Reading. In this section, you will read 3-4 different passages and answer questions about each. This section lasts 60-80 minutes. Listening. In this section, you will listen to 4-6 lectures and answer questions about each. You will also participate in 2-3 conversations. The listening section lasts 60-90 minutes. Speaking. In this section, you will do 2 independent and 4 integrated tasks. This section lasts 20 minutes. Writing. In this section, you will complete 1 integrated task lasting 20 minutes and 1 independent task lasting 30 minutes.
Write down your schedule and stick to it. For example, you might write: “Monday, study 7-8 a. m. Work on reading and writing skills. ”
Don’t feel like you have to stick to just 1 spot. Maybe you want to work in 1 spot on Monday and change it up Tuesday. You might like to close yourself in your bedroom and play relaxing music. Alternatively, you might work better with a little more background activity. If that’s the case, head to your favorite coffee shop to get your work done.
You can use practice tests in addition to your other activities, such as listening to and reading a variety of materials.
Another option is to take a study course. Check with your local library and community center to see if they offer a class you can join. You might also find an online class that is right for you.
There are also online communities of other test takers. Look online for TOEFL communities!
Use the internet! News articles, blogs, and online magazines are all helpful when improving your reading skills. You can read whatever interests you. Try food blogs if you are trying to improve your cooking skills, or read about health and wellness if you’re trying to get fit. All that matters is that you read.
Start by listing the main points and the supporting details. Then turn those into a complete paragraph. After you write your summary, go back and fix any spelling or grammatical errors.
Have a friend quiz you by coming up with questions about what you’ve just read.
You can make flashcards with your vocab words on them so that you can easily quiz yourself.
Use keywords and phrases to mark your place in the essay. For example, if you’re comparing to points, say, “In contrast to…” When you come to your last paragraph, you can say something like, “To conclude…”
For example, if you’re writing about an essay on taking care of your dog, you might write, “The most important thing is to give your dog lots of attention. Play with it, take it outside, and talk to it every day. You also need to focus on giving it nutritious food. " Write in the active voice to make your points really clear.
You can also practice your English by talking to co-workers, classmates, or even the barista at the local coffee shop. The more you speak English, the more confident you will feel.
For example, you might say, “This recent blog post on vegetarian recipes gave me a lot of great ideas on how to try new foods. For one thing, I now understand that roasting veggies gives them a great depth of flavor. I also learned that adding veggies to smoothies is a great way to get some first thing in the morning. Finally, I was surprised to learn that you can even incorporate vegetables into deserts. I can’t wait to try carrot cake. ”
When you listen, take notes. Write down the main points of the lecture and then write questions about them. On the test, you might be asked inference questions such as, “What does the professor imply with that statement?” or “What can you infer from hearing that example?”
