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Get the score you deserve on the TOEFL iBT exam! Wham Media’s Mini-Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® is written by a seasoned English exam preparer and instructor familiar with the key competencies essential for success in obtaining the highest score possible on the reading, writing, listening, and speaking sections of the test. Speaking and writing continue to be two of the weakest areas for students presenting the exam. Get Wham Media’s Mini-Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® for general test preparation guidance and suggestions for both the Speaking and Writing Sections. Visit the suggested websites for more help. Get started today preparing for the exam! Finally, learn more about the full guide, Wham Media’s Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT®, for a comprehensive approach to exam preparation and robust resources to achieve the success you seek – and deserve. Get Wham Media’s Mini-Guide today and get a head start on preparing for the exam!
Citation preview
Wham
Media’s Mini-
Guide to
Success:
TOEFL iBT®*
By: H. E. Colby
TOEFL iBT® is a registered trademark of ETS, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
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TOEFL iBT® is a registered trademark of ETS, which was not
involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this
product.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Wham Media’s Mini-Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® is an abridged
version of the full text, Wham Media’s Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT®. Both are
dedicated to preparing you to achieve an optimal score on the TOEFL iBT exam. The
Mini-Guide includes key information for preparation in general for the TOEFL iBT
exam and two important parts of the exam, the Speaking and Writing Sections. The full
Guide includes a link to an extensive list of Additional Resources. Both guides
originated with student frustration in preparation for the TOEFL®. Too many ESL
professors are not able to help their students get the highest score possible on one of the
most important exams in their lives. Stop!
I am H. E. Colby, a seasoned English instructor who has spent several years
preparing my students for success on the TOEFL iBT in particular and Business English
in general. I proudly offer you this Mini-Guide to get you started on your own
preparation so you may have the success you seek – and deserve!
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INTRODUCTION
THE TOEFL iBT® CAUSES PANIC and fear for many. Don’t worry. Get the
full Guide for a comprehensive preparation for success on the TOEFL iBT!
Get ready to maximize your score by accepting two key challenges presented by
the TOEFL iBT® and to prepare yourself for success on the exam!
The Challenge
TWO CHALLENGES await you on the TOEFL iBT®. The exam half tests your
English abilities and half tests your exam taking abilities! The exam is a mere snapshot
of your abilities at a juncture of time. However, it is the standardized exam of record for
US universities and thousands of institutions around the world.
Challenge 1: Academic English
Firstly, the exam challenges your ability to successfully manage and manipulate
the four basic language skills in an academic setting: 1) reading, 2) listening, 3)
speaking, and 4) writing. Thus, your English needs to be proficient enough to be
understood and used in a US college classroom. Well, is it? If not, the full Guide with its
unparalleled Additional Resources is a wise investment! Plus, though not explicitly
tested, you need great grammar and a solid vocabulary to round out your exam success.
Academic English is the English for study at universities, mainly expressed in
written form. Use academic English to: 1) describe an object or situation, 2) describe a
process or how something functions, or 3) explain something. Good academic writers
aim to be as clear, precise and simple as possible when describing ideas or concepts.
The main features of written academic English are:
usually formal in tone and impersonal in style - so you should avoid
colloquial words and expressions.
without contractions or shortened forms of verbs, such as won't, doesn't or
it's.
no linking word such as 'and' or 'but' at the beginning of a sentence.
no personal pronouns such as I, me, you, your.
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may use the passive form of verbs more often.
no phrasal verbs such as hold up, put up with, or get off.
varied and rich vocabulary, shorter texts, and more grammatical
complexity.
Remember these traits of academic English while you practice for the TOEFL!
Challenge 2: Integrated Tasks
Secondly, a unique feature of the TOEFL is the task related to “combined skills”
or so-called “integrated tasks.” Just as the phrase suggests, you integrate two or more
language abilities to answer a question. There are three possible “integrated task”
combinations: 1) read an academic text or campus announcement, listen to a
conversation of students or others, and then speak a response; 2) listen to a lecture from
a professor or a talk from a guidance counselor or other college official, and then speak a
response; and 3) read a passage or announcement, listen to a discussion of students,
and write a response.
Be sure to sharpen your supplemental skills (see Chapter 7 of the full Guide) to
assist you on the integrated tasks. From note taking to synthesizing different pieces of
information, you will need to use these additional skills for success on the TOEFL iBT®.
You are now ready to learn and practice strategies and tactics to get the best
possible score on the TOEFL iBT®.
