TIPS ON SELF GUIDED TOEFL PREPARATION

So,i finished my Toefl exam on march 2nd.And my results were fine.I would say i had an average score.The preparation was scarce enough to get an average score.Thought of sharing it here.

1. Cognize what TOEFL is
    As inaugural on the TOEFL preparation, you should have a clear idea on how the toefl exams are? How it's gonna be on the test day(this is a real important thing that you should know), How long is it? What are the sections? How should you prepare for it?

•  Get an ETS toefl test preparation book which includes a CD .The CD contains 3 practice tests which is way enough to know how the test is gonna be.The image of the book is given above.This is the latest one.
• There are 4 sections  : 

1. Reading - 30
2. listening - 30
3. speaking - 30
4. writing - 30                                         

You will have 4 hours to finish the test.The total  test score is 120. And most of the universities that i have applied to need 79 cut off and a few other universities need 83 as cut off.But if you are looking for top universities like Harvard and Princeton,they need a score above 100. If you are reluctant on spending money for toefl classes this might be useful for you.

I will explain each sections and work on how to prepare for it.

2.Prepare

As prior to the preparation,do know about the situation you gonna face on the test day.I will explain,how mine was.I had my appointment at 8.30 in the morning.Was frazzled.They asked me to show my ID and appointment letter and lastly they took my photo.And then i was send to the exam hall(i call it as an exam room though).
   A small room with 10 to 15 people seated like in a theater with a computer and head phone in front of you.No much space between you.And this is were you have to read,listen,most of all SPEAK and write.If you are lucky enough,you may get an exam hall(rather than a room). This is just an information and don't get panic.Even though if you have prepared well and have a hope of getting good score,once you get nervous on the test day,half your score is burned up.

• Do not get nervous on your test day.
• Do not worry about the one sitting next to you(because they don't worry about you).
• You may get distracted by the noises that you hear around you,but try to ignore and Focus on your test.
• keep your headphones throughout the test,it may reduce the noises that you may get distracted to.
• Definitely take the 10 minutes break they provide you because you will need it badly.
• Be confident.

    2.1. Listening:
             Let me start with the listening section.This section is to measure your ability to understand the conversations and lectures in English.As a prior to the preparation,its always better to get familiar with the US accents.National geography,news channels,discovery and a lot other English channels will help you out.

   2.1.(a) Overview:
          You will have to listen to 4 to 6 lectures and 2 to 3 conversations.And you will be asked to answer a few questions regarding the lecture or conversations.If at all you listen to the lecture carefully,it will be very simple for you to answer the questions.Multiple choice questions make it easy for you to answer the questions.But don't get confused by the slight similar answers.You should choose the exact answers.

• Take important notes while you listen to the part of lectures or conversations.
• Don't worry about a new term that they may introduce,the definition will be given in the paragraph provided or if its not there,do not bother about it because there wont be any question regarding that term.

2.1.b Prepare: 

• Practice taking notes whenever you listen to lectures or conversations. Always make sure you take the key points.
• Improve your vocabulary,so that you could understand them.
• Pay attention,when someone in the exercise ask a question.Because that's important.

   You can practice a few listening sections from the links given below
TOEFL Listening Test 1 (6 questions) with Answers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENkwUBPhMJw&list=PL906636C7E32B3CF4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW4IdRD9Q8I
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpxHCTxSeIQ

And you can get a lot more from you tube.Its very helpful

2.2.Speaking 
   And here comes the fear factor.This part is which you should never get nervous on.You will all mess up, if you get nervous on this part.And one another challenge that you may have to face is the noise that surrounds you. So while you prepare for the speaking section,make sure you do a trial on speaking section while you are under pressure. Speak while some TV shows are running behind you or similar scenarios like that. 

