TOEFL Practice in Taiwan

Free TOEFL Practice on the Internet
 
1)      www.ets.org/toefl/
ETS Official Site with general information about the test
2)      www.ets.org/toefl/sampletest.html
ETS List of Writing Topics and Practice Questions
3)      www.english-at-home.com/dir/TOEFL/
This has a list of sites: Look at “Beat the TOEFL Test” and “TOEFL Practice Questions.”
4)      www.4tests.com/
Click on “TOEFL”   -   Click on “Begin Exam”
This is a very good practice site.
5)      www.freeesl.net/TOEFL/structuresection
                  Free on-line structure practice.
6)      http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bltoefl1.htm
Look at all the free TOEFL quizzes at the bottom of the page!!!
7)      www.englishtestprep.com
Click on “TOEFL”     Then click on “Free Practice Tests”
8)      www.freevocabulary.com
This is only a list of common TOEFL vocabulary words.
 
 
9)      http://esl.about.com/cs/toefl/a/a_toefl.htm
                  Look at “computer based section”
ALSO, Look at “SAMPLE ESSAYS” – this has examples of quality TOEFL essays.
10)  www.testmagic.com
Look at “On-line Tests”
ALSO, Look at “Most Common Essay Mistakes”
 
 
Pay $ for TOEFL Practice on the Internet
                        -There are many sites that offer TOEFL practice if you want to pay $.
                                    Here are 2:
1)      www.toefl-secrets.com/
2)      www.gettoefl.com/twe/essay.htm

-This one will correct your TOEFL essays for you. 
  (COURTESY OF CHRIS CIAMBARELLA, TOEFL MASTER EXTRAORDINAIRE)

第三讲 题型分析(2)

2. 比较类

1) Topics:
(1) A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

(2) Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.


2) 例文分析

Topic 1: Some people prefer work or activities that mainly involve working with people. Others choose work or activities that mainly deal with objects or machines. Compare these types of activities. Which of them do you prefer? Give reasons to support you answer.

　　There is much disagreement over whether it is better to work with people or with objects or machines. Some people claim that it is more comfortable to work with objects or machines. Others, however, argue that working with people is more pleasant. If I were forced to agree with one of the two positions, my choice would be the latter.
　　Why do some people think that working with objects or machines are more advantageous than working with people? For one thing, objects or machines are easier to deal with. Since both objects and machines have no wills, they do not argue with us. On the contrary, they are always ready to follow our directions. For another, objects or machines are reliable. Unlike people who sometimes hurt our feelings, they never cheat us. In addition, I suppose, these people cannot adapt themselves to the human world of competition.
　　Although I agree that working with objects or machines certainly has its advantages, I insist that it is far more beneficial and exciting to work with people. In the first place, when I work with people, I can work more efficiently than when I work with machines or objects. The reason, in my opinion, is that working with people gives us power and competition and thus make our work more productive. In this sense, rivalry can become a very effective motive in improving one's ability. Moreover, two heads are always better than one. In the second place, working with people is more interesting than working with machines or objects. The latter makes one bored, and it takes much more time to complete a certain task. Besides, if one spends most of his or her time only handling machines or objects, he or she can become indifferent and inhuman. Though machines may be very accurate, they have no hearts. In other words, it is hard to feel love for machines or objects.
　　In conclusion, I believe that working with people is far more valuable not only because it increases our efficiency in work, but also because it brings us a sense of companionship that contributes to the meaning of our life as well as our work. Therefore, I prefer working with people.


Topic 2: Violent TV programs have been blamed for causing crime rates to rise in many cities. But many people do not agree that violence is related to TV viewing. Discuss the possible reasons for both opinions. Give your opinion as to whether or not violent programs should be taken off the air.

