Writing Tips

TOEFL iBT Writing tips

Here are a few suggestions for ways to build your writing skills:

Read an article (300–400 words), and make an outline that only includes the major points of the article. Use the outline to create a written summary of the information.

Practice paraphrasing sentences and entire paragraphs frequently. On the TOEFL iBT test, you will receive a score of zero if all you do is copy words from the reading passage.

Find reading and listening material on the same topic. The material can provide similar or different views. The Internet and the library are good places to find such information. Take notes on the reading and listening material and do the following:

Summarize the information and ideas in both.
Then synthesize by combining the information from the reading and listening materials and explain how they relate. Explain how both ideas are alike, how one idea expands upon another or how the ideas are different or contradict each other.
Practice writing about familiar topics within a 30-minute time-limit, stating an opinion or preference and then coherently supporting it with evidence and detail.
As you practice, ask yourself questions such as:

Did I complete the task?
Did I write clearly?
Did I make grammatical errors?
Did I use words correctly?
Did I organize my ideas clearly and coherently?
Did I use the time effectively?

Monitor your own progress of your writing practice. You can also ask for feedback from friends, tutors or teachers. Teachers can use the TOEFL iBT Writing Scoring Guide to evaluate your practice.

Practice your writing skills on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html and receive instant scores to help prepare you for test day.

Speaking tips

TOEFL iBT Speaking tips

The best way to practice is speaking with native speakers of English as much as possible. For those not living in English-speaking countries, finding native speakers of English to speak with can be quite challenging. In some countries, there are English-speaking tutors or assistants who can help students with their conversation and overall communication skills. Another way you can practice speaking is to join a club that involves speaking in English about movies, music, travel and so on. If no such club exists in your area, try starting your own club and invite native speakers you know to join, too.

Here are a few suggestions for ways to build your speaking skills:

Practice stating an opinion or preference within a 1-minute time limit.
Read a short article (100–200 words), and make an outline that only includes the major points of the article. Use the outline to summarize the information orally.
Find listening and reading material on the same topic. The material can provide similar or different views. (The Internet and the library are good places to find information.) Take notes or create outlines on the listening and reading material and do the following:

Orally summarize the information in both, and then orally synthesize by combining the information from the reading and listening materials and explain how they relate.
State an opinion about the ideas and information presented in the reading and listening material.

Record yourself as you practice, and ask yourself questions such as:

Did I complete the task?
Did I speak clearly?
Did I make grammatical errors?
Did I use words correctly?
Did I organize my ideas clearly and appropriately?
Did I use the time effectively?
Did I speak too fast? Or too slowly?
Did I pause too often?

Monitor your own progress by keeping an audio journal of your speaking practice. You can also ask for feedback from friends, tutors or teachers. Teachers can use the TOEFL iBT Speaking Scoring Guide to evaluate your practice.

Practice your speaking skills on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html and receive a score within five business days from certified ETS raters to help prepare you for test day.

Listening tips

TOEFL iBT Listening tips

The best way to improve listening skills is to listen frequently to many different types of material in various subject areas (sciences, social sciences, arts, business and so on). Of course, watching movies and TV and listening to radio is an excellent way to practice listening. Audio tapes and CDs of talks are available at libraries and bookstores; those with transcripts are particularly helpful. The Internet is also a great resource for listening material (e.g., www.npr.org or www.bbc.co.uk/radio or www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish).

Here are a few suggestions for ways to build your listening skills:

Stay active by asking yourself questions (e.g., What main idea is the professor communicating?).

Listen to a portion of a lecture or talk and create an outline of important points and use the outline to write a brief summary.

Think about what each speaker hopes to accomplish: that is, what is the purpose of the speech or conversation? Is the speaker apologizing, complaining, making suggestions?

Identify the relationships between ideas in the information being discussed.

Possible relationships include: cause-and-effect, compare-and-contrast, and steps in a process.

When you listen to recorded material, stop the recording at various points and try to predict what information or idea will be expressed next.
Practice your listening skills on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html and receive instant scores to help prepare you for test day.

