Preparing you and your Students for the

TOEFL iBTTips to help you or your students

succeed for the TOEFL iBT

Laura Beth Hattersley

OVERVIEW What to Expect

TOEFL EXAM QUESTION TYPES

1. Questions regarding FACTUAL INFORMATIONExample Questions:

Select on statement that best describes what you see in the picture. Which of the following is TRUE about what you hear from the lecture?

2. Questions regarding NEGATIVE FACTUAL INFORMATIONExample Questions:

Select one statement that does NOT describe what you see in the picture. With regard to sharks, all of the following are true EXCEPT…

3. Questions regarding INFERENCE QUESTIONSExample Questions:

What does the author imply about… Based on the passage, it could be suggested that… With which of the following would the author most likely agree?

TOEFL EXAM QUESTION TYPES4. Questions regarding RHETORICAL QUESTIONSExample Questions: How does the author explain… In paragraph 1, why does the author mention… In the text, the author uses …. as an example of…

5. Questions regarding VOCABULARY AND REFERENCEExample Questions: The word X in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to… The phrase X in paragraph 3 is referring to….

6. Questions regarding PROSE SUMMARYExample Questions: Questions about summarizing a topic: Read two articles on the same topic and write a summary of each.

Explain ways they are similar and ways they are different. Summarize the points in the lecture. Explain how they relate to specific

points in the reading passage.

TOEFL iBT Listening MaterialsConversations:Office HoursService Encounters Lectures:ArtsLife SciencePhysical ScienceSocial Science

These conversations and talks are typical of thosethat occur on North American university campuses

Writing Section of the TOEFL iBT The Integrated Writing Task 1. Read a passage about an academic topic 2. Listen to a lecture related to the topic 3. Write a summary of the main points The Independent Writing Task Write an essay about your opinion on an Issue

Speaking Question Types Independent:1. Question about a person, place,object, or event.2. Question about preference fromtwo possible actions, situations, oropinions Integrated Listening/Reading/Speaking(questions #3 & #4) Integrated Listening/Speaking(questions #5 & #6)

Speaking Question Examples 1. Choose a teacher you admire and explain why you admire him or her. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation. 2. Some students study for classes individually. Others study in groups. Which method of studying do you think is better for students and why?

Example of Writing Questions

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship. Use

specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

STRATEGY

PREPARE YOUR MIND BEFORE THE TEST

First, concentrate on Listening, Structure, and Reading, instead of on vocabulary. Second, spend time preparing everyday for at least an hour. Finally, do not try to memorize questions from this or any other book.

ON THE TEST DATE Get rest, arrive early. Be familiar with the directions. Listen carefully to the conversations and

talks. Never leave any questions blank on your

answer sheet. Use any remaining time to look ahead at the answers to the questions that follow.

ON THE TEST DATE

As you listen to each short conversation, focus on the second line of the conversation.

Keep in mind that the correct answer is probably a restatement of a key word or idea in the second line of the conversation.

Keep in mind that certain structures and expressions are tested regularly in the short dialogues.

Answer each question even if you are not sure of the correct response. Even if you do not understand the complete conversation, you can find the correct answer.

Never choose an answer because it sounds like what you heard in the conversation.

As you listen to each short conversation, focus on the second line of the conversation.

Answer in the Second Line

On the recording you hear:(man) Have you finished studying for the math test?(Woman) Not quite(Man) What does the woman mean?

In your test book, you read:

1. She is quite finished with her studies2. She thinks it is quite a difficult test3. She has a little more studying to do4. She has not finished the main test

Keep in mind that the correct answer is probably a restatement of a key wordor idea in the second line of the conversation.

Restatement of the second line On the recording, you hear: (woman) Steve, is something the matter? You don’t look very

good. (man) Oh, I’m feeling a little sick today. (narrator) What does the man mean?   In your test book, you read:

He’s not very good-looking. He’s a bit ill. He looks worse than he feels. His feet are a little thick.

