TOEFL preparation

TOEFL Preparation
Unit 1: Reading Section

Notes:

The TOEFL iBT Reading section assesses how well you can
read and understand materials used in an academic
environment.

It includes two reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with
10 questions per passage. It should take about 35 minutes to complete the
Reading section.

Reading passages are excerpts from university-level textbooks that would

be used in introductions to a topic. The passages cover a variety of
subjects. Don't worry if you're not familiar with the topic of a passage. All
the information you need to answer the questions will be included in the
passage. There is a glossary feature available to define words not
commonly used if you need it.

Tips:
1. Scim the question. By this, you will understand what you are looking for.

2. Read the passage

3. Remember the lines and necessary information.

4. Answer the question, return to the line in the passage before answering the
question

Useful links:

https://www.tcyonline.com/tests/toefl-bank

https://www.scientificamerican.com/ (Scientific American)

https://t.me/i_love_english_online (Free e-books)

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 Type of
Description Example
Question

The question will ask you to choose the word

that has the closest meaning to the
highlighted. Look at the context of the The word arduous is
Vocabulary sentence to understand the meaning. Look at the closest in
the root and prefix. The question asks you meaning to
the closest meaning of the context, not the
exact definition.

The question will ask you a fact or a

statement from the paragraph about some
subjects. To choose the right answer reread
Factual According to the
the sentence that provides essential
information paragraph, what…?
information and paraphrase it. Read and
eliminate the wrong answers at the same
time

All of the following is

This type of question will ask you to choose
true about…
the false statement about the paragraph.
Negative factual EXCEPT… Which of
Return to the paragraph and read it again.
information the following is not
While reading it eliminate the answers that
mentioned in the
are mentioned in the text. Be careful.
paragraph

You will be asked to choose a statement that

was not exactly mentioned in the text but can
What can be inferred
be implied. Return to the paragraph, and
Inference from the information
eliminate the wrong and false answers. The
in paragraph 2?
correct answer will provide the most obvious
information

The question will ask you to indicate the

purpose of some sentences and information In paragraph 3 the
Rhetorical mentioned in the paragraph. Look at the author discusses… in
purpose transition words such as “For example”, “For order to… Why does
instance”, “Therefore”, “Nevertheless”, the author mention …
“Moreover”, etc.

Sentence These questions will ask you to choose the Which of the
simplification paraphrased variant of the highlighted following best
sentence with all essential information. Look expresses the
at the structure of the sentence; eliminate the essential information
answers that consist the false information, in the highlighted
and change the meaning with stronger words sentence in
and additional information. Indicate the main paragraph 4?

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 idea of the sentence and cut down the
examples and opinion of the author

This question asks you to put the sentence in

the right place. You should choose either A,
B, C, or D. Choose the answer that stands
before the first sentence in the text that gives Look at the four
you information about the subject in the squares (A, B, C, D)
given sentence. If the given sentence starts that indicate where
Insert text
with “For instance”, “For example”, the following
“Moreover”, “However”, “Nevertheless’ and sentence could be
so on, put it down after the sentence that it added to the passage
argues with, agrees with, gives more
information, provides consequences, or
example.

This kind of question will ask you to choose

the subject that the highlighted word refers
to. The most correct way to answer this type The phrase in
Reference of question is to read the sentence and paragraph 2 refers
sentence before it to indicate the reference. to…
Look at the form of the word: is it plural or
singular? in the past or the future tense?

This type of question is worth 2 points and

asks you to fill out the table with a short
summary of the passage. 2 right answers are
Summary worth 1 point, and 1 right answer will bring
questions you no points. The easiest way to find the
right choices is to eliminate the minor
ideas(usually examples, or additional
information) and false choices.

This type of question usually appears when

the passage provides two main topics related
to one main topic. It will ask you to fill out the
Fill-in-a-table
table related to each topic statement. Not all
choices relate to the topics, some of them
are false or consist the incorrect information.