　　There is much debate over whether violent TV programs are relevant to the rise of crime rates or not. Some people assert that it is obvious that violent TV programs cause violence. Others, however, do not agree that violence is related to TV viewing at all. As far as I am concerned, the disgraceful violent TV programs should be largely responsible for the rising rates of crime in modern cities.
　　Why do some people disagree that the violence on TV programs should be blamed for the rise of crime rates? For one thing, they presuppose that everyone has self-control. Except by force, one cannot make a person do anything which he or she is not willing to. Since TV programs are something over the air broadcast simply for fun, how can they control a person without recourse to any physical means? For another, those people believe that everything can be changed except the essential character of an individual. In most cases, just as a law-abiding citizen always abides by the law, criminals cannot change their own character no matter how much punishment they have suffered in jail. It is their character rather than TV violence that drives them to commit crimes. Violent TV programs, they conclude, are innocent
　　Although I agree that the individual's self-control and character has certain effect on his or her behavior, I insist that the external environment plays a far more important role in forming people's moral values and behavior, to say nothing of children and the youth who have not yet fully developed their own "self-control and character." In the first place, violent TV programs tend to obscure the difference between good and evil, harming the social morals and values. As we know, Evil is the next-door neighbor of Good; even an adult sometimes cannot distinguish them, needless to say a teenager. Consider the case of a boy who imitates the violence on TV just out of curiosity without knowing that he is doing something that he would regret in his rest life. Can you still claim that it is the fault of the boy, not the violent programs, because he is a born criminal?! In the second place, violent TV programs can gradually change people's behavior, misleading them to the belief that violence is the most effective way to resolve conflicts. Nowadays, as soon as you turn on your TV, violence is vividly presented before you, with the success of the criminals encouraging you, the luxurious booty tempting you, and the stupidity of the police cheering you. The implied message is obvious: if you want to get rich fast, STEAL, ROB AND MURDER! How many people can resist this tempting invitation?
　　From what has been discussed above, we may draw the conclusion that violent TV programs have in a large sense caused crime rates to rise not only because of their destructive influence on people's morality, but also because of their vicious effect on people's behavior. Therefore, I strongly hold that they should be censored strictly.

Topic 3: Some people like different friends. Others like similar friends. Compare the advantages of these two kinds of friends. Which kind of friends do you prefer? Explain why.

　　Which kind of friends is more desirable, different friends or similar friends? Since people's criterion for friendship differs, they may never agree on the above issue. Personally, I have made friends with people from all walks of life, and these different friendships are such a precious treasure of mine.
　　In the first place, a mixture of friends can bring us many practical benefits. As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Since we all need to move on in life, we need new friends to lead us to new adventures, new career opportunities and new life. In fact, most of us have to make new friends when we leave school and find employment. Besides, different friends can help us with the different difficulties that we encounter in life. At the risk of sounding cold, different friends can also help us with financial problems. And the friend in a foreign country might be able to arrange cheap accommodation for a holiday.
　　In the second place, contact with different friends gives a person a broad outlook to life. As the Chinese sage Confucious put it, "When three persons walk together, one of them can surely be my teacher." Since we all have our weaknesses, the strengths of different friends can always complement each other. For example, from a friend who majors in computer, I have learned how to design my own web page; by exchanging e-mails with an American pen-friend, I have greatly improved my English writing. In addition, different friends can help me to enjoy a variety of interests, and we can always attract each other with our different hobbies, different ideas and different experiences. I feel that I can always find things to learn from my various friend friends.
　　Admittedly, common sense tells us that the idea of having similar friends is not without advantages. We can feel a sense of strength when we have a group of friends who share our opinions. A person with a purpose in life--such as an artist or a politician--may feel a special need to surround himself or herself with people who stick to the same cause. It seems to me that introvert people tend to enjoy similar friends because they fear the potential risks of arguments and conflicts among different friends.
　　All in all, although "birds of a feather flock together," I would like to fly with "birds" of different feathers, which would certainly add to the color of my life.

Topic 4: There are advantages and disadvantages to different seasons of the year such as rainy or dry. Pick any two seasons that you are familiar with and compare the two. Describe what it is that makes you prefer one over the other. What activities do you engage in? What feelings do you have during this season?

　　Year in and year out, the four seasons, like our faithful friends, bring to us expected joys and satisfactions. The year would be much less colorful with any one of the four seasons missing. However, on balance, I like summer and winter best of all because they provide me with diversity that I look for in my life.
　　In the hot summer season, the world is full of life. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and I feel energetic about different kinds of outdoor activities, such as jogging, bicycling, and swimming. Actually, swimming is one of my favorite sports. In water, both body and mind have to work together either to move forward or simply float. It is good stress reduction for the intensive modern life that many of us have. Summer also enables us to have more fresh fruits and vegetables. I like to go to the farmers' market where I can enjoy the good prices, the availability of fresh produce, and the farmers' smiles.
　　In winter, on the other hand, the world is quiet and peaceful. Inside the house, there is nice warmth, with friends or relatives chatting over cups of hot tea or coffee. Or if you like, you can sit in front of your window enjoying the pleasure of quiet reading. Outside in the open air, the world is beautiful with roads, trees, mountains, lakes, everything, dressed in pure white snow. It's fun to watch children play in the snow or to join them in making a snowman. It would be even more exciting, if you live in the countryside, to follow the trails of foxes or hares on the snowfield.
　　In a word, summer is colorful while winter is tranquil. On the one hand, the exciting activities of summer can always fill me with joy; on the other hand, the poetic scenes of winter arouse tender feelings in my heart. However, I prefer winter for the simple reason that I was born in a snowy winter 20 years ago and that every winter there is a splendid birthday party waiting for me.

