TOEFL Study Plan

Alberto Pasquel
The TOEFL iBT® test has 4 sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
During the test, you'll perform tasks that combine these 4 English communication skills,
such as:

 read, listen and then speak in response to a question

 listen and then speak in response to a question
 read, listen and then write in response to a question
The total test takes about 3 hours to complete, but you should plan for 3½ hours

Section Time Limit Questions Tasks

Reading 54–72 30-40 Read 3 or 4 passages and respond to questions

minutes questions

Listening 41–57 30 questions Answer questions about university lectures or classroom

minutes discussions

Break 10 minutes — —

Speaking 17 minutes 4 tasks Talk about a familiar topic and discuss material you read and
listened to

Writing 50 minutes 2 tasks Read a passage, listen to a recording, type your response

Plan
This study plan requires a weekly 10-hour practice schedule. More hours are
encouraged but it will depend on each candidate.
During online lessons, we will cover the following topics:
 Test structure
 Note taking strategies
 Understanding correct/ incorrect answers
 Time management
 Writing tips: moving from every day to academic writing
 Confidence and reassurance

Recommendations

 Use English Every Day

Set aside time each day to communicate only in English. Listen, read, speak and write
in English every chance you get.
  Write
Make notes for yourself and write down daily reminders, using new words and common
expressions. Practice with emails if you can. This helps with sentence structure and
vocabulary.

 Listen
Listen to music, radio, television, movies and online podcasts in English. The more you
listen, the more you will understand vocabulary and expressions. Music helps you
acquire the rhythm and stress patterns of spoken English. Listen closely to the words.

 Read
Reading is the best way to improve your vocabulary. English-language reading
materials — newspapers, magazines, books and websites — are always available.
Choose your favorites. Try some academic reading material to prepare for
communicating at the university level in English.