Reading tips

TOEFL iBT Reading tips
The best way to improve reading skills is to read frequently and to read many different types of texts in various subject areas (sciences, social sciences, arts, business and so on). Make sure to regularly read texts that are academic in style, the kind that are used in university courses. The Internet is one of the best resources for this and, of course, books, magazines and journals are very helpful as well.

Here are a few suggestions for ways to build your reading skills:

Scan passages to find and highlight key facts (dates, numbers, terms) and information; practice this frequently to increase reading rate and fluency.
Practice skimming a passage quickly to get a general impression of the main idea, rather than carefully reading each word and each sentence.
After skimming a passage, read it again more carefully and write down the main idea, major points and important facts.
Identify the passage type (e.g., classification, cause/effect, compare/contrast, problem/solution, description, narration and so on).
Organize the information in the passage:

Create an outline of the passage to distinguish between major and minor points.
If the passage categorizes information, create a chart and place the information in the appropriate categories (Note: on the TOEFL iBT, you do not have to create such a chart. Instead, a chart with possible answer choices is provided for you, and you must fill in the chart with correct choices.) Practicing this skill will help you think about categorizing information so you can do it with ease.
Create a summary of the passage using the charts and outlines.
Practice your reading skills on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html and receive instant scores to help prepare you for test day

Study Tips

Here are a few suggestions that can help you do your BEST on the TOEFL iBT.

TOEFL iBT Test preparation tips

The most important thing you can do to prepare for the TOEFL iBT is build your communication skills by studying in a quality English program and practice communicating in English every day. The next step is to learn more about the test.

Download TOEFL iBT Tips from http://www.toeflaccess.com/articles/ETS/TOEFL_Tips.pdf

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Speaking and Writing Scoring Guides at the back of TOEFL iBT Tips so you know how your responses will be evaluated.

Take a practice test on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html. TOEFL Practice Online is an official ETS Web site that helps you prepare for test day and it features targeted practice for all four skills measured on the test: listening, reading, speaking and writing. It is the only test prep product that simulates the real TOEFL iBT test experience, with authentic TOEFL test questions and instant scores and feedback to help you focus future practice on those areas that need improvement.

Practice more on your weakest skills. Use The Official Guide to the New TOEFL® iBT, a book and CD created by ETS and McGraw-Hill, for additional practice.

To check your progress on the skills you need to improve most, use the targeted practice on TOEFL Practice Online. Once you feel ready to take the official TOEFL iBT, take a Complete Practice Test on TOEFL Practice Online at www.ets.org/toeflpractice81.html to help prepare you for test day.

Use good test-taking strategies on test day.

Carefully follow directions in each section to avoid wasting time.

Click Help to review the directions only when absolutely necessary because the clock will not stop when the Help function is being used.

Do not panic. Concentrate on the current question only and do not think about how you answered other questions. This is a habit that can be learned through practice.
Avoid spending too much time on any one question. If you have given the question some thought and you still don't know the answer, eliminate as many choices as possible and select your best choice.

Pace yourself so you have enough time to answer every question. Be aware of the time limit for each section and budget enough time for each question so you do not have to rush at the end.

FAQ's about TOEFL iBT

TOEFL® iBT is a better assessment of your English communications skills because it focuses on how well you use English to communicate, not just what you know about it.

The test consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. All four sections are taken on the same day, and the entire test is about four hours long.

What is most unique about the test is that it asks you to combine, or integrate, more than one language skill like you do every day. For example, sometimes you read a passage, listen to a short lecture about a topic, and then speak or write in response.

To ensure maximum objectivity and reliability, three to six raters score your Speaking responses, and a minimum of four raters score your Writing responses. All raters undergo constant monitoring every time they score, ensuring the highest quality control possible

The chart above shows the range of questions and the timing for each section. Time limits vary according to the number of questions.


Why did the test change?

TOEFL iBT is carefully designed to simulate university life. The new test better measures your ability to communicate your ideas in an academic setting and helps to confirm you are ready to participate in academic coursework and campus life. It allows you to demonstrate that you can combine language skills by speaking or writing about material that you read and listen to, which is the key to academic success. It also helps institutions select students with the English communication skills needed to succeed.

What is different about TOEFL iBT?