3. 综合类

Topics:
(1) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for students to study history and literature than it is for them to study science and mathematics. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

(2) In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.

CBT TOEFL Listening Section Insights


Listening Section Composition


Listening Section Type insights


Listening Section Topic Insights


Listening Section Composition:


Here we summarize the composition of the listening section of the CBT TOEFL test as likely encountered today. This is the section that has changed most significantly in recent years and may change more drastically in coming years because of the development of computer technology. There are two parts within the listening section.

Listening Part A: short conversations

There are either 11 or 17 short conversations, of which mostly have a man and a woman speaking. In this part, the picture you see provides no useful information, serving only as a distracter; Therefore, avoid concentrating on this image.

Listening Part B: longer conversations, discussions, and lectures

You are given either 20 or 33 questions, meaning about 5 to 7 conversations, discussions and lectures: The speakers talk at natural speed, and the average length of each piece is 2 minutes.

Please note that, unlike with the short conversations, the pictures in Part B are of importance in understanding and answering questions about the lecture.

ETS is making only rare use of its complicated non-multiple choice questions, but there may be some use of Matching/Ordering and Click on Diagram questions.



Listening Section Type Insights


Most items in Part A make use of indirect answers, false questions, voice inflection, sound alike traps and phrasal verb expressions. They test your ability to understand and find out hidden meaning or implication.

On the other hand, most questions and answers in Part B are directly based on listening content. They test your ability to catch the main ideas as well as remember details after hearing a longer talk.

What the first person says usually does not contain the answer to the question, but what the second person says is the real key to the answer. Thus, pay more attention to the second person. For example,


Female: Why are you leaving so early? The movie doesn’t start till seven.
Male: I don’t want to be at the traffic there. It’s a nightmare on the expressway during rush hour.
Question: What does the man mean?

♦ He wants to go early to avoid a traffic jam.
ο He wants to leave the theater before the movie is over.
ο He doesn't know the way to the theater.
ο He doesn't usually get up at 7:00.


Listening for intonation is very important. A rising tone often indicates a question or disagreement, and a falling tone often indicated agreement. For example,


Female: Isn’t it great about Ruth’s community service award?
Male: She deserved it.
Question:What does the man mean?

♦ Ruth earned the award.
ο Ruth helped plan the award ceremony.
ο Ruth should work more for the community.
ο Ruth served as chairperson of the committee.


Female: It’s a tradition. Every New Year’s Day my sister and I go skating on the lake.
Male: Has it been cold enough this winter? Or will you go indoors?
Question:What does the man imply?

ο It's been too cold to go skating this winter.
ο The woman can go indoors if she gets cold.
♦ The lake may not have frozen.
ο He also likes to skate in the winter.


Pay attention to contrary conjunctions, like, but, however, etc. The content after 'but' is usually to suggest a contrary or negative way in light of the first clause, which is the vital part of the talk. For example,


Female: Gee, Tom, I hear that you are working as a house painter this summer. It's got to be awfully hot working up there on a ladder in the blazing sun all day.
Male: Well it's hard work, but I get to be outdoors and the pay is decent.
Question:What does the man imply?

ο He makes more money than the woman.
♦ He's satisfied with his job.
ο He had trouble finding a job.
ο He doesn't like working outdoors.


The first person uses one kind of interrogative sentences (yes-no questions). The answer of the second person is either yes or no. We review lots of the real test items and find out that more than 90% cases are with no-answer. Thus, if you totally have no idea about what the second person says, the good guess is to choose an answer that is opposed to the first person's opinion. For example,


Female Professor, have you graded my term paper yet?
Male To tell you the truth, I’ve been tied up in committee meetings all week.
Question: What can be inferred about the paper?

