How to score 30/30 on the TOEFL Listening: 10 Must-Know Tips

Summary

In this video, an experienced TOEFL instructor shares top 10 tips to ace the TOEFL listening section. The video covers essential strategies, including determining your listening level, improving listening skills with dictation practice, and familiarizing yourself with academic topics. Other tips focus on efficient note-taking, time management, and identifying different question types. The instructor emphasizes the importance of tracking progress, staying focused, and analyzing listening transcripts for better understanding. Additionally, the video highlights the value of professional help for fast and effective results in achieving a high TOEFL score.

Takeaways

• 😀 Determine your listening level by taking practice tests. Scores range from 'Advanced' (22-30) to 'Below Low Intermediate' (0-8).
• 😀 Practice dictation to improve listening accuracy and grammar. Use resources like the Daily Dictation website for exercises at various levels.
• 😀 Familiarize yourself with academic subjects like science and history by watching educational YouTube channels like CrashCourse.
• 😀 Master note-taking skills to efficiently capture key information during lectures and conversations. Use abbreviations and symbols for speed.
• 😀 Track your progress by recording your test scores and vocabulary. This will help you stay motivated and gauge improvement.
• 😀 Learn to identify and approach different TOEFL question types, such as content, purpose, detail, and inference questions.
• 😀 Practice time management. You’ll have approximately 54 to 75 seconds per question, so train to answer quickly and accurately.
• 😀 Stay focused during the test. Keep your eyes on the screen or your notes, and listen carefully for transitions and signal words.
• 😀 Analyze listening transcripts to understand how lectures are structured and how ideas are connected. Pay attention to cause-and-effect relationships.
• 😀 Consider seeking professional help if you’re aiming for a high score or are short on time. Coaching can help you reach your TOEFL goals more efficiently.

Q & A

What is the first tip for conquering the TOEFL listening section?

The first tip is to determine your listening level by taking practice tests. The average score from these tests will help categorize your listening level as advanced, high intermediate, low intermediate, or below low intermediate.

How can practicing dictation improve your listening skills?

Dictation practice helps improve listening accuracy, concentration, and understanding of sentence structure and grammar. It involves listening to spoken sentences or passages and writing down what you hear.

Why is improving your understanding of academic topics important for the TOEFL listening section?

The TOEFL listening section covers a variety of academic subjects like science, art, history, and social sciences. Improving your knowledge of these topics helps you understand the content better, especially for subjects that may be challenging, such as biology or geography.

What is the significance of note-taking in the TOEFL listening section?

Note-taking is crucial as it helps you retain important information during lectures and conversations, which are often filled with details you cannot remember. Efficient note-taking using abbreviations or symbols can significantly improve your ability to answer questions accurately.

How can tracking your progress help you prepare for the TOEFL listening test?

Tracking your progress by recording your test scores and learning new vocabulary helps you measure improvement and stay motivated. It also allows you to calculate your average score and see your development over time.

What are the different types of questions in the TOEFL listening section?

There are eight types of questions in the TOEFL listening section: content, purpose, detail, function, attitude, organization, connecting content, and inference. Understanding how to approach each type improves your chances of answering correctly.

How should you manage your time during the TOEFL listening test?

Time management is critical, as the listening section consists of 28 questions to be completed in 36 minutes. You should aim to spend about 50 seconds per question, reading the question, checking your notes, and eliminating incorrect answers before selecting the right one.

What is the importance of staying focused during the listening test?

Staying focused is essential to prevent distractions while listening to the lectures or conversations. Keeping your eyes on the screen and your notes, along with listening for transitions and signal words, helps maintain attention and improves performance.

How can analyzing listening transcripts improve your listening skills?

By analyzing listening transcripts, you can understand the structure of conversations and lectures. This helps you follow how ideas are connected, recognize signal words, and improve your ability to take notes effectively.

When should you consider seeking professional help in TOEFL preparation?

If you're aiming for a high score or are pressed for time, seeking professional help can accelerate your preparation and reduce stress. Professional courses like 'Get 100 or Above on TOEFL' can help you achieve your desired score more quickly.