The TOEFL iBT test has a new Speaking section, which includes independent tasks as well as integrated tasks in which you need to respond to material that you have read and listened to.
There is no longer a Structure section, but grammar is indirectly tested in each section.
Note taking is allowed throughout the test.
The lectures and conversations in the Listening section are longer, but the language sounds much more like real life. Also, there are new types of questions that measure understanding of a speaker's attitude, degree of purpose and certainty.
The Reading section has new questions that ask test takers to categorize information and fill in a chart or complete a summary.
In the Writing section, typing is required. There is an integrated task in addition to the independent task, and the scoring guides for rating are different from those used for the current test.
When will the new test be available in my area?

TOEFL iBT was first introduced in September 2005 and is being phased in throughout the world in 2006. The computer-based test and/or the paper-based test may be available in an area until the TOEFL iBT is introduced there. Consult the TOEFL Web site at www.ets.org/toefl for the rollout schedule and to find out what testing format is available in your area.

Test Delivery
How is the new test administered?

The new test is administered on fixed dates in a network of secure Internet-based test centers. Internet-based testing makes it possible to greatly expand the number of test centers in what is already the world's largest testing network. Most areas where TOEFL iBT is offered have 30 to 40 administrations a year, but the number varies based on the number of test takers and the test center capacity. Consult the Web site at www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/testcenters.html to find the test center nearest you, and its available test dates.

Why use Internet-based testing?

Internet-based testing makes it possible to capture and score Speaking responses in the most efficient, standardized and objective manner. Internet-based testing also makes it possible to greatly increase the number of test centers.

Test Benefits
Is the new test really different?

TOEFL iBT uses an entirely new approach. For the first time ever, the TOEFL test will assess your ability to integrate English skills and to communicate about what you read and listen to.

Is the new test more difficult than the previous test?

The TOEFL iBT Reading and Listening sections are not drastically different from those on the previous tests. The integrated tasks on the TOEFL iBT Speaking and Writing sections may be considered more challenging because they are new. However, to succeed in an academic setting you must be able to communicate about what you have read and listened to. So, the new integrated tasks allow you to demonstrate that you are ready to enter an academic setting and effectively communicate your ideas.

What other benefits does the new test provide?

The addition of the Speaking section, the inclusion of tasks that require integration of skills and the emphasis on communication will have a great impact on how English is taught in the future. Once you prepare for the TOEFL iBT, you can feel confident that you are also well-prepared for academic success.

Who else benefits from the new test?

Admissions officials and faculty at colleges and universities, as well as administrators of certification and licensing agencies, are provided with better information on their applicants' English communication skills.


Why is the TOEFL test changing?

The new TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) was created to:

Measure your ability to communicate your ideas in an academic setting — The new test helps you confirm that you are ready to participate in academic coursework and campus life, and it helps institutions select students with the English communication skills needed to succeed.

Simulate real life — The new integrated tasks that combine more than one skill reflect how we use language every day. By preparing for TOEFL iBT, you also prepare for communicating in real university situations and life.
Focus on how well you use English to communicate, not just what you know about it In the past, language learning focused on learning about the language (especially grammar), and students would receive high scores on tests without necessarily having the ability to communicate. Now teachers and learners alike understand the importance of using English to communicate, and activities that focus on communication and integrating (combining) skills are very popular in many English language programs.

What are the main new features of the TOEFL iBT test?

It tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. The emphasis is on using English to communicate.

It is approximately four hours long. All test sections can be taken in one day, so there is no need to travel to a test center twice.

It is delivered via the Internet in secure test centers around the world. In those areas where TOEFL iBT has not yet been introduced, the paper-based and computer-based versions of the TOEFL test will continue to be administered until TOEFL iBT is available in those areas.

Some questions require you to combine, or integrate, more than one skill. Being able to combine language skills by speaking or writing about material that you read and listen to is essential in an academic setting. TOEFL iBT helps you prove you can combine your skills to communicate your ideas effectively, which is the key to academic success. The new integrated tasks ask you to:

Read, listen, then speak in response to a question
Listen, then speak in response to a question
Read, listen, then write in response to a question

A Speaking section has been added. This section includes six tasks, and you wear headphones and speak into a microphone when you respond. The responses are recorded and sent to ETS's Online Scoring Network, where three to six certified ETS raters evaluate them. The raters are constantly monitored for accuracy and maximum score reliability.