ο The committee is discussing it.
ο It received a low grade.
♦ It hasn't been graded.
ο The woman hasn't submitted it.


Understand subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood is quite simply a form of the verb when a person stops dealing with real things about which we can argue and starts dealing with uncertainties such as wishes, commands and unreal circumstances. The central point is unreal. For example,


Male: I really enjoyed that TV special about whales last night. Did you get home in time to see it?
Female: Well, yes. But I wish I could’ve stayed awake long enough to see the whole thing.
Questions: What does the woman mean?

♦ She fell asleep before the program ended.
ο She especially enjoyed the end of the program.
ο She missed the beginning of the program.
ο She wishes she had gone to sleep earlier.


Handle implication and inference. If the question is "What does the man/woman imply?" or "What can be inferred from the conversation?" and you don't understand the conversation at all, one good guess is to eliminate choices that contain something you heard. For example,


Male: I just found out I can’t renew my lease for the next school year.
Female: Well, don’t worry. There should be plenty of apartments freeing up after graduation.
Question: What does the woman imply?

♦ (A) The man will easily find a place to live.
ο (B) Apartments will be less expensive next year before.
ο (C) The man should move graduation.
ο (D) Her lease ends after graduation.


For a better guess (if it is the only option), you can eliminate choice B because you clearly heard the word 'apartments' in the conversation, and choice C as well as choice D because you also heard the word 'graduation'. The only remaining is choice A.


Understand commonly used idioms/phrases. For example 'I could not feel better' means 'I am feeling perfect', etc.


For part B, you need to get the main idea and also pay attention to details, like, name, place, time, etc.


Listening Section Topic Insights


TOEFL listening conversations, discussions, and lectures could happen anywhere, but almost all of them surround a central point - student's life. It definitely helps you to improve your English ability as well as your test scores if you are getting familiar with those topics: culture background, common knowledge, real-world language, frequently used words, etc. We give you a list of topics that frequently occur in real TOEFL tests.

Campus life; It covers a wide range of topics, like:
Daily life:

Clothing (fashion, coat, pants, T-short, socket, jacket, suit, shirt, shoes, tailor, etc.);
Shopping (various stuffs, store, mall, supermarket, department store, grocery store, drugstore, purchase, for sale, on sale, down payment, trade in, bargain, deal, price, expansive, discount, 20 percent off, etc.);
Dining (restaurant, cafeteria, fast food, food court, café, snack bar, tip, bill, payment, drinking, cooking, on diet, food, rare, medium, well-done, overdone, burnt, go Dutch, split the bill, chef, etc.);
Phone call (White Pages, Yellow Pages, long distance, operator, collect call, bill, get though, connected, disconnected, cut off, busy signal, etc.);
Health (sick, symptom - toothache, stomachache, hurt, sore, sprain, indigestion, headache, broken, allergy, cough, pain, wound, cold, feverish; doctor's office, clinic, health center, hospital, health service, medical center, doctor, dentist, surgeon, physician, dermatologist, orthopedic, nurse, medical, prescription, pill, insurance, etc.);
Housing (house, apartment, rent, deposit, termination, notice, bill, utilities, roommate, dorm supervisor/superintendent, custodian, janitor, ...);
Money (budget, expense, fund, check, credit card, cash, borrow, loan, lend, fee, buck, cost, can't afford, broken, a hole in my pocket, ...);
Time (watch, clock, busy, relax, different time expression, on time, on the dot, on the nail, sharp, ...);
Haircut (hairdressing, barbershop, barber, hairdresser, beauty shop, various cut or beauty related actions ...);
Car (driving, parking, pick-up, give a lift, traffic, repair, maintenance, car insurance, gas station, license, car dealer, mechanic, fare, tire, garage, wheel, ...);
Vacation and travel (travel agency, airport, bus, cab, taxi, hotel, motel, train, book or reserve, passport, visa, trip, tour, ...);
Using something (copy machine, camera, washing machine, dryer, machine, refrigerator, microwave, oven, air-condition, hardware, ...);
Places (asking location, cap, police, locker room, gym, apartment, library, classroom, ...);
Reading (newspaper, journal, text book, ...);
Mail (email, fax, fax machine, post office, stamps, postage, postal rate, ...);
Exercise: gym, gymnasium, fitness center, physical condition, keep fit/in share, ...);
Photo (picture, photograph, camera, album, film, develop film, ...);
Weather (sunny, clear, cloudy, fair, overcast, humidity, wet, damp, dry, moist, temperature, hot, cold, air-conditioner, heating, ...);
Social: club, student group, committee, organization, association, ...;
Borrow or lend something;
banking, romance, meeting, pet, politics, lost and found, etc.
Banking, for example, if you know all the following related issues, you should have no problem to understand a banking related conversation.