2.2.a: Overview:
    You will have 6 questions that you have to speak on.First and second questions are an open ended question,where you can speak your opinion.Third and fourth questions,you have to read a passage, hear a lecture about that and will be asked to speak about the lecture.Fifth question,  you will hear a conversation between two students and then you will be asked to summarize it.Sixth question is alike fourth question but no passage ,and you have to speak about the lecture.And the challenge is you will have a very little time to speak.

 2.2.b Prepare:

• Record your speech in a mobile or any other device to review it,so that you can correct yourself.
• Speak while some music is live near you.
•  Modulate your voice while speaking so that it may bring an impression to the listener. 
• Do not hasten,while you speak
• Deliver only the important points because you have a very limited time to speak.
• practice and practice and practice.

And some you tube videos were really helpful for me to form the speech.Use the phrases the instructor mentions in the video.You get instructions on all the 6 questions.The link is given below.

http://www.youtube.com/user/NoteFulldotcom?feature=watch 

2.3 Reading
   I thought ,this part would be very easy because i did it very well during my practice tests.I was disappointed while taking the test because it was never ending.This section was a lengthy one.I was not lucky enough to get 4 passages,instead i had 5 lengthy passages to read and answer the questions.The section was fine but you get bored or tired after taking 3 passages or so. You will have a mind to just finish it off and work with the next section.

2.3.a Overview :
     You will have 4 to 5 passages to read and13 to15 questions to answer on each passage.You have 1 hour time to answer roughly 55 to 60(case of 4 passages) or 70 to75(case of 5 passages).

2.3.b Prepare:
   

• Read English passages everyday and try to grasp the key points in it.
•  Try to read passages on different subjects.
• Practice to skim the passage rather than read the whole passage.You should get the ability to get the key points in a passage without spending a lot of time on it.
• Make quick notes on the passage,so that you can remember things in it.
• Don't spend much time on the questions you are unsure of.
• Do not worry of a topic that you are completely unaware of because all the answers you need is hidden in the passage.Open wide and look at it.
• For all the sections in toefl increase your vocabulary and the idioms. 

 .I did the 3 practice tests from the ETS CD and from the link given below

http://www.testden.com/challenge/free-toefl.asp 


You should be mentally prepared to take 5 passages.If you are lucky,you may get only 4.

2.4 Writing
  Compared to the GRE writing section,TOEFL writing section is way easy.So if you have an average writing skill, you can enjoy it very well.You have enough time too in this section.
 
2.4.a Overview

 You have two tasks in the writing section: an integrated writing task and an independent writing task. In the integrated task,you will be given a passage and a short lecture to listen.And then you will be asked to summarize the points in the lecture and how they relate it to the specific points in the passage.You have 20 min to respond.The suggested length is between 150 to 225 words. And in the second task you will be asked to give your opinion on a specific topic.You get 30 min to write.An effective response is judged to be about 300 words long. 

2.4.b Prepare:

•   Practice the tests of ETS and beyond, write on your own and judge your writing ability.
• You have a pool of questions given in the ETS book. You can write on that topics.
• When you practice write out every word in full.Never use abbreviations. We have a tendency to do it. (You-u, what - wat,how,hw)
• Its pleasing if you use complicated language and big words,but use it if you know how to use them.Or else you can use simple words. Toefl do not need complicated words as in GRE. 
• Make sure your essay has a structure. Strong introduction,2 to 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph that unify your thoughts.
• Use the phrases that you see in the ETS book used by the high scorers.
• Its gratifying if you use examples and reasons to justify your points.
• Use different synonyms,if you have to use a word more than once, which would be impressive.
• Use appropriate tenses which is a very important factor to improve your score.
• Do not write too much.Make sure you deliver the key points and justify it.Too much of reading make your evaluator tired and that may lead to a low score.

Save time to read your essay again,so that you can edit on your mistakes.

 TOEFL test is comparatively an easy one.There is nothing to worry about the test(other than the congested room where you take the test). Be confident and face it.

Let me know if you have any doubts regarding the test. 

Good luck guys. :-)