Crash Toefl
Crash Toefl in a Short Period
Introduction to the iBT TOEFL Test
The iBT test is one of the most reliable language proficiency tests in the world and is accepted in more than 150 countries. It is made and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Services). The following information includes the most recent test updates. Let’s take a look at the current format and see what sections the test includes. The following link will take you to the information about the test content:
TOEFL iBT Test Content (For Test Takers)
Scores
Scores are reported both online and by mail. You will receive the scores for the reading and listening sections as soon as you finish the test, but the scores for the speaking and writing sections may take up to a week.
Recently, ETS provides all test-takers with what they call “my best score,” which is the combination of the test taker’s highest section scores from all TOEFL iBT test dates within the last two years. see What Are MyBest® Scores?
How to Register for the Test
Even if you are still preparing for the test, you can still register for it. Register as soon as possible since test sessions are booked very quickly and you may have to wait for weeks to find an available center. Follow the instructions on the following link to learn how to create an account and register for the test.
Register for the TOEFL iBT Test With Your ETS Account (For Test Takers)
Accessibility & Accommodations
ETS provides special services for test-takers needing accommodations. For more information, consult Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs
Sources
- https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about
- https://www.ets.org/toefl/score-users/about/country-list
- https://magoosh.com/toefl
TOEFL Reading
The very first part of the TOEFL exam is the reading section. In the reading, you will find two academic passages, each followed by a series of questions. Each passage is approximately 700 words long. The subjects are unpredictable. Each TOEFL test is different, so there is no way for you to anticipate what kind of topic you will encounter on test day. However, there are some popular academic topics, which include but are not limited to history, biology, astronomy, zoology, anthropology, geography, geology, sociology, and art.
It tests your ability to understand academic reading material. Academic means the passages are like what you would find in a textbook at university. All fields of study from chemistry to literature to psychology, etc. are possible topics of the reading passages.
As of 2023, the updated TOEFL exam will provide you with 36 minutes to complete the reading section. After each reading passage, you will find 10 questions about the text. In other words, you have 36 minutes to read approximately 1400 words (700 words per passage) and answer 20 questions (10 questions per passage). Reading 1400 words and answering 20 questions in 36 minutes is tough.
You probably will not have enough time to read the passage and then answer the questions. The questions are arranged in the same order as the reading passage, so most TOEFL test-takers read and answer questions at the same time.
For example, if question two is in paragraph two, 95% of the time you can find the answer to question three later in the same paragraph or in the next paragraph, paragraph three. The answer to question three would not be in paragraph one because that would put it out of sequential order. In other words, each question is placed in relation to where the answer is in the reading. It is also important for you to be familiar with what the TOEFL test looks like on a computer screen. Look at the image on the top right of the following page. Be sure to monitor your time carefully. Time management is a crucial aspect of the entire exam, but it is particularly important for the reading section. When you study at home, be sure to practice with a clock.
When doing the reading section, the question is on one side of your screen and the passage is always available on the other side.
When you start each reading passage, it’s best to read it quickly.
Many of the questions will refer to a specific paragraph, so you can then re-read that section. You don’t want to run out of time!
Also, you can click through all the questions of a given passage, so you don’t have to answer them in order.
Answer all the ones you think are easy and then use the rest of your time to do the harder questions.
To make sure you don’t miss any, there is a review button that will open up a screen listing all the questions and show if they were answered or not.
The Question Type
- Factual questions (2 to 3 questions per set)
- Negative factual questions (0 to 2 questions per set)
- Vocabulary (3 to 4 questions per set)
- Rhetorical purpose questions (1 to 2 questions per set)
- Inference questions (1 to 2 questions per set)
- Sentence simplification questions (0 to 1 questions per set)
- Insert text questions (1 question per set)
- Summary questions (1 question per set)
- Fill in a table (1 question per set, but 2 points)
Inference and Rhetorical question
Vocabulary
Prose Summary and Fill-in-a-table Questions
You need to complete a table based on information from the passage.
You will need to drag and drop the correct answers to complete the table. They test your ability to organize information into appropriate categories. These questions, like summary questions, require a mental framework. You can earn up to 3 points.