People: customer, personal banker, bank officer, bank manager, teller or cashier.
Location: bank branch, office (for personal banker, or bank officer, or bank manager), counter (for teller), ATM (banking machine), telephone banking, Internet banking.
Activities: open an account, check balance, deposit or withdraw money, apply mortgage or loan, change currency, pay bills, get money order or certified check, cash a check, etc.
Terms: check, check book, money order, debit (bank) card, credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express,...), cash, saving account, check account, bill, charge, banking fee, etc.

Entertainment:
Sports: football, soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, rock climbing, cycling, volleyball, swimming, ...,
Movie: drama, horror, documentary, animation, action, romantic, ...;
TV: channel, schedule, news remote control, digital channel, picture in picture, ...;
Leisure: picnic, barbecue, exhibition, aquarium, chess, poker, bridge, party, theatre, concert, music, skating, etc.
Academic Activities:
Administration Activities:
Registration: tuition, advisor, fill a form, course sheet, signature, full, closed, sign up, curriculum, enrollment, ...;
Student office: international student office, international advisor, information bulletin, ...;
Study Activities:
Notes: take notes, write down, jot down, put it on paper, handwriting, make out, illegible, lend notes or borrow notes, ...;
Examination: midterm, final, exam, test, quiz, pop quiz, open-book, take home, written test, oral test, score, grade, mark, ...;
Courses: elective, selective, optional , introductory, basic, advanced, required, prerequisite, drop off, credit, transfer, ...;
Library: librarian, library card, borrow, return, fine, time expired, make a photocopy, ...;
Classroom: presentation, paper, discussion, participation, textbook, homework, assignment, ...;
Academic topics: These topics occur in almost all lectures and sometimes in discussions. The coverage is so wide that nobody can really know all of them. Increasing your knowledge base will definitely help you. They could be:
algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, arithmetic, anthropology, archaeology, biology, ecology, geology, meteorology, psychology, sociology, zoology, botany, physiology, acoustics, aesthetics, economics, electronics, politics, physics, optics, linguistics, mechanics, pedagogics, statistics, astronomy, journalism, magnetism, anatomy, ...

Working Experience:
Occupations: electrician, plumber, carpenter, bricklayer, mechanic (technician), maintenance (crew/person), repairman, surgeon, dentist, psychologist, physician, nurse, dietitian/dietician, vet, dermatologist, pharmacist, accountant, statistician, teller, cashier, waitress, waiter, engineer, part-time/summer job, ...;
Job hunting (check the paper, Internet, ...), job search, interview, resume, cover letter, position, apply for, reference, ...;
School job: co-op, research assistant, teaching assistant, graduate assistant, ...;
Job topic: part-time, full-time, placement service, flexible, schedule, salary, base payment, tip, tax, ...;
Feelings:
In good mood: high-spirited, delighted, cheerful, in the seventh heaven, on cloud nine;
In bad mood: out of spirit, low-spirited, disappointment, depressed, worried, blues, upset, ...;
Tense: can't stand/sit/be still, on pins and needles, like a cat on hot bricks, on edge, get cold feet, ...;
Embarrassed, afraid of public speaking, ...;
Dozy, drowsy, can't see straight, can't keep my eyes open, doze off, my eyes seem to blur, ...;
Furious, down, panic, ...;
Absent-minded, go in one ear and out of the other, ...;
Keep to oneself, outgoing, open-minded, sociable, easygoing, ...;
Slip my mind, forget to do, ...;

How To Improve TOEFL Listening Comprehension
丗丗 丗 [99/08/07]

At about this time each year, many Japanese become frustrated with their lack of progress on Section 1 of the TOEFL. Their highest section score is typically Section 2, Structure and Written Expression, which tests basic English grammar and lends itself to easily memorized rules. They may notice gradual progress in achieving a good score Section 3, Reading Comprehension. Yet their score on Listening Comprehension remains below 60(Paper-based test).

