TOEFL preparation : Complete guide (2022)

Written by Vishesh Chogtu

Published on Tue, April 26, 2022 11:33 AM • Updated on Fri, May 20, 2022 12:52 PM • 12 mins read

Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ), is one of the famous and standardized exams for proving the English Proficiency of the candidates. They want to migrate or study overseas. So, students need to be careful while doing TOEFL preparation. As there are four different sections, Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking, candidates need to do TOEFL preparation for all sections at the same level. Every level score is essential in the overall scores. And also, students need to improve their English levels by using different methods like practicing tests, reading books, etc.

Read the following article to know how to do TOEFL preparation or tips related to TOEFL preparation.

Table of Contents

TOFEL preparation 2022

TOEFL exam is the widely accepted English proficiency test in over 100+ countries, namely, the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc. So, scoring in the TOEFL exam will help candidates to get visas to English-speaking countries quickly. Every year the TOEFL exam is conducted worldwide. So, to write the TOEFL exam in 2022, Candidates need to do TOEFL preparation in 2022 carefully. To get a good score, candidates need to Understand the exam pattern, read different books related to the TOEFL exam, and practice the test papers during the TOEFL preparation time. However, before starting the TOEFL preparation 2022, candidates should know the basic requirements and tips to quickly complete the TOEFL syllabus, which helps them cover the central syllabus at the time of TOEFL preparation 2022.

TOEFL preparation books

To do TOEFL preparation, candidates need to learn the vocabulary, sentence phrasing, essay writing, etc. To get these skills, candidates prepare well by using different methods. And one of the methods is reading books related to the TOEFL exam. The following are the books related to TOEFL preparation.

The Official Guide to The TOEFL: This is the essential book for the TOEFL preparation. The candidates who are beginners in the English language can choose this book. The ETS, the TOEFL testing authority, published this book. This official guide to TOEFL comes with three practice test papers in CD form.
Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT Prep plus 2020-2021: This Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT Prep Plus book is the perfect book to master the skills in English in all sections of TOEFL, like Writing, Reading, and Speaking, and Listening. It is the best TOEFL preparation book with 450 sample question papers and four complete section questions which are exactly like the actual exam.
Barron’s TOEFL iBT with 8 Online practice test-17th edition: This book will help candidates to get a total grip on the English language with its eight online practice test papers. And also, there is a separate chapter called Academic skills, which helps students to increase their vocabulary and paraphrasing skills.
Speaking and Writing Strategies for TOEFL iBT: This book mainly focuses on the Writing and Speaking sections related to the TOEFL exam. This helps students get into straight matters without any unnecessary explanations and discussions in Speaking and essay writing.
Delta’s Key to TOEFL iBT – seven practice Tests: This book is a collection of 7 real-looking practicing test papers which look precisely like official test papers. With the help of this guide, candidates can do TOEFL preparation more easily.

Also read : TOEFL Reading Test

TOEFL preparation tips ( section-wise)

The following are the TOEFL preparation tips section-wise.

TOEFL Reading section Tips

To get a Grip on the TOEFL reading section, Candidates need to do TOEFL preparation by following some tips. Students must read three to four passages and answer ten questions for each course in the TOEFL iBT reading section. In summary, candidates will have 54-72 minutes to answer around 40 questions. The Reading component of the TOEFL test assesses candidates’ ability to comprehend university-level academic texts and passages. Students are encouraged to read as much as possible, particularly in English.

How to prepare for TOEFL reading tips

The following are the TOEFL Preparation tips for the Reading section :

Read university textbooks or other materials written in an academic manner that span a wide range of topic areas (e.g., sciences, social sciences, arts, business, etc.).
To undertake TOEFL preparation for the reading part, a broad range of academic publications are available on the Internet as well as in periodicals and journals.
Practice a passage in a skimming method to get a general impression of the main idea instead of carefully reading each word and each sentence.
After skimming a passage, reread it more carefully and write the main idea, major points, and essential facts.
Practice frequently to increase the reading rate and fluency which is an essential tip in TOEFL Preparation for reading.
Choose some unknown words in the passage and try to guess the meaning from the context (surrounding sentences). Then, look them up to understand their meaning.