Time Management for the TOEFL® Reading Section
One of the hardest parts of the TOEFL reading is time management.
When you work through the TOEFL Reading section, you will notice that some questions take longer than others. For example, vocabulary questions are rather simple and straightforward, so they should take you no more than 60 seconds to complete. Negative detail questions, on the other hand, could take up to 120 seconds to answer. Below is a breakdown of the maximum amount of time you can spend on a given question based on its type.
- Vocabulary - 60 seconds
- Factual Information - 90 seconds
- Negative Factual Information - 120 seconds
- Sentence Simplification - 120 seconds
- Insert Text - 90 seconds
- Inference - 90 seconds
- Rhetorical Purpose - 90 seconds
- Reference - 60 seconds
- Summary - 150 seconds
- Fill In a Table - 150 seconds
TOEFL Reading Section Time Breakdown (20 questions)
| Time | Questions Answered |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 3 questions |
| 10 minutes | 6 questions |
| 15 minutes | 9 questions |
| 20 minutes | 12 questions |
| 25 minutes | 14 questions |
| 30 minutes | 17 questions |
| 35 minutes | 20 questions |
TOEFL Listerning
In the Listening section of the IBT test, you will hear dialogues and academic talks, and you will be tested on your ability to understand them. You will hear each passage only once, and then answer questions after each is finished. The listening questions ask about the main idea, supporting details, and the way the speakers use language. You need to answer each listening question based on what is stated or implied by the speakers. Keep your headphones on for the entire Listening section because there is audio for the questions too, they are not just seen on your screen.
The revised TOEFL test effective July 26, 2023 has 5 listening passages: There are 3 academic talks and 2 dialogues. Each academic talk has 6 listening questions. Each dialogue has 5 listening questions. So there are 28 questions in total. The timer only counts down as you answer the questions. The total time allowed for the Listening section is an estimated 36 minutes.
You don’t just hear the academic talks and dialogues. Each passage runs as a video. It’s not quite like a movie though as there are only still images that change. The images are to help you imagine the situation and the roles of the people talking. Some of the images you might see are vocabulary terms written on a board. Each passage will range from 2-6 minutes (the dialogues are generally about 2-3 minutes long, while a lecture is generally 3-6 minutes long).
There’s 4 main categories – Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and the Arts – from which a wide range of topics are used in the academic talks. The topic could be anything from architecture to medical techniques to oceanography to modern history. The listening passages are meant to represent what you would hear in a lecture at university. You might hear only the professor speaking, which can include an accent (North American (not just American), British, Australian, New Zeland) or stuttering or miscues. In other words, it’s just like a professor would talk in a real class. Some of them will have 1-2 students asking the professor questions, or the professor might call on 1-2 students to answer something.
For the dialogues, they are meant to represent a real conversation that can happen somewhere on a university campus between a student and a professor, or a counsellor, or someone who works on campus. Some will have a student going to see a professor about an assignment or a course requirement. Others have a student interacting with someone who for example works in the library, a restaurant, the bookstore, or the admissions office.
There are 9 types of listening questions and 4 different kinds of formats used. You may run into ONE question in the entire Listening section that is worth 2 points. Directions for such a question will clearly state it is worth 2 points. Although you’ll do 28 questions, the scaled score for the listening section has a maximum value of 30. No, we’re not sure how ETS calculates the score to 30.
Even if you are not familiar with the topic, if your English is good enough, you will be able to answer all the questions based on the information in the listening passage. One of the best things to do to help you answer the questions is to take notes. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to remember all the details, especially if it’s a completely unfamiliar topic. Also remember that all you need to know to answer the questions for a passage is in the material provided. No prior knowledge of any of the topics is expected of you.
Unlike the Reading section, you must answer each question one after another. If you don’t know or are unsure about the answer, try to eliminate options that are clearly wrong and then pick one from the ones that remain.
You don’t want to run out of time! You should try not to spend more than 30 seconds per question for a dialogue, and 35 seconds per question for a lecture.