Admissions officers look closely at the Section 1 score on TOEFL because it is the best indicator of ability to comprehend fast-paced idiomatic English in the classroom. Unless you can understand the English spoken in class,you can't contribute to the discussion, and if you can't contribute to the discussion, your value as a student representative of Japan is questionable.

Here are several practical tips to boost your listening comprehension score on TOEFL and your general English language listening ability.


A. General Advice for Both the Paper-based Test (PBT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Take TOEFL Tests Often
Take the actual TOEFL test monthly until you achieve your score targets,and take the ETS-licensed simulated TOEFL test monthly as an actual test'warm-up'. This simulated test is known as the Institutional Testing Program (ITP). Interface administers the test at the end of every month.Our course consists of an actual TOEFL test given and review of critical listening techniques.


Practice Dictation Exercises
To train your listening skills, listen to a listening test, and practice dictation based on a professionally prepared transcript of the practice test. The transcript will omit the key words that are important for you to find the correct answer, based on listening patterns that you must master.By filling in the missing words, you will improve your listening sensitivity. Because the transcript is professionally prepared, there are no mistakes in it.


Improve Your Concentration
The ability to concentrate is crucial on Section 1. Daily exercise to improve your concentration is thus important. Learn to block out any distracting thoughts during the TOEFL. Do not think about anything except the English that you hear on the tape.


Answer the Question, And Move On
Once you answer a question, do not change your answer, or worry about whether an answer choice that you have made is correct. Our statistics demonstrate that test-takers do not generally improve their score by changing answers. In fact, often they just change an answer that was right to one that was wrong. Memory retention is limited. Worrying about an answer already made distracts from the need to concentrate. If you lose your concentration, you may miss several questions in a row.


Take Every Occasion To Practice English
If you have native English speakers working in your organization, invite them to lunch. They will be most willing to accept your invitation.
If you can, join extracurricular activities that involve the participation of native English speakers. Your Interface person-to-person counselor will provide advice about which organizations are highly worthwhile.


Read English Newspapers, Books and Magazines
When you read, you are 'listening' to what you read mentally. You 'hear'English words. You remember vocabulary. The richer your vocabulary, the greater your reading ability and your listening ability.


Listen to News and Entertainment Programs on the Radio and on TV
The Far East Network (FEN) radio broadcasts news programs every hour on the hour. Try to listen to such news once or twice a day. If you have cable TV,listen to your favorite programs on CNN, including business news, Asian news, sports news, and news about science and technology.


Rent English language videos, and gradually improve your knowledge of idiomatic English. Not only will your TOEFL score improve, but your 'real world' English ability will improve, vital for your success in school.


Practice English on the Telephone
Understanding English on the telephone is harder than understanding English face-to-face, because you do not have visual clues to help you comprehend.Call your English-speaking friends on the telephone to improve your listening understanding of idiomatic English.


Become Familiar with the U.S. Academic Environment
On both the paper-based test (PBT) and Part A of the computer-based test(CBT), many of the short conversations or dialogues are between students in an academic setting. In fact, the conversation on Part A of the CBT is always conversation involving university life. Be generally familiar with the academic environment in the U.S. and the vocabulary that relates to a university. One way to meet this goal is to read the university bulletins that are sent to you.


Become Familiar with General Academic Subjects
By reading English magazines and watching CNN special programs on TV, you can acquire a general knowledge of academic subjects discussed on TOEFL lectures. These subjects include Art, Science, History and other fields studied at the undergraduate level in a university
CNN features special programs about art, music, and technology. Watch them when you can. Read about American history whenever you see articles in magazines or books about this subject.


Master TOEFL Listening Patterns.
Enroll in a TOEFL preparation course to learn complex listening patterns and techniques that are not easily mastered through textbooks. Make sure that your instructor has lengthy experience teaching TOEFL, and is a native English speaker. Trying to learn sophisticated English listening patterns from a non-native English speaker will not maximize your progress, just as trying to master Japanese language listening and pronunciation from a non-Japanese teacher is not the best way to become fluent in Japanese.


Strengthen Your Ability in the Most Challenging Areas
The most difficult test areas in Section 1 are questions that test:
丗Tone (Voice Emphasis on Certain Words and Phrases)
丗Phrasal Verbs
丗Other Idioms

The tone of the speaker's voice can signal a variety of feelings including surprise, agreement, disagreement, dismay, and sarcasm.