The Writing section has been expanded. The new test requires you to write a response to material you have read and listened to, and to compose an essay in support of an opinion. The responses are evaluated by a minimum of four certified ETS raters via the Online Scoring Network.

There is no longer a Structure section, but grammar is tested in all four sections of the test.

Note taking is allowed. You can take notes on any section of the test and use them when answering questions. After testing, notes are collected and shredded before you leave the test center.

The new scores help to better explain your English-language skill level. ETS provides scoring information that includes four skill scores and a total score. You also receive performance feedback on your score report that states what you can do at your level and includes advice on how you can improve.

Online registration and scoring are offered for maximum convenience.


Online Registration and ScoresYou can register for the TOEFL test online. It's quick, easy and convenient. Schedule, reschedule or cancel a test, as well as view and print a confirmation with all your appointment details. Or, if you prefer, you can also register by phone or mail.

For more information on TOEFL registration procedures, visit www.ets.org/register33.html. There you can also download the TOEFL Information and Registration Bulletin. Paper copies of the Bulletin are available at many educational advising centers, universities or libraries.

When you register for the test, you can select those universities you want to receive your scores from this list. Or, if you prefer, you can wait until after you receive your scores before deciding whether to send them to your selected universities. You can view your scores online 15 business days after you test, and your score report will also give you some feedback on how to improve your skills even more. In addition, ETS will send you a paper score report for your records.

TOEFL Registration

Online

For the fastest and most convenient service, register online on ETS Website.
• A valid credit card is required (American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, or Visa card), or an electronic check (e-check) if you have a bank account in the United States or its territories.
• Registration is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Early registration closes seven days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).
• Late registration closes three days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).
• Registrations received after the early registration deadline incur a late fee of US$25.

By Phone

• A valid credit card is required (American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard®, or Visa® card), or an electronic check (e-check) if you have a bank account in the United States or its territories.
• Early registration closes seven days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).
• Late registration closes three days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).
• Registrations received after the early registration deadline incur a late fee of US$25.
Testing Location Phone
United States, Canada, or U.S. Territories 1-443-751-4862 or 1-800-GO-TOEFL (1-800-468-6335)
Outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. Territories To Call your Regional Registration Center see the ETS provided list of Regional Registration Centers (PDF)

By Mail

Fill in the form, get the draft made (if you are not paying by credit card), You must send the documents at least THREE WEEKS before your choice of a test day. For details on mail option visit ETS Website.

Eligibility and Fees

Everyone is eligible for taking the TOEFL test - there are no restrictions based on age or qualifications. The test scores are valid for two years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to two years old.

Fees

Item Fees
TOEFL Internet-Based Test
(includes 1 examinee score record and 4 score reports sent to institutions designated when you register) Varies by country. Select the country on ETS Website to see the fee.
Late registration fee US$25
Rescheduling fee US$40
Reinstatement of canceled iBT scores US$20
Additional score report requests US$17


Fees are subject to change without notice. Taxes will be added where applicable.

Preferred Forms of Payment

Credit card (required for online registration) — American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard®, or VISA® credit cards
Electronic check (e-check) — drawn on a U.S.-based bank

For more information visit ETS Website.

www.ETS.org

Formats of the TOEFL

Internet-based Test (iBT)

Since its introduction in late 2005, the Internet-based test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) tests. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly. The demand for test seats remains very high even after almost a year after the introduction of the test, candidates have to wait for months since short-term test dates are fully booked. The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring mainly one of the basic language skills (although some tasks may require multiple skills) and focusing on language used in an academic, higher-education environment.

The TOEFL Internet-based test emphasizes integrated skills and measures all four language skills, including speaking. The content on the test is authentic, and the language is consistent with that used in everyday, real academic settings.

The test has four sections
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
• Reading measures the ability to understand academic reading matter.
• Listening measures the ability to understand English as it is used in colleges and universities.
• Speaking measures the ability to speak English.
• Writing measures the ability to write in a way that is appropriate for college and university course work.
Detailed descriptions and samples are available at the official website.