Question type
Question Format: Multiple Choice
-
Main Idea
-
Detail
-
Purpose
-
Organization
-
Imply
Question Format: Multi-Select Multiple Choice
- Multi-Select Multiple Choice
Question Format: Complete a Table
- Complete a Table
Question Format: Listen Again
-
Listen Again: Inference
-
Listen Again: Imply
TOEFL Writing
TOEFL Writing Section Overview
For TOEFL beginners, it is recommended that you stick to the templates and look through other sections for ideas. When starting out, you should try to keep your responses clear and simple, so stick to the basic templates at first.
For experienced TOEFL takers, if you have not yet reached your score, one of the reasons may be due to a lack of vocabulary and grammar. Pay close attention to the synonym list to help you. There will also be a list of Integrated Writing essays and Writing for an Academic Discussion responses to learn from.
Task 1: Integrated Writing
- Read a passage (3 minutes).
- Listen to a related lecture.
- Write your response in 20 minutes.
Task 2: Writing for an Academic Discussion
- Read an online discussion.
- Contribute to the conversation.
- Complete within 10 minutes.
Tips:
- Do not use personal pronone. Don’t say: “I”, “me”, “my”.
- All you have to do is giving a summary. You’re not giving your own opinion.
- You can only use pronoun “we” only if the lecturer use the pronoun “we”. Also no “he”, no “she”
- the passage said this
- the lecturer suggestes that
- structure setup
- intro
- the reading passage states that…
- the professor/lecturer counters this
- body
- point 1, example 1
- 2, xxxx
- etc.
- intro
You do not need a conclusion paragraph or conclusion statement (not necessity). All you do is giving a summary, and no need to give a summary statement to the end
Integrated Writing
Think Like a Reporter
You should not include your opinion in this response. Imagine that you are a reporter describing the news.
- Type #1: Supporting a plan, theory or point of view
TEMPLATE: QUESTION 1 (Integrated Essay)
| Paragraph | Structure | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 1st - Introduce the general topic 2nd - Introduce the author’s opinion on the topic 3rd - Introduce the counter opinion from the listening | • The reading and the lecture are about • While the author of the article believes that ___, the lecturer casts doubt on the statements in the article. • He explains ___ and challenges each of the writer’s points. |
| Body Paragraph 1 | 1st - Introduce the author’s first point 2nd - State that the speaker in the listening disagrees 3rd - Explain why the lecturer disagrees | • First, the article posits • The lecturer, however, disagrees with this viewpoint. He points out • Additionally, he goes on to say that |
| Body Paragraph 2 | 1st - Introduce the author’s second point 2nd - State that the speaker in the listening disagrees 3rd - Explain why the lecturer disagrees | • Secondly, the author notes • The lecturer believes there are flaws in the writer’s argument. • The speaker holds |
| Body Paragraph 3 | 1st - Introduce the author’s third point 2nd - State that the speaker in the listening disagrees 3rd - Explain why the lecturer disagrees | • Another reason why the author feels… is • The professor in the listening passage is doubtful that this is accurate. In contrast, the lecturer’s stance is • He suggests |
| Conclusion (optional) | Restate the viewpoints of the author and lecturer | • To sum up, both the writer and professor hold conflicting views about • It’s clear that they will have trouble finding common ground on this issue. |
TEMPLATE: QUESTION 2 (Writing for an Academic Discussion)
| Structure | Template | Example |
|---|---|---|
| General opinion on the topic | In my opinion, (general opinion on topic) | In my opinion, I believe automation will end up harming workers ten or twenty years down the road. |
| Specific reason for your opinion | My personal belief is that (specific reason for your opinion) | My personal belief is that when a company has a choice between compensating an employee or utilizing cheap technology, the company will almost always choose to use technology. |
| An example or illustration to support your reason | For example, | For example, the car manufacturing industry used to employ tens of thousands of workers, but due to advances in technology, the workforce has been reduced to a fraction of what it was fifty years ago. |
| Acknowledge point of view of one of the speaker’s and explain why you agree/disagree | While (Speaker’s NAME) raised a relevant point (opposing opinion on topic), I believe he/she is missing a critical idea. | While Juan raised a relevant point about efficiency leading to the creation of new jobs, I believe he is missing a critical idea. |
| Expand on your second reason | To be more specific, (expand on your opposing viewpoint) | To be more specific, high-skilled jobs like programming and game design are already disappearing due to the advent of AI technology that can do the same job for almost nothing. |
Academic Writing Checklist:
TOEFL Speaking
The structure of the speaking section is different from the reading and listening. In the speaking section, you will encounter four questions. The first is an independent question, and the next three are integrated questions. Let’s take a closer look at each since they all follow a different structure.