Unit 2: Listening Section

Notes:

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 The TOEFL iBT Listening section is designed to measure your
ability to understand conversations and lectures in English. It
includes listening for:

basic comprehension

understanding the speakers’ degree and certainty

connecting information

You’ll hear lectures and conversations in this section. Both use campus-
based language.

3 lectures, some with classroom discussion, each 3–5 minutes; 6

questions per lecture

2 conversations, each 3 minutes; 5 questions per conversation

Tips:
The Listening goals:

1. Understand students’ confusion

2. Hear how the campus worker explains the situation

3. Identify how the student feels about the explanation

The Lecture listening goals:

1. I want to find an important detail within the first minutes

2. I want to identify at least two ways the teacher explains the topic

3. I want to understand what the teacher wants the students to know.

To practice for the listening section try to listen to the TEDed lectures
related to biology, psychology, social science, business, history, astronomy,
and culture with and without subtitles.

Find a friend, listen to the podcast, lecture, or conversation. After listening

write down everything that you have remembered and compare notes to
see which one has written more important ideas.

Useful sources of information:

https://t.me/bbc_radio_podcast (BBC podcasts)

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 Type of
Description Example
Question

These questions ask you to identify the main

idea or purpose of the conversation or
lecture. In the Listening, there will be either
only gist-content or gist-purpose questions, Mainly about Mainly
never both. It will always be the first question discussed Why does
Gist-content and
after the lecture or conversation. Sometimes the student…? What
gist-purpose
the lecture or conversation contains two main is the main
ideas, in this case, the question will ask you purpose…?
to choose two answers. Usually the main
purpose of the conversation is mentioned at
the very beginning of the dialogue

This type of question will ask you to

remember the specific fact in the lecture or
the conversation. It will ask you about According to ….
Detail questions
important details, not trivial details or minor What is… ?
ideas. The answer will always be explicitly
stated in the listening lecture or conversation.

Function questions ask you to identify the

"What does the
particular meaning of a statement in a given
professor mean
context, because a statement can have
Function when he says…?" or
different meanings depending on the
"Why does the
situation. In other words, the real meaning is
student say … ?”
different from the surface or literal meaning.

Attitude questions ask you to show

understanding of the speaker's attitude or “What is the
their feelings about something. To identify the professor's
speaker's attitude, listen for phrases like attitude…?" "What
Attitude "What I think..." or "It seems to me…" in the does the student
lecture or conversation. The attitude question think about…?"
will then refer to how valid the speaker's "What can be
argument is or how sure of the facts the inferred…?”
speaker is.

Organization Listen for the signal words that indicate the Why does the
introduction, major ideas, examples and the professor mention…?
conclusion or summary. These might be Why does the
sequence words like "first," "next" and professor discuss…?
"then." Or they might indicate time or a
chronology, like "before," "during" or "since."
Or they could show cause and effect, like
"accordingly" or "as a result."

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 These signal words are good cues for when
to take notes

This type of question serves to indicate

relationships among ideas in a lecture. When
Connecting you listen to recorded material for the first What is the likely
content time, stop the recording at various points, and outcome…?
try to summarize what has been said. Then
predict what will be said next.

What are the

implications of …?
Inference questions ask you the meaning of
What does the
Inference something not directly stated but can be
professor imply…?
inferred from the conversation.
What can be
inferred…?

Unit 3: Speaking Section

Notes:
The Speaking section is going to check your ability to express your
thoughts and communicate most clearly way. It will check additionally your
listening and reading capacities.

There are going to be four types of tasks: independent, integrated

conversation, integrated lecture, and lecture. In every task, you will have
time to prepare your answer and time to speak.

Tips:
Use templates

Type of
Description Example
Question

Independent Express your opinion on a given topic Describe a memorable

Speaking event from your
childhood. Most people
think… Do you agree or

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 disagree with this
statement

Read an announcement from the

Read an announcement
university, an article from a school
from the university. Listen
newspaper, or a student letter to the
Integrated to the conversation of two
university office. Then, listen to a
Conversation students. What does a
dialogue of two students, and talk about
man think about the new
the position of students and information
changes in the campus?
you gained from the announcement

Read a passage with new information

related to psychology, sociology,
historical facts, etc. Afterward, listen to
the lecturer who will provide additional Elaborate on the examples
Integrated
information and examples on the topic. the professor provided in
Lecture
You will have 30 minutes to prepare your the lecture.
speech, and 1 minute to speak. Be
focused on answering the question and
follow the structure.

