Fix these COMMON mistakes BEFORE you take your TOEFL Exam! Typical Problems Students Face on TOEFL

Summary

In this TOEFL preparation video, the host shares insights from student experiences and offers valuable tips to excel in the exam. Highlighting the importance of ETS's free practice tests, the host discusses common issues like academic vocabulary and question strategy. Personal coaching and TOEFL prep courses are recommended for improvement. The video also addresses test-day strategies, emphasizing the impact of mindset and focus, and provides specific advice for the speaking and writing sections to achieve high scores.

Takeaways

• 📚 The instructor offers 30-minute consultations and one-on-one TOEFL preparation sessions, providing insights into common and unique student challenges.
• 🎯 One student benefited from encountering practice questions from the ETS website during the actual test, highlighting the value of using official resources.
• 🌐 The ETS has launched the TOEFL Test Ready platform, which includes a free practice test and other resources for additional practice.
• 📈 A student aiming for a US master's program in finance improved their TOEFL score from 79 to the required 90-95 by addressing issues in reading, speaking, and writing.
• 📚 The importance of academic vocabulary was emphasized, with strategies to learn and apply it effectively in the context of the TOEFL exam.
• 🔍 The instructor uses a platform for students to match words with synonyms to enhance vocabulary acquisition, crucial for understanding academic texts.
• 🗣️ For the speaking section, the instructor advises staying focused and positive, sharing a story where a student's mindset affected their performance.
• ✍️ The writing section was a struggle for one student, with tips provided on structuring responses and avoiding common pitfalls like overloading with advanced vocabulary.
• 📉 A student's repeated score of 24 on writing was addressed by focusing on clear progression of ideas and structure rather than multiple reasons.
• 🏆 The video concludes with encouragement and a reminder that achieving a high TOEFL score is about attention to detail and the small, consistent efforts made in preparation.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the TOEFL preparation series mentioned in the script?

The purpose of the TOEFL preparation series is to share experiences of students who have taken the TOEFL test and to provide valuable tips and tricks to help viewers prepare effectively for the exam.

What is the significance of the ETS free practice test mentioned in the script?

The ETS free practice test is significant because it offers an opportunity for test takers to familiarize themselves with the test format and content. The script highlights a unique case where a student encountered questions from this practice test in a real TOEFL exam, which is an unusual occurrence.

What is the TOEFL Test Ready platform and how can it benefit TOEFL test takers?

The TOEFL Test Ready platform is a resource launched by ETS that offers several tools for test preparation, including a free practice test, an activity of the day, a section test sampler, and a section practice sampler. These resources can benefit test takers by providing extra practice and familiarization with the test format.

Why is academic vocabulary important for the TOEFL test?

Academic vocabulary is important for the TOEFL test because it enables test takers to understand texts and lectures on complex topics that are commonly found in academic settings. A robust academic vocabulary is crucial for comprehending and performing well in the reading, listening, and speaking sections of the test.

What are the three types of academic vocabulary mentioned in the script?

The three types of academic vocabulary mentioned in the script are general words, non-general academic words, and technical terms. General words are familiar to most students, non-general academic words come from the academic word list, and technical terms are specific to certain disciplines or fields of study.

How can test takers improve their reading scores on the TOEFL test?

Test takers can improve their reading scores by enhancing their academic vocabulary and mastering question type strategies. The script suggests using a platform to match words with their synonyms and practicing reading tests under time pressure to nail down strategies effectively.

What is the importance of staying focused and thinking positively during TOEFL preparation?

Staying focused and thinking positively during TOEFL preparation is crucial because a negative mindset or dwelling on perceived mistakes can lead to a loss of concentration and lower scores in subsequent sections of the test. Maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on the task at hand can help prevent this.

What advice is given to TOEFL test takers regarding the speaking section on test day?

For the speaking section on test day, the advice given is to prepare in advance and automate responses. Test takers should aim for longer sentences to provide more detail in less time and break down challenging questions into practice steps to approach them automatically without worry or panic.

What are some strategies to improve writing scores in the TOEFL test's academic discussion section?

Strategies to improve writing scores in the academic discussion section include not necessarily responding to other students' opinions, avoiding using the same reasons as the students in the task, not overloading the post with advanced vocabulary, providing one well-explained reason instead of multiple reasons, and maintaining a clear progression of ideas with a structured post.

How can TOEFL test takers ensure they are not interrupted during the home-based TOEFL test?

TOEFL test takers can ensure they are not interrupted during the home-based test by asking the proctor not to interrupt them during the test. It's also advised to have the proctor double-check everything before the test begins to minimize disruptions.