The first question is usually a paired-choice question, which means you must decide between two choices. For example, “Do you agree or disagree: all high school students should wear school uniforms.” The questions range in subject matter, so there is no way to prepare a specific answer before the exam. You might be asked a question about business, travel, education, family, friendship, and so on. After the question is asked, you will be given 15 seconds to prepare a response and 45 seconds to speak.
Question two is the first of three integrated speaking questions. This is probably the easiest of all the integrated speaking questions.
- First, you will read a short announcement about a new rule or policy on campus. You will have 50 seconds to read and take notes on the passage. Be sure to write some notes because the reading will not return.
- After that, you will listen to a conversation between two students, a man, and a woman. The conversation will last between 60-120 seconds, and they will discuss the announcement from the reading.
- Next, you will hear and read a question. Finally, you will be given 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.
In your response, you are expected to report on the information given in both the reading and listening passages.
After the campus announcement, you will move on to a question about an academic topic. Academic topics are more difficult because they are less natural than conversations.
Like question two, question three will begin with a short reading passage. You will be given 45 seconds to read the passage. After 45 seconds, the reading disappears. A short lecture will follow the reading. The lecture will last between 60-120 seconds. You can expect the lecture to somehow support or add further details to the topic introduced in the reading. Once the listening is over, you will hear and read a question. After that, you will have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. In your response, describe the topic introduced in the reading and connect the main points of the lecture to the topic. Do not include your opinion or any other outside information.
| Question Details | Question Explanation | Time Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Question 1 Independent Speaking | Asks about your general opinion on a wide range of possible issues. You usually have just two options. | - 15 seconds to prepare - 45 seconds to speak |
| Question 2 Campus Announcement and Conversation | Report on the opinion of one of the speakers in the conversation and explain why he or she feels that way. | - 50 seconds to read/take notes - 60-120 seconds to listen/take notes - 30 seconds to prepare - 60 seconds to speak |
| Question 3 Academic Reading and Lecture | Explain the academic topic introduced in the reading and describe the main points about the topic described in the lecture. | - 45 seconds to read/take notes - 60-120 seconds to listen/take notes - 30 seconds to prepare - 60 seconds to speak |
| Question 4 Academic Lecture | Sum up the topic and main points from the lecture. | - 120-180 seconds to listen/take notes - 20 seconds to prepare - 60 seconds to speak |
Independent Speaking
Campus Announcement
- 45 seconds to read and take notes on an announcement or letter
- Listen to a conversation between a man and woman about the reading passage
- 30 seconds to prepare your response
- 60 seconds to speak
Template
Introduction
- I definitely think/believe/feel that…
- Personally, I strongly believe that…
- Personally speaking, I feel that…
- I’ve never thought about this before, but…
- To be honest, I have to say that…
Conclusion
- So, that’s why…
- As you can see…
- To make a long story short…
Transitional
- EXAMPLES
- Take as an example…
- One example of this is…
- I remember when…
- I once heard about…
- I will never forget when…
- OPINIONS
- In my opinion…
- I do believe that…
- I definitely think that…
- If I were asked, I would say that…
- To be honest…
- THE READING PASSAGE
- According to the reading…
- The reading passage starts off by saying that…
- The author of the reading passage claims…
- The short text mentions that…
- In the reading…
- THE LISTENING PASSAGE
- The professor goes into a ton of detail about…
- The listening passage provides an interesting example of…
- According to the listening…
- Towards the end of the talk, the lecturer says…
- Right off the bat, the professor says that…