TOEFL. My personal experience

Contents
1. Let`s get acquainted
2. Several useful resources
3. Some general ideas
4. Special ideas for separated sections
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing

1. Nikita
Major: Mathematics
Level before TOEFL preparations: intermediate
Duration of preparation: 2,5 months
Approximate number of hours per day: 6+
Days off: of course

2.Several useful resources
1. The Official guide to the TOEFL

2.Several useful resources
2. 400 Must-have words for the TOEFL

2.Several useful resources
3. Different books for TOEFL with sample tests
Barron’s – 8 tests
Kaplan - 4 tests
Longman – 2 tests
Cracking the TOEFL – 1 test

2.Several useful resources
4. You can purchase some official sample tests
ets.org/toefl

2.Several useful resources
4. You can purchase some official sample tests
ets.org/toefl
5. You can build your vocabulary completing different exercises
wordsteps.com

2.Several useful resources
4. You can purchase some official sample tests
ets.org/toefl
5. You can build your vocabulary completing different exercises
wordsteps.com
6. You can find lots of interesting material in English
lingualeo.ru

2.Several useful resources
4. Purchase some official sample tests
ets.org/toefl
5. Build your vocabulary completing different exercises
wordsteps.com
6. Lots of interesting material in English
lingualeo.ru
7. Grammar video lessons
engvid.com

2.Several useful resources
4. Purchase some official sample tests
ets.org/toefl
5. Build your vocabulary completing different exercises
wordsteps.com
6. Lots of interesting material in English
lingualeo.ru
7. Grammar video lessons
engvid.com
8. Grammar: theory and exercises
englishpage.com

2. Several useful resources
9. Lectures to listen
voanews.com/learningenglish
10. Books
amazon.com
11. Subtitles
subscene.com

3. Some general ideas
Spend as much time as possible studying English
Collaborate with EducationUSA center

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400
learn new words: not just write down, but also expressions with them
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
http://lingvo.yandex.ru/

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400
learn new words: not just write down, but also expressions with them
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
http://lingvo.yandex.ru/
Compose your own sentences, underline important words

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400
learn new words: not just write down, but also expressions with them
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
http://lingvo.yandex.ru/
Compose your own sentences, underline important words
At first don’t try to complete the reading section in 20 minutes. Think deeply. Try to guess words from context, but write them down later. Start with text in books, then on the screen.

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400
learn new words: not just write down, but also expressions with them
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
http://lingvo.yandex.ru/
Compose your own sentences, underline important words
At first don’t try to complete the reading section in 20 minutes. Think deeply. Try to guess words from context, but write them down later. Start with text in books, then on the screen.
My average text. 6 min for quite attentive reading of the whole text, then 14 minutes for questions. Don’t waste time for difficult questions

4. Ideas for: READING
TOEFL 400
learn new words: not just write down, but also expressions with them
http://www.learnersdictionary.com
http://lingvo.yandex.ru/
Compose your own sentences, underline important words
At first don’t try to complete the reading section in 20 minutes. Think deeply. Try to guess words from context, but write them down later. Start with text in books, then on the screen.
My average text. 6 min for quite attentive reading of the whole text, then 14 minutes for questions. Don’t waste time for difficult questions
Timed exercises -> complete sections

4. Ideas for: READING
You should come back and analyze your mistakes attentively: words in distracting answers often repeat text words, while correct answer consists of paraphrased ideas

4. Ideas for: READING
You should come back and analyze your mistakes attentively: words in distracting answers often repeat text words, while correct answer consists of paraphrased ideas
Write down words which were mentioned in synonyms questions, and clue words.

