 30–49 15–25 minutes Yes to answer questions 40–60 minutes total (You will not be timed while you listen to recordings; only while you answer questions.) Structure 20–25 15–20 minutes Yes Reading 44–55 70–90 minutes No (This includes the time it takes you to read passages and answer questions.) Writing One topic 30 minutes No HOW TO USE THIS BOOK TO GET A TOP SCORE 5 comprehension. Each section consists of multiple-choice questions with four possible answer choices for each question. Although the test format varies from the CBT, the skills measured are the same. ■ Listening comprehension tests your ability to understand North American English, including use of idiom and vocabulary. ■ Structure and written expression tests your ability to recognize grammatical errors in standard written English and complete sentences with an appropriate word or phrase. ■ Reading comprehension asks you to read and answer questions about short passages like those used in college-level texts. The Test of Written English (TWE), a 30-minute writing test, is a required part of the paper-and-pencil TOEFL exam on What Is Computer-Adaptive Testing? Some sections of the computer-based TOEFL exam are computer adaptive, which means the computer selects your questions based on your level of proficiency. Your first question will have an average level of difficulty. Your next question will either be easier or harder, depending on how you answered the first. The listening and structure parts of the exam are computer adaptive, but the reading and writing sections are not. 6 TOEFL EXAM ESSENTIALS most test dates. There is no separate fee for the TWE. You will write a short essay about an assigned general topic. What about your test score? The TOEFL exam has no single passing score. The college, university, or agency to which you are applying decides the minimum test score that it accepts. To learn more about how the TOEFL exam is scored, see Appendix A. MANAGE YOUR TIME If your life is busy, you may wonder how you will find the time to prepare for the TOEFL exam. You can’t make each day longer, but effective time management—how you organize and use your time—can help make the most of the time you have to get ready for the exam. Managing your time during the exam is also an important skill. To manage your time before the exam, evaluate how you currently use your time. Follow these steps to better organize you