Use Good Test-Taking Strategies
Here are some good test-taking strategies recommended by ETS.
Carefully follow the directions in each section to avoid wasting time.
Click Help to review the directions only when absolutely necessary because the test 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 one question. If you have given the question some thought and you still don't know the answer, eliminate as many answer choices as possible and then select the best choice. You can review your responses in the Reading section by clicking View. However, it is best to do this only after all the questions have been answered so you can stay focused and save time.
Pace yourself so you have enough time to answer every question. Be aware of the time limit for each section and task, and budget enough time for each question/task so you don't have to rush at the end. You can hide the clock if you wish, but it is a good idea to check the clock periodically to monitor progress. The clock will automatically alert you when five minutes remain in the Listening and Reading sections, as well as the independent and integrated tasks in the Writing Section.
The Week Before The Test
You should allow yourself about 4 - 6 weeks to prepare before you take the TOEFL. You cannot "cram" for the TOEFL, but there are some things you can do in the final week before the test:
Tips For The Day Of The Test:
Test Day
On the night before the test, put your practice material aside and give yourself a break.
Strategies for Raising Your TOEFL Speaking Score
Listen carefully to each of your recorded responses.
Create a set of guideline questions to help you evaluate your performance.
Here are some examples of the kinds of questions you may want to include:
- 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 provide a complete response?
- Did I use the time effectively?
- Did I speak too fast / too slowly?
- Did I pause too often?
- Once you have completed your evaluation, decide what changes you want to make to your response. Then try again, making a new recording.
- Compare the two recordings and determine if any further revisions are necessary.
- Try to analyze your strengths and weaknesses — try to understand what you are and not able to do well and why.