4. Ideas for: READING
You should come back and analyze your mistakes attentively: words in distracting answers often repeat text words, while correct answer consists of paraphrased ideas
Write down words which were mentioned in synonyms questions, and clue words.
Be attentive all the time

4. Ideas for: LISTENING
voanews.com, bbc.com
history, news, science -> player; academic lectures from discs -> player

4. Ideas for: LISTENING
voanews.com, bbc.com
history, news, science -> player; academic lectures from discs -> player
don’t try to write down all words that you hear, only clue words

4. Ideas for: LISTENING
voanews.com, bbc.com
history, news, science -> player; academic lectures from discs -> player
don’t try to write down all words that you hear, only clue words
be prepared to listen to fast and quite difficult speech, different accents

4. Ideas for: LISTENING
voanews.com, bbc.com
history, news, science -> player; academic lectures from discs -> player
don’t try to write down all words that you hear, only clue words
be prepared to listen to fast and quite difficult speech, different accents
idioms, phrasal verbs are very rare

4. Ideas for: LISTENING
voanews.com, bbc.com
history, news, science -> player; academic lectures from discs -> player
don’t try to write down all words that you hear, only clue words
be prepared to listen to fast and quite difficult speech, different accents
idioms, phrasal verbs are very rare
practice write down things and listen to lecture simultaneously

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING
The first part when you need a tutor to check your responses and grammar! Emulate speaking tasks and record your responses, than discuss
There are sample responses in books: Barrons, Longman

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt
Practice to instantly create 2 supporting reasons

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt
Practice to instantly create 2 supporting reasons
Don’t say any general statements without supporting reasons and examples

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt
Practice to instantly create 2 supporting reasons
Don’t say any general statements without supporting reasons and examples
Private examples are good

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt
Practice to instantly create 2 supporting reasons
Don’t say any general statements without supporting reasons and examples
Private examples are good
Write down useful and general good/bad qualities of person, reasons why you like a place, think about traditions and holidays

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - independent
Kaplan: 4 major topics: place, person, event
Google: speaking section toefl ibt
Practice to instantly create 2 supporting reasons
Don’t say any general statements without supporting reasons and examples
Private examples are good
Write down useful and general good/bad qualities of person, reasons why you like a place, think about traditions and holidays
Create a mold: one statement for introduction /from my point of view/, 2 supporting reasons /first of all, secondly/, conclusion /as you can see from these examples/.

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - integrated
Increase your vocabulary + pronunciation

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - integrated
Increase your vocabulary + pronunciation
Create a mold: introduction (the problem is), structured essential information (the professor asserts)

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - integrated
Increase your vocabulary + pronunciation
Create a mold: introduction (the problem is), structured essential information (the professor asserts)
Practice to know what 45 and 60 seconds is

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - integrated
Increase your vocabulary + pronunciation
Create a mold: introduction (the problem is), structured essential information (the professor asserts)
Practice to know what 45 and 60 seconds is
If you are asked to state your opinion, allot 20-30 seconds of 60, since you are expected to support your preferences

4. Ideas for: SPEAKING - integrated
Increase your vocabulary + pronunciation
Create a mold: introduction (the problem is), structured essential information (the professor asserts)
Practice to know what 45 and 60 seconds is
If you are asked to state your opinion, allot 20-30 seconds of 60, since you are expected to support your preferences
Spend an evening in café with your friend to speak in a crowded place in a foreign language

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com
Structure: Paragraphs, linking words. (Kaplan)

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com
Structure: Paragraphs, linking words. (Kaplan)
Integrated: Kaplan
2 different types of summary

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com
Structure: Paragraphs, linking words. (Kaplan)
Integrated: Kaplan
2 different types of summary
Independent: Official Guide, samples

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com
Structure: Paragraphs, linking words. (Kaplan)
Integrated: Kaplan
2 different types of summary
Independent: Official Guide, samples
Probable timetable:
3 min: point of view, 3 supporting ideas
25 min: write
2 min: obvious grammar mistakes

4. Ideas for: WRITING
Grammar: englishpage.com, engvid.com
Structure: Paragraphs, linking words. (Kaplan)
Integrated: Kaplan
2 different types of summary
Independent: Official Guide, samples
Probable timetable:
3 min: point of view, 3 supporting ideas
25 min: write
2 min: obvious grammar mistakes

Good Luck!