Computer-based Test (CBT)

The computer-based test was abolished on September 30th 2006. It is divided into four sections, measuring language proficiency in listening, structure (grammar), reading and writing.

1. Listening Comprehension (45-70 minutes)
• Type of Questions: Conversations between two or more people in academic environments. Short conversations between students, and lectures may be possible conversations. Questions are basically of the who said what type.

2. Structure (grammar) (15-20 minutes)
• Type of Questions: Identify the erroneous word(s) in the sentence. Fill in the blanks using the appropriate word.

3. Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary (70-90 minutes)
• Type of Question: Questions are posed about content, intent of the author, and ideas inferred from each of the 3-4 passages given.

4. Essay Writing (30 minutes)
• Type of Question: To write an essay on a given general topic, and take a position towards it.

The Listening and Structure sections are computer-adaptive, meaning that the difficulty level of each question depends on the correctness of previous responses.

Three sub scores are obtained, each of which is given on a 0-30 scale: Listening, Structure/Writing (combined), and Reading. These sub scores are averaged to obtain the final score, which is in a 0-300 scale. The Writing score is also reported separately, on a 0-6 scale.

Paper-based Test (PBT)

In areas where the iBT and CBT are not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. The PBT tests essentially the same skills as the CBT, albeit with some differences, noticeably the number of questions (which is higher in the PBT) and the score scales. The final PBT score ranges between 310 and 677, and is based on three sub scores: Listening (31-68), Structure (31-68) and Reading (31-67). Unlike the CBT, the score of the Writing section (referred to as the Test of Written English, TWE) is not part of the final score; instead, it is reported separately on a scale from 0 to 6.

What is TOEFL

Regardless of where you plan to study, undergraduate and graduate programs around the world will ask you to demonstrate your ability to communicate in English as an entrance requirement. The Test of English as a Foreign LanguageTM (TOEFL) can open doors to more institutions than any other English test.

The most popular academic English test in the world

TOEFL scores are accepted at more than 6,000 universities and colleges in 110 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific. And that gives you the most flexibility as you make your study plans.

Each institution decides what scores they require, so you should contact your selected universities to determine their specific requirements. If you haven’t yet decided where you will apply, you can view the list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores.

http://www.toeflaccess.com/articles/ETS/toefl-tse_inst_aug06.pdf

It's just like real life

While you may be familiar with the computer-based and paper-based formats of the TOEFL test, what you may not know is that an Internet-based test (iBT) format is being phased in during 2006 (check the TOEFL Web site at www.ets.org/register33.html for the dates and test center locations in your area).

TOEFL iBT replicates real university classrooms and life. The language is designed to sound like typical conversations from university lectures and classes, labs, professors' discussions with students, study groups and other everyday situations. And reading passages are from real textbooks and course materials. This way of testing proves you can communicate your ideas and confirms you're ready to begin your academic studies.





The letters TOEFL stand for 'Test Of English AS Foreign Language'. TOEFL is a Standardized test that evaluates the English Proficiency of people whose native language is not English. More than 2400 education institutes in the United States and Canada require TOEFL scores from each applicant. The test is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the language of Instruction. The TOEFL tests the ability to understand North American English. A TOEFL score is valid for 2 years, and then is deleted from the official database. The TOEFL is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by nearly 20 million students. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.

Why Take the TOEFL Test?

Most people take the TOEFL test as a prerequisite for admission into colleges and universities where English is used or required. In addition, many government, licensing, and certification agencies and exchange and scholarship programs use TOEFL scores to evaluate the English proficiency of people for whom English is not their native language.

Who Should Take the TOEFL Test?

Nonnative English speakers at the 11th-grade level or above should take the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English proficiency before beginning academic work. The test content is considered too difficult for students below 11th grade.

Who don't need to take the TOEFL Test?

• Nonnative speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand)
• Nonnative speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction
• Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose academic course work was favorably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration.
• Nonnative speakers who have taken the TOEFL test within the past two years
• Nonnative speakers who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period, generally two years.

Who administers the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL test is developed and administered by the US-based "Educational Testing Service" (ETS). This implies that ETS sets the questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. For the conduct of the test, ETS has appointed Testing Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisee for ETS.