Your instructor will teach you to recognize these critical listening patterns that appear frequently on TOEFL tests.

Phrasal verbs and other idioms are challenging because they are not commonly studied in Japanese high school and university English courses.


Study Phrasal Verbs in 'Families'.
For example, one basic 'family' of phrasal verbs often heard on the TOEFL consists of the verb 'turn' followed by a variety of prepositional choices.

Turn in
Turn out
Turn up
Turn off
Turn around
Turn back
Turn aside
Turn inside out
Turn upside down
Turn to

These phrasal verbs form the basis of numerous idiomatic expressions, such as:
"Turn thumbs down," meaning to reject someone or something

"I was shocked that the steering committee turned thumbs down on my proposal."


Write Down New Vocabulary in a Notebook, or Make Vocabulary Cards
Vocabulary is the basic building block of all English. Unless you build English vocabulary, your listening comprehension will be limited. Make the study of vocabulary a regular (daily) part of your study plan.


Arrive at the Test Center Early
When you are late, you are nervous, and when you are nervous, you can't concentrate. Arrive at the test center early, take your seat early, and use the remaining time before the test begins to work on your concentration.


Do not stay up studying all night before the test. Get a good night's sleep. Relax. If you are tired on the day of the test, you will not maximize your score potential. Make sure you have a nice breakfast or lunch before taking the test. The test is long and you can't eat anything in the test center.
B. Other Advice About the Paper-based Test (PBT)
Choose TOEFL Listening Facilities Carefully
Some test centers have better listening facilities than others. In general,large test centers, especially universities, are not a good as smaller centers. We have heard that sometimes a university administrator blasts a message on a loud speaker system, drowning out the ETS speaker. The quality of the sound equipment can make a big difference.


Complain If Necessary
If the quality of the tape is bad, complain immediately. Do not wait until the actual test begins. Once the actual test begins, it is too late. ETS will not respond to your complaint later. Be assertive. Go up to the test administrator during the pre-test sound testing phase, and demand that the listening tape be adjusted for volume. If someone next to you is making noise, or coughing, go up to the test administrator before the text begins,and ask to change your seat.


Train Yourself to Answer Questions Early
Manage your time. On the paper-based test, develop a pace so that you finish answering a question (marking your answer sheet) a few seconds before the next question begins. Then use that time to look ahead at the answer choices for the next question, anticipating the possible pattern.When the next question begins, concentrate on listening.


In lectures, the first sentence or sentences provide the topic of the lecture. Listen carefully to this introduction, which is often the source of a question.
C. Other Advice about the Computer-based Test (CBT)
Don't waste time reading the directions.
If you are taking the computer-based test (CBT), there is no 12 second interval between questions. You can take the time you wish to answer a question, but your total time on the listening section is limited. Don't waste time reading directions that consume precious time. Know the directions before you take the test. To eliminate the need to read directions, immediately press the "Dismiss Directions" at the top right of your computer screen.


Adjust the Volume on The CBT Immediately
Don't wait until the test begins to adjust the volume on the Computer-based Test. Adjust it during the tutorial phase. The clock is not running then.The volume icon is located at the bottom of your computer screen.


Develop Computer Mechanical Skills
The three-step mechanical technique for taking the Computer-based test are
Select your answer by clicking on one of the four ovals next to the answer choices.
Click on the "Next Question" Icon
Click on the "Answer Confirm" Icon
Practice this mechanical procedure so that you can follow it effortlessly and save precious time.


Do Not Look at the Picture on Part A
The picture shown on the computer-based test will not provide clues about the answer. In fact, the picture will distract you. You will begin to concentrate on how the students are dressed or other details that are useless.


Do Not Look at the Professor or Students on Part B
Part B consists of Long Conversations and Lectures. Do not pay attention to the appearance of the professor and students shown in this part of the Listening Section. Concentrate on listening to the lectures or long conversations. The way the professor looks, whether the students or male or female, black or white, fat or thin, is irrelevant to finding the right answer.


Pay Attention to Graphs, Diagrams, or Charts Shown
Do pay attention to any graphs, diagrams or charts that are shown during the lectures. The English spoken to describe or explain them is very important as sources for questions.
Good luck. And let us know of your progress. To assist your studies, we will soon be introducing a phrasal verb or idiom on our Home Page frequently. So check it out regularly.