If the statement is negative, the answer will be in positive and If the statement is positive, the answer will be in negative

Example Correct Answer Negative Expression

Tom is not sad about the result

Tom is happy about the result

Not sad = happy

The door isn’t open The door is closed Not open = closedSteve did not pass

the classSteve failed the

classDidn’t pass =

failed

On the recording, you hear: (woman) Did you get a lot of work done at the library today? (man) I couldn’t. It wasn’t very quiet there. (narrator) What does the man mean?   In your test book, you read: (A) The library was noisy (B) He got a lot done. (C) He couldn’t quite get to the library today. (D) The library’s a good place to work because it’s quiet.

Restatement of the second line

If the recording/dialogue contains a passive statement, the answer is often in an active statements and

If the recording/dialogue contains an active statement, the answer is often in a passive statements.

ExampleOn the recording, you hear:(man) Is that a new chair? (woman) Yes, we just bought it last week.(narrator) What does the woman mean?

In your test book, you read:(A) She brought the chair with her.(B) The chair was lost for a week.(C) The chair was purchased recently.(D) She bought the last chair from the store

Restatement of the second line

Keep in mind that certain structures and expressions are testedregularly in the short dialogues.

Expressions of Agreement So do I. I’ll say. Isn’t he/ she/ it though! (Didn’t he/ Wasn’t she/ Hasn’t it though!) Me, too. You can say that again. I couldn’t agree with you more. You bet! Who wouldn’t? Neither do I. I don’t either.

Answer each question even if you are not sure of the correct response.

Even if you do not understand the complete conversation, you can find the correct answer.

Never choose an answer because it sounds like what you heard in the conversation.

Avoid Similar Sounds Example On the recording, you hear: (man) Why couldn’t Mark come with us? (woman) He was searching for a new apartment. (narrator) What does the woman say about Mark? In your test book, you read: (A) He was in the department office. (B) He was looking for a place to live. (C) He was working on his research project. (D) He had an appointment at church.

WHAT IS INFERENCE?

WHAT IS INFERENCE?

APPENDIX

TOEFL Question Types by Content Attitude/Purpose: These questions types are not always easy to answer, as they are not details found specifically in the lecture or

conversation. The purpose of a lecture or conversation is its primary function, whereas the attitude of a speaker is his/her feelings, thoughts and emotions.  Remember – tone of voice is key to finding the attitude of a speaker.

Inferences: Similar to the reading section, the listening has quite a few inference questions, which require you to come to a conclusion about a statement not directly stated.  Inference questions require a sharp eye for interpretation, often involving the words “infer” or “imply.” 

Predictions:  Prediction questions aren’t quite as common as inference questions, but they require you to determine what will more than likely happen in the future, based on what a speaker says or doesn’t say.

Categorizing: Also like the reading, the listening has several categorizing question, which often come at the end of a series of questions.  These types of questions often take longer to determine and requires a test-taker to filter through his/her notes.  Pay close attention to any categories, types or divisions when taking notes on the TOEFL listening section.

Summarizing: When you encounter a summarizing question, you are asked to put a series of actions in order.  This occurs through the “drag and drop” process on the computer, so it enables you to see the sentences in order right in front of your very eyes.

Main Idea questions: When identifying the topic or main idea of a lecture of conversation, questions along the lines of: What is the subject of the conversation/lecture?  What is the topic of the discussion/academic talk? Keep in mind these are general questions needing general answers.

Key facts questions: These questions are asking for particular pieces of information, as stated by the speakers.  Note-taking is essential for these types of questions, as well as a good memory!

Paraphrase questions: Paraphrasing means saying the same thing in similar words.  On the TOEFL, paraphrase questions will ask you to choose a sentence that is most like a specific highlighted sentence within the passage. Variations: Definition questions, which ask you to recall the sound bites which define a word or phrase

Chart questions: order events or steps in a process or match objects or text to categories in a chart.

Common Expressions (con’t)

Expressions of Disagreement

I don’t think so That’s not what I think I can’t say I agree I couldn’t agree with you less I’m afraid I don’t agree Probably not Not necessarily Not really I’m not so sure

Expressions of Suggestion

Why...not...?Why not...?Let’s...

