Here I concentrate main ideas that helped me to reach my 108 score. I've never used English in daily communication and it was long journey to 108.
READING.
- Do not read passages!!! They are longer than GMAT passages and you have more than 10 questions per passage. Questions go step by step, from first paragraph to last one. So, the best technique is: read question --> read paragraph --> answer question --> read next paragraph --> next question .... and so on. At the end, you will find two general questions but you have already read whole passage. I think you will fast find weak areas. I recommend to use "Delta's Key to the TOEFL Test" book. You can concentrate only on specific questions. My score: 29/30
LISTENING
- After special courses my score was 15/30. Then, I didn't prepared for listening section. At the same time, I everyday listened to podcasts with my iPod nano (4 months or so). My favorite ones: Voice of America, ELS, Wall Street Journal this morning, Bloomberg, Harvard Ideacast, Duke: speakers... Then I got 29/30 in my final 108 exam (I even got 30/30 in previous attempt).
SPEAKING
My score in all attempts ranges from 19/30 - 22/30. All my intensive preparation have not added something essential. So, no advice.
WRITING
- Fast typing. 20-30 mins go very fast....
- A simple structure without mistakes is better than a complex structure with a typo or mistake.
- I had low score in my two attempts. After that, I started to read sample essays from a book (It seemed to be Barron's Toefl essay) and write out all words, expressions and even sentences I liked. It has worked out. My score is 28/30. I've attached my magic collection to the post.
And my last advice: if you have never spoken English, don't underestimate TOEFL, especially speaking section. Majority of my friends had problems namely with speaking.
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