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CHAPTER 1: PREPARATION IN GENERAL
While studying for the TOEFL iBT exam can be scary, difficult, and confusing,
use this Mini-Guide and the full Guide to prepare for exam success.
Three elements are required to maximize your TOEFL iBT score: your
knowledge, skills, and attitude.
Keep the following three items in mind as you start to prepare for the exam.
1. Prepare for the exam well in advance.
I advise my students to begin at least three (3) months before the scheduled test
date. The TOEFL examination requires in depth knowledge of the English language,
so the earlier you start the better. So, do not try to cram. The test is expensive so you
need to concentrate a dedicated amount of time to do your best.
The test involves all aspects of the language – speaking, writing, reading and
listening plus grammar and vocabulary – far too much to cover in just a few days of
study.
2. Make test preparation fun.
Preparing for the TOEFL is not only about class sessions and preparatory books.
Remember that learning is doing and that means practicing the language. Make
an effort to speak some English every day, preferably working with a native
English professor.
The interaction with a native English speaker can break the monotony of exam
preparation.
Consult the full Guide for a complete Study Game Plan.
3. Get familiar with the exam layout.
Be smart and do not let uncertainties about the format of the test make you
anxious.
The TOEFL iBT begins with a reading section that lasts about 60-80 minutes
(3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions) followed by a
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listening section (academic lectures, classroom discussions and conversations,
then answer questions) that lasts 60-90 minutes.
After a ten-minute break, you get the speaking section (express an opinion on
a familiar topic; integrated task with speaking based on reading and listening
tasks), which takes 20 minutes, followed by 50 minutes for the last part, the
writing section (integrated task to write an essay based on reading and
listening tasks; support an opinion in writing.).
Consult the full Guide for a more information about the important integrated
tasks.
A key website for general preparation for the TOEFL iBT is Good Luck TOEFL.
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CHAPTER 2: PREPARATION FOR SPEAKING
Use the following tips in this Mini-Guide and the full Guide to prepare for success
on the Speaking Section of the exam.
Keep this fact in mind - communicating simply and correctly in an organized way
will get you a higher score every time on the test.
The third section of the TOEFL iBT is the Speaking Section.
This part is made up of six tasks: two independent and four integrated. You do
not meet a live examiner, but speak directly into a microphone. Make sure you practice
with a voice recorder on your smartphone or tablet to get accustomed to speaking this
way.
Your responses are recorded on the computer and then graded later.
Like the other sections of the TOEFL iBT exam, the Speaking Section contains
academic situations set both inside and outside the classroom.
In classrooms, there are situations where you must: respond to questions,
contribute to class discussions, read or listen to something and then summarize it,
and/or give your opinion of topics under discussion.
In situations outside the classroom, you need to take part in conversations with
administrative staff, such as at the library, take part in casual conversations with other
students about campus problems, and/or give your opinion about a topic regarding a
campus situation.
For Questions 1 and 2 (independent tasks) you will be asked to give an opinion or
explanation related to a familiar topic.
For both, read the question. Take notes on the main points of your response.
Then, respond to the question.
For example: What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and explain why it is
useful in helping you to study. Take 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds
to deliver your answer.
For example: Your university is planning to allow students to watch TV in their
dormitories. What is your opinion and why? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of watching TV in dormitories? Include reasons and examples to support your response.
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Again, take 15 seconds to prepare your response and 45 seconds to deliver your
answer.
For questions 3 and 4 (integrated tasks), you will read a short passage and then
you will listen to a short talk about the same topic. Then you will answer a question that
relates to both of them.
For example, you will read an article from a campus newspaper. Take notes on
the main points of the reading passage and use them to answer the questions which
follow.
For questions 5 and 6 you will hear a conversation and a lecture. You will be
asked a question about each.
As you can see, good note taking and summarizing are essential Supplemental
Skills for the Speaking Section of the exam.
Consult the full Guide for a more information about these and other
Supplemental Skills.
Check out these two websites (1 and 2) for more information on preparation for
the Speaking Section.
Conclusion
The Speaking Section can easily be used to boost your overall score on the TOEFL
iBT. It is the shortest section of the exam.
With adequate practice, especially with a native English speaker, good
pronunciation and intonation, you can nab a high score on the test.
Make sure you consult the full Guide for links and more suggestions to improve
your English speaking before the big exam day.
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CHAPTER 3: PREPARATION FOR WRITING
Use the following tips in this Mini-Guide and the full Guide to prepare for success
on the Writing Section of the exam.
