Top 5 TOEFL Tips: Importance, Definition 

TOEFL Tips: TOEFL, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the most prominent English Proficiency Tests in the world. This internationally acknowledged exam can serve as a foundation for students wishing to further their education in English-speaking countries. The exam is intended to assess an individual’s command of the English language in the areas of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. 

As ETS has introduced some new changes in the TOEFL Exam Pattern, it is more important to develop exam preparation strategies accordingly. In this blog, we have shared some tips that will help you ace your TOEFL Exam according to the new guidelines.  

Also Read: TOEFL Eligibility Criteria

Name of Exam	TOEFL
Exam Type	English Language Proficiency Test
Authority (Conducting)	Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Acceptance in	USA, Canada, UK, Ireland
Examination Level	International
Mode(s)	Online/Offline
Total Number of Sections	4
Duration	1 Hour 56 Minutes (116 Minutes)
Official Website	https://www.ets.org/toefl.html

What is the TOEFL Exam? 

The TOEFL, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam is conducted by the Educational Testing Service. It is predominantly administered to evaluate an individual’s hold in the English Language.

Students intending to sit for the exam must score well in the Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing sections of the exam. TOEFL Exam is accepted in nations including Australia, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Singapore, Ireland, Sweden and Zimbabwe. 

Preparing for the TOEFL exam will undoubtedly prove one’s English language skills and groom them for an international setting. This widely accepted exam is recognised by a majority of notable institutions across the globe. Hence, study abroad aspirants who wish to further their education overseas must sit for the TOEFL Exam. 

Also Read: TOEFL Preparation Tips

Best TOEFL Tips to Help You Ace the Exam 

The quality of your preparation is far more important than the number of hours you’ve put in to ace any one exam.  It is crucial for TOEFL aspirants to keep certain points in mind to ace their exams. That being said, here are some of the best TOEFL tips to help you ace the exam

Understand the Exam Pattern and Format

TOEFL aspirants can undertake the said exam in two ways, i.e. via online and offline modes. Those who wish to partake in the TOEFL exam via online mode will be required to sit for the TOEFL IBT Test (internet-based test), while the offline exam of TOEFL is conducted as a paper-based test. Have a look at the following table to understand the format of the TOEFL IBT Exam.  

TOEFL IBT (Internet Based Test) Exam Pattern
Section	No. of Questions/ Tasks	Duration
Reading	20 Questions	35 Minutes
Writing	2 Tasks	29 Minutes
Speaking	4 Tasks	16 Minutes
Listening	28 Questions	36 Minutes

Furthermore, candidates applying for the TOEFL Offline Exam, i.e. the paper-based test, can refer to the following table to go through the exam format. 

TOEFL Paper-Based Test (Offline) Exam Pattern
Section	No. of Questions/ Tasks	Duration
Reading	20 Questions	55 Minutes
Writing	40 Questions	25 Minutes
Test of Written English	1 Essay	30 Minutes
Listening	50 Questions	30-40 Minutes

Solve Mock Tests 

Solving prior-year mock tests or questionnaires can help TOEFL aspirants better prepare for their exams. Doing so will give candidates a solid idea about their shortcomings and where they need to focus in order to rectify their weaker areas.

Choose the Appropriate Preparation Material

 There are numerous TOEFL Study resources available out there that will help you expedite your exam preparation. TOEFL study materials are intended to guide candidates in their preparation for the said exam. Such books can be used to comprehensively understand the exam and its sections. 

Start Reading and Listening More 

Listening to daily conversations around you/ in radio broadcasts, reading more books/newspapers/magazines, or watching English films will help you improve your command of the English language. One must attempt to comprehend the tone or connotation of what the speaker or writer is trying to convey. This will provide you with a background for the phrases and their application in everyday life. After that, you should aim to include such terms or phrases in your daily conversations. This will help you get a better grasp of the language. 

Practice Timed Writing

Time restriction is one of the most significant obstacles students face when taking the TOEFL Exam. This is a major concern in the exam’s writing section. This is why candidates must carefully time their writing. This will help one improve their writing and thinking speed. Furthermore, pupils will be able to provide precise solutions within time limits. In essence, timing your writing can help you not only boost your speed but also improve your accuracy. 

How to Prepare for the New Changes in TOEFL?

The change in duration and exam pattern will affect the preparation strategy to match the recent guidelines. The fundamental change in question can only be seen in the TOEFL Writing Section but other sections are affected by the duration and number of questions. Let’s discuss how to change the preparation strategy and get upgraded with the new pattern.

• Firstly, one should go through all the changes in detail.
• Also, practice the exam papers based on the new time limit.
• Take sessions with Language experts to understand the new format.
• One can also use previous practice papers just by changing the number of questions in each section. This will not be applicable to one question in the writing section.
• For the exchange writing task, the students will now have to write on an academic discussion. All students must note:

Students will read a lecture given by a professor on a topic along with the responses of students on the topic. As a test taker, the student has to write their own responses and ideas on the topic and defend them with relevant arguments.

• A student’s capacity to grasp and participate in the classroom environment is visible through this change. That is the main purpose of TOEFL ibt.
• Practice questions and sample papers can be downloaded online for questions like these.
• Students can also download lectures to prepare for the same.

FAQs

This blog was all about the top 5 TOEFL tips to help you ace the exam. TOEFL Exam can be instrumental in securing admission to leading universities abroad. The exam is conducted to gauge one’s proficiency in the English Language. Decent TOEFL Scores can enhance your chances of securing admission to your dream institute.

Candidates who want to prepare for IELTS or any other language proficiency test, can Build a plan with Leverage Edu‘s Leverage Live classes and our top trainers and strengthen your English score as well as your application so that you can secure your spot in your dream college.

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