How to crack TOEFL iBT

TOEFL iBT test
Its easy. Doesn't involve hard work. Anyone can do it. Anyone can score high.

MYTHS BUSTED - All of the above are incorrect. As a competitive exams trainer and coach, The following how-to tips I've compiled will take you through a systematic process of preparing and scoring high on your TOEFL.

1. FOR WHOM - Find out if the University you intend to do your Undergard or Postgrad requires a TOEFL score in addition to your SAT/GRE/GMAT score
2. REGISTER - Go to the ETS home page http://www.ets.org/toefl
and register yourself for taking the TOEFL exam.
3. PAYMENT - You can either pay at the ETS website through a credit card or purchase a voucher and fill in the voucher details at the ETS website and thus complete payment. Currently, for most countries, the fee is USD 165 for the exam
4. EXAM LOCATION - Now, this is very important. You'd want to register early so that you can choose a location in your city close to your home. You'd be doing this before the payment step.
5. RESULTS - The TOEFL exam results are published 15 days after the day of the exam. So on 15th night after 12AM, you can log on to the ETS website and check your scores.
There is an option to send your TOEFL scores to 4 universities you are considering for your higher studies at no extra charge. So dont forget to do this step in the registration process. You'd also get a paper copy of your results by post to your home address.

PREPARATION PROCESS

There are 4 sections on the TOEFL and its an internet-based test. Well, TOEFL is not so hard but without thorough and diligent preparation you run the risk of low scores.

1. SCHEDULE - With the test date in mind, draw up the schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. You can always do more than planned, but never less.
For a person completely ignorant of any kind of competitive exams and what it entails, I'd advice 3 months of preparation time.
For someone, who has faced similar tests such as these, i'd suggest 1.5 months of TOEFL related study.

2. READ - This can include the newspaper, magazines, and all of those idle hours of internet surfing can be turned into productive online reading practice time. Not only you broaden your knowledge, you also learn new vocabulary words.

3. WRITE - The above point and this one are things to do while you are not doing TOEFL specific study. This is to break the monotony. Blog about articles and if you are the paper and pen kind of guy, just write about anything under the sky. This does not include FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ORKUT work as writing :)

BOOKS for TOEFL


Kaplan TOEFL iBT
The Princeton Review
Barrons' Edition TOEFL iBT
ETS
The Complete Guide to TOEFL iBT


TOEFL SPECIFIC STUDY -
1. First of all take a practice test of all sections of TOEFL from any of the books you are following. This will help evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Yes, you will not be able to evaluate your speaking skills yourself. Here's where online TOEFL tutor or having a dedicated trainer for yourself or the institute you are attending will come in handy. As for the writing, you could have someone grade the writing piece for you.

2. The Reading section - understand that there are specific questions on the TOEFL that are facts, negative facts, reference, pronoun antecedent, vocab questions etc. Once you know all question types.. answering the RC passages will be easier.
Each passage is 700 words long and followed by 12-13 questions. You have 20 MINS to complete each passage

3. The Listening section - Here's where you need to brush up on your American vocab and idioms.. often used in conversations. Just hear clearly, make notes as you go and you'll be able to answer the questions. Again, know the entire format for listening section and this makes answering easier.

MANDATORY 10 MIN BREAK

4. Speaking section - Short n sweet section of 20 mins. 6 kinds of questions each requiring 45 sec - 60 sec responses. DO NOT FREEZE and talk whatever comes to mind. Alternatively, if well prepared ... stick to the format prescribed in all books. Until the last day .. do as many speaking tasks as possible, with yourself/friend/tutor. Record your speaking sections and check the timing. Work with a timer/stopwatch

5. Writing section - 1 hr, 2 tasks, again will be required to take notes on Integrated writing section when you hear the lecture. Reading passage appears while writing. second task is independent writing.

IMP POINTS TO NOTE - 1. Paraphrase the lines from the reading passage and the listening piece.. Do not .. I repeat.. DO NOT REPRODUCE line by line from the text.
2. Use quotes/sayings/Facts to open your essay. Leaves a good impression
3. Use good vocabulary .. not outstanding is just fine. Try not to make grammar errors.
4. Sound points to explain .. after all content does matter in a small way.

So, thats that and All THE BEST for your TOEFL exam.

Do comment and ask me if you have any specific questions about preparation for TOEFL or other competitive exams !!

Adios'