The last section of the TOEFL iBT is the Writing Section lasting about 50
minutes.
The iBT writing section is divided into two parts: Integrated Writing and
Independent Writing (the much feared essay). It consists of two parts: the integrated
writing task (150-225 words) and the independent writing task (300-350 words).
Integrated Writing
Writing Based on Reading and Listening
You will read a passage about an academic topic (3 minutes). Then you will hear a
lecture on the same topic (2 minutes). You are encouraged to take notes while you read
and listen. You will only see these materials once!
You will be asked a question that relates to both the text and the listening. You
have 20 minutes to craft an appropriate response which should be 150-225 words.
Key Point: Look for three many points that are related. Your score will depend
on the quality of your writing as well as how well you answer the question. After you
have heard the lecture you will have twenty minutes to plan and write your response.
Independent Writing (Essay)
Writing Based on Knowledge and Experience
There are five main types of TOEFL iBT Essay Topics.
Make sure you practice writing about the five (5) main areas during your
preparation: agree or disagree, preference, description / explanation, if / imaginary, and
compare and contrast.
You will never need to know any specific information about your writing topic,
but will based on common experience.
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You will be asked to give your opinion and provide reasons and examples. You
should use a five-paragraph structure essay structure. You will have 30 minutes to
prepare an essay in response to the question provided.
Spend the first five minutes outlining your response. (Consult the full Guide to
learn more Supplemental Skills).
Sample Question types:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students should take out student
loans to avoid working while studying. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
Some people think it’s better to live with a roommate. Other people prefer to live alone.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
It is better to grow up with siblings than without. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific
reasons and examples to develop your essay.
It has recently been announced that the public library in your area will be closed for the
summer months for a major renovation and expansion. Do you support or oppose this
plan. Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
While preparing your essays during practice sessions and especially on the exam,
keep the following points in mind:
Do I have an interesting introductory sentence?
Do I have a thesis statement?
Does my introduction state the topics that I plan to cover?
Does each paragraph have a topic sentence? (one paragraph = one idea)
Do I use examples and reasons to support my points?
Is my spelling and punctuation correct?
Do I use complex grammatical structure that I am comfortable with?
Do I use transitional phrases?
Have I covered both sides of an issue fairly?
Did I prove my thesis?
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Does my conclusion end with an interesting thought or idea?
Do I use strong vocabulary to express exactly what I need to say?
Being able to compare and contrast ideas in your essay is important.
Study the following expressions that are used to compare and contrast ideas: in
contrast, on the other hand, however, but, although, similarly, and like.
Check these two key websites (1 and 2) for more preparation for the Writing
Conclusion
The Writing Section causes great fear in many students because writing skills are
not sharpened in too many English classrooms. So, when the big exam day nears,
students panic. Stop!
Consult the full Guide for the necessary guidance and suggestions to get you
ready to ace the Writing Section of the TOEFL iBT exam!
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FINAL THOUGHTS
NOW YOU HAVE THE Mini-Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT®.
For now, you have a strong start to prepare yourself for the big exam day. Tell your
colleagues about the book so they may also enjoy the rich future success you will enjoy after
making the highest possible score possible!
Consult the full Guide for comprehensive preparation and robust resources to be
ready for the big exam day.
Accomplish your dream to study at your favorite university, win a scholarship or get that promotion at the office with an optimal score on the TOEFL iBT® exam! Wham Media’s Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® is written by a seasoned English exam preparer and instructor familiar with the key competencies essential for success in obtaining the highest score possible on the reading, writing, listening, and speaking sections of the test. Get Wham Media’s Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® for mastering the language skills and test-taking strategies needed to develop the confidence and winning attitude on the big exam day. Plus, download the free Additional Resources file with links to material across the web neatly arranged to enhance your intense exam preparation - saving you lots of time! Learn the inside tricks to build fluency across the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing - plus grammar and vocabulary as well. Improve your language knowledge (grammar accuracy, range of vocabulary and clarity of pronunciation) while engaging in effective study skills and exam techniques specially designed for the test. Get Wham Media’s Guide to Success: TOEFL iBT® today to begin preparing for both success on the exam and in your long career afterwards.
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THANK YOU!
Thank you for downloading Wham Media’s Mini-Guide to Success: TOEFL
iBT®.
My aim is to expand your career opportunities as the result of obtaining the highest score
possible on the TOEFL iBT®.
Be sure to check my other English books as well to improve your knowledge and skills.
Please visit my blog at http://www.businessenglishace.com/ .
Good luck in all you do. Carpe Diem!
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