Vocabulary Review Most common prefixes

re- (again: revoke), un- (not: untrue), in- (into or not: insight, inert), en- (in, put into: ensnare), ex- (out: extinguish), de- (away, from: deflect, denounce), com- (together, with: commune), dis- (apart: dishonest), pre- (before: predict), sub- (under: submerge)

Most common roots tract (drag, pull: distract), spect (look: inspector), port

(carry: portable), dict (say: dictator), rupt (break: interrupt), scrib (write: inscribe), cred (believe: discredit), vid (see: evidence), aud (hear: auditorium)

Vocabulary Review Most common suffixes

-ly (having the quality of: sweetly), -er (more: smoother), -able/-ible (able to: deliverable), -tion/-sion (a thing, a noun: intermission), -cle (small: particle), -less (without: clueless), -est (most: brightest), -ment (quality or act: contentment), -ness (quality or act: wildness), -arium (a place for: terrarium), -ling (small: hatchling)

Must Have Words for the TOEFL

abandon analyze abduction ancestral abstract anesthesia accumulate animism accuracy annex accuse anomaly acquire anticipate acquisition antipathy adapt apex addictive apprehend adjacent arbitrary adjust arrogantly adolescent artillery advent ascertain adversely assail advocate assess affection asset affluence assimilate aggravate associate aggregate astrological agnostic atheist allegedly augment allegiance authority allocate amateurish ambiguous battle amend be inclined

berate conquest biased consciously bitterly consequence bond constraint bribery contamination bulk contemplate burden contemptuous bureaucratic contest context contrary candidate convey capricious convict cartel core cast corrode catastrophic counter cause cremation cease cultivation certifiably cumbersome charismatic cure chronologically curriculum circulate cynically civil clique coalition de facto coerce decipher cohesion decline coincide decrepit collapse degrade collide deify combustion delinquency commodity denominator compensate denote complex deny complication depict component deplete compress derive concentrated descendant condemn despise confide despondent conflict detain connotation detection

deviant extinction devise extract devotion dilemma famine dimension fatally diminish feasibly discretely feature discriminate fertilize disease flood dispose of fluctuated folklore distinctly forensics distort fortify diverse fossilize divination fringe domesticate dynamic gala gap ecclesiastical generation election grotesque elementally guilty elite mission engender haggle enterprising haunt entrepreneurial hazardous equity hedonistic erode hierarchy erudite hilarious eruption horror esthetically humiliation evade hypocritically evidence hypothesize evolve exalt exclusive illiterate exotic impact expeditiously impair exploit implant exponentially implement

Must Have Words for the TOEFL implicate kin implicitly impoverish improvisation lease in common legitimate in the trenches

liability inaugurate longitude incentive loyal incompetent luxury indisputable industrious inference maintenance infinitesimal manipulation inflation margin maximize inherent meditate inheritance medium inhibit merchant inject merit innovative migration inquiry milieu inscription minimum installation misconception integrally mobilize integrity modify intensify intentionally interdict net intermediary nobility intervene notion intrepid nucleus intrinsic intrusively intuitively obese invasive objectively invoke obnoxious irrigation obtain offense oppress jointly Orwellian juxtapose overlap

paradigm rank parallel rate ratio passion realism paternal rebel peer recede per capita reciprocity permeate reconciliation persevere reform persist regulate perspective relic phantom reservoir phonetic residual photosynthesis resign physical resist pious retain piracy retrieve plunge reward policy rigor poll rite portrayal ritually potent roster precipitation rotate predicament prejudiced prestige sacrifice prevailing safeguard prevalent saga privileged scandal procedure scar process secular prognosis seep proliferation seize promote self-perpetuating proportion sentiment proportionately sequence proprietor severely prosper shame prototype shrink proximity shuttle psychic sibling

simulation trend skit trigger smuggle solar sole unleash solidarity unmask source spectrum stable vanish status quo vanity stigmatize vein strategic verdict striking versus structure vestige subsidy villainy subtly violation surveillance survive vulnerable suspect suspend suspicious willing symbolic witness working class wound tangible terminal tolerate zeal