TOEFL Listening Section tips

Candidates must listen to 3-4 lectures and 2-3 conversations on the TOEFL iBT’s hearing part and solve six questions on each audio. In summary, candidates will have 41-57 minutes to answer around 40 questions. While doing TOEFL preparation, Candidates must remember that one of the most essential skills in the TOEFL Listening test is taking correct notes fast. It’s critical for the Candidate to get into the practice of listening to lengthy audios and then collecting helpful information and using that to deal with questions while doing TOEFL preparation for listening.

How to prepare for TOEFL Listening tips

The following are the tips to prepare for TOEFL listening.

Watch for words that describe how ideas are connected and related. Identify the connections between ideas, such as to cause/effect, compare/contrast, and process phases which is the central part of TOEFL preparation for listening.
Students should keep focused by predicting what someone is going to say.
Listen to the recorded material and resume it at various spots. Anticipate the next piece of information or thought to be shared.
Also, students need to determine if the statement or conversation is supposed to be an apology, a complaint, or a recommendation.
Note whether the language is official or informal. Pay careful attention to the speaker’s voice tone. Is the voice of the speaker calm or emotional? What level of confidence does the speaker have regarding the facts they are presenting?
Make a mental note of any shifts in the topic or interjections, which is an essential tip for TOEFL preparation for the listening section.

Also read : TOEFL vs IEL TS

TOEFL Writing section Tips

Candidates must create an article and successfully describe a topic on the TOEFL writing portion. The reply should be well-organized and very well developed with relevant explanations and supporting details as a part of TOEFL preparation. The topic should also have a sense of unity, development, and clarity. However, Candidates regularly come across alternative opinions in a single text. As a result, in the TOEFL preparation for the Writing section, the reader must pay attention to how the writer handles any arguments to the perspective if they exist and then express the same in their original words, which increases their grip on the language.

How to prepare for TOEFL writing tips

While doing TOEFL preparation for Writing, students need to focus on improving their vocabulary and understanding of idiom speech so that they can use it effectively.
And also, they should understand grammatical structures to the point in which you can utilize them efficiently in their Writing.
Learn how to spell, punctuate, and format your documents correctly (e.g., paragraph creation), which is the main aim of TOEFL preparation for the Writing section.
Find a textbook with material-related questions at the end of each section and practice answering the questions.
Read a short essay of about 300–400 words. Make an overview that includes the article’s central points and necessary details. Give a brief overview of the material and concepts using the outline, which improves grip on the English language while doing TOEFL preparation.
Summaries should be short and convey only the most important ideas and details. Make sure to use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures while paraphrasing.
If students want to get a good grade on their Writing, make sure they show grammatical diversity and correct word choice while eliminating minor grammatical faults.

TOEFL iBT preparation

TOEFL iBT is the internet-based exam conducted by the ETS. Candidates can take this TOEFL iBT at their home with the help of a special home edition or can visit exam centers with internet facilities. There is a slight difference between the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT exams. However, many English-speaking countries are asking for TOEFL iBT scores rather than the TOEFL PBT scores. So, candidates who are taking TOEFL iBT need to follow some tips while doing TOEFL preparation.

The following are the tips for TOEFL preparation :

Start preparing well ahead of time because Last-minute preparations are rushed and can cause you not to attain the desired TOEFL score.
Take a lot of practice exams Daily; it will help you keep track of your progress.
Listen to Podcasts while doing TOEFL preparation. Because exams like the TOEFL iBT have listening parts with a variety of accents, listening to podcasts in various accents will help you absorb the material faster and avoid any confusion on test day.
While doing TOEFL preparation for iBT, Take good notes. Taking notes frequently will help you avoid last-minute flaws.
Also, don’t take notes word for word. Just Make a list of important points and try to save as much time as you can while doing TOEFL preparation.