You are going to listen to the class which

will check your ability to understand
lectures and classes. Afterward, you will
Lecture
have 30 seconds to prepare an answer
to the question. It is important to take
the right notes.

Useful tables:

Question Introductory Phrases

◦ I think/believe/feel that
◦ Personally speaking ◦ I've never thought about this before, but
#1 ◦ I have to say that

◦ (introduce listening) Right off the bat, the man says that he doesn't
like
◦ (introduce listening) The woman is perfectly fine with
#2 ◦ (introduce listening) The man isn't crazy about
◦ It looks like there is a change in the university campus. You see

◦ One interesting thing I've learned from the reading is that

◦ The reading passage goes into detail about

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 #3 ◦ (introduce listening) The professor provides a crystal clear example
about this

◦ I had never heard about (topic) until now, and it's kind of interesting
◦ Basically, the professor talks about ◦ In the lecture the professor
#4 discuss

Question for self-analyze Notes

1. Did I speak for 57-60 seconds?

2. Was my introduction 15 seconds or less?

3. Did I have enough time to include a short

conclusion( 7 seconds or less)?

4. Did I look at the clock to the monitor my

time at least twice?

5. Did I include at least two transitional words

or phrases?

6. Did I speak at a smooth and even pace for

the majority of my response?

7. Did I speak natural and conversational

tone?

8. Did I include all of the essential information

from the listening and reading?

Unit 4: Writing Section

Notes:
In the integrated writing task the main point is to include the key arguments
from both, the passage and the lecture, and do it with no grammar and
structure mistakes

In the academic writing task, you should also write according to the
structure and word limits. Don’t try to use fancy words meaning which you
don’t clearly understand. Don’t write it too short and too long at the same
time.

Tips:
Use the structure for each task

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 Use connecting words like: firstly, secondly, on the other hand, hence,
therefore, however, and nevertheless, etc.

Take rights notes with arguments and proofs of each side.

Type of
Description Example
Question

Respond to a reading passage and a

listening passage. Most of the time, the
Summarize the main
lecturer will perform against the author.
Integrated points of the reading
Don’t express your opinion. It is important to
Writing passage and the
retell what the passage and lecture were
lecture.
talking about, and never your opinion on the
topic of disagreement

Do you think
Express your opinion on the question the
industrialization has
Academic teacher asking, make your contribution to
more advantages or
Discussion the discussion, and provide examples and
disadvantages for
elaborations of your argument.
cultures?

Stickers for Answer Templates:

For task one:

Introduction with the topic of argument and the position of the author
and lecturer. Provide a little summary of the arguments of each side.
(Both, lecture and passage…)

Start with the first statement of the author. Provide elaboration of the
author’s position. Then, provide an argument of the lecturer and
elaborate on the argument from the audio(The author of the passage
states…)

Continue with the second argument of the passage and the lecture(The
second argument of the author is…)

Summarize arguments and state a conclusion(In conclusion/to sum

up…)

For academic discussion(130-140 words):

Elaborate on the question, and write a thesis(Industrialization is a global

question related to…)

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 State your opinion or answer, and provide arguments and a life
example(From my perspective…)

Use the opinions of other students in the window to make your

argument stronger and make a contribution to the discussion(As Alex
claimed…)

Summarize the arguments and write a conclusion(Therefore, …)

Useful practice tests and free materials:

Free Online TOEFL BANK Practice and Preparation Tests (tcyonline.com)

TST prep (https://tstprep.com/)

Complete Reading Test

Complete Listening Test

Complete Speaking Test

Complete Writing Test

Official ETS website with TestReady (https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-

takers/ibt/prepare/toefl-testready.html)

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