How to take the TOEFL iBT test successfully CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST Introduction to the TOEFL® Test

 

CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST Introduction to the TOEFL® Test How to take the TOEFL iBT test successfully

 

Preparing for the TOEFL iBT test. 1 If you do not have a sound basic knowledge of English, it is best to take English language courses before taking a TOEFL test preparation course. 2 Begin your test preparation as soon as you decide to take the exam. 3 Study on a regular basis. Studying a small amount of material daily is more effective than studying a large amount in one sitting. 4 All English practice is helpful. Watching a movie or listening to a radio program in English is good for building your listening comprehension skills. Reading English newspaper or magazine articles will improve your reading comprehension skills. Speaking English, even with a non-native speaker, will help you improve your speaking fluency. 5 Work carefully through the book exercises in Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL® Test in the skill areas that the Diagnostic Test identifies as your weak areas. 6 Practice budgeting your time. Effective time management is a key to doing well on the test. 7 Use the CD-ROM tests or the information at the beginning of the Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing sections of this book to become familiar  with the test format and how to answer the kinds of questions and respond to the kinds of tasks in each section. 8 Know your goal   Taking the Internet-based test 1 The TOEFL iBT test is an Internet-based test. The actual test is delivered via the Internet at secure, official test centers. You will have your own workstation and headset and you will be able to control, the volume on your headset. Test-takers cannot take the official test at home. 2 Listen and read the instructions carefully. If you do not follow the instructions correctly, you will get a computer message instructing you to go back and follow the instructions, causing you to lose valuable time. 3 Some passages in the Reading section include a word or phrase that is underlined in blue. click on the word or phrase to see a definition or an explanation. 4 When you want to move on the next question in the Reading section, click on NEXT. You can skip questions and go back to those in the part you are working on as long as there is time remaining. A clock at the top of the screen will show you how much time is remaining. If you want to return to the previous questions, click on BACK. You can click on REVIEW at any time, and the review screen will show you which questions you have answered and which you have not. From this review screen, you may go directly to any question you have already seen in the part of the Reading section you are working on. 5 In the Listening section, you must answer every question. After you answer, click on NEXT, then click on OK to confirm your answer and go to the next questions. After you click on OK, you cannot return to previous questions. A clock at the top of the screen will show you how much time is remaining. The clock will not count down while you are listening the test material. 6 In the Speaking section of the test, you will answer six questions by speaking into the microphones on your headset. For each question you will be given a short time to prepare your response. A clock on the screen will show how much preparation time is remaining. When the preparation is up, you will be told to begin your response. A clock will show how much response time is remaining. A message will appear on the screen when the response time had ended. 7 For the first writing task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture and then type your answer to a question based on what you have heard and read. For the second writing task, you will have to type an answer to a question based on your own knowledge and experience. A clock on the screen will show how much response time is remaining for each task.