TOEFL Study materials

There are many study materials available Online and in manual books for TOEFL preparation. The books published by Cambridge, ETS, Kaplan’s, Barron’s, etc., are best for the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL exam practice test, which will help students to get a good grip on the English language and also develop their vocabulary with fluency while doing TOEFL preparation.

Also read : TOEFL Exam Pattern and Syllabus

TOEFL preparation after GRE

The TOEFL preparation time totally depends on the capacity of the Candidates. If the Candidate is a fast learner, then they can complete the syllabus fastly. And many students who want to write the TOEFL exam after GRE will surely get enough time for TOEFL preparation. After attempting the GRE exam, two weeks for TOEFL preparation is enough for candidates because the GRE has a broader skill set which will help candidates to learn more vocabulary that is also present in the TOEFL exam.

TOEFL self-study plan

As candidates can also do self-study for the TOEFL exam, they need to prepare all the requirements like books, online resources, and practice papers to do TOEFL preparation without any deviations. Moreover, candidates need to prepare their self-study plan, which includes the goals for every week. With this self-study plan for TOEFL preparation, candidates can complete their syllabus and also learn the words and skills required to get a good score on the TOEFL exam.

TOEFL preparation Online free

There are various online sources available for TOEFL preparation. And many websites are providing TOEFL courses for free Online like Udemy– TOEFL speaking success in 90 minutes, Skillshare– The complete guide for TOEFL writing, etc. And websites like ETS, test.guide.com, etc., are offering TOEFL practice papers for free Online. With the help of these resources, candidates can complete their TOEFL preparation fastly.

People also read : TOEFL Result and Score

Exam day Tips for TOEFL

Even though candidates do TOEFL preparation well, they may feel insecure or get tense at the exam time. Even though we can take the TOEFL exam many times to get a good score, there will be some fear about the exam. To reduce this fear, there are some tips to follow by the candidates.

Students should arrive at the TOEFL testing center at least half an hour before to settle in, which is common for any exam. Go to the center location a day before so students can understand where to go. Keep reading to learn the Exam day tips for TOEFL exams.
You shouldn’t be worried about the TOEFL since once you’ve been taught English since childhood, you shouldn’t have any problems doing well.
Take a couple of minutes to gather your thoughts before beginning the Reading part.
On the day of the exam, don’t prepare. It will just add to your tension rather than relieve it.
Only 20 minutes are allotted for the writing section. They may appear good, but Proofreading all the answers after you are done with Writing will help you eradicate huge errors.
During the Speaking and Listening parts, you must be careful and alert. Because the headphones supplied are not noise-canceling, you need to pay close attention to hear the words or questions clearly.

FAQs

✅ What are the different methods for TOEFL preparation?

Ans: There are different ways or methods available for TOEFL preparation. In them, the most effective methods are taking TOEFL course sessions from the expert tutors, and also students or candidates can also do TOEFL preparation by studying books related to the TOEFL exam or watching Videos and taking help of Online resources.

✅ Is there any Refund Policy for the TOEFL exam?

Ans: Yes, there is a refund policy for the TOEFL exam. To get the refund, students need to cancel their exam four days before their actual TOEFL exam date. Then Students will get half -of their payments, and it also will be paid in US dollars. There is no Cash refund available.

✅ How can I start to prepare for the TOEFL exam?

Ans: Time is the most important thing for TOEFL preparation. To get a good score, students need to start their TOEFL preparation as early as possible and solve as many question papers as possible to get a grip on the TOEFL exam paper.

✅ Are there any Cut-Off marks for the TOEFL exam?

Ans: No, there are no Cut-Off marks for TOEFL exams. Because every University has its own TOEFL exam requirements and also the minimum score required by them. However, the University does not change the TOEFL score requirements frequently, and also, the score requirements vary from one University to another. So, Students need to check the TOEFL score requirements before starting their TOEFL preparations.