Prep:
I studied for 2 weeks, mostly for the speaking and writing:
1. Instead of reading the official guides - I watched these (official) videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/TOEFLtv - and saved valuble time!
2. For speaking I learned from notefull videos esp. for q 3,5,6 (available on youtube).
3. for writing I used notefull's template (available on youtube).
4. for Speaking 1,2,4 I used these videos (he is great!):
https://www.english-itutor.com/TOEFL_iBT.htmlI bought 1 official test and took it under timed conditions and then practiced from the official questions provided with the
OG.
On test day, I couldn't find the test centre and was late, and really nervous, so I drank an entire bottle of water to stop crying - BIG mistake. I arrived 15 minutes late, but there was a really long line at the entrance to the test centre - when I realised that I'm not really late - and waited for 30 more minutes before I could take the test.
The reading was long (4 passages - 80 minutes) and when I was done, I really really needed to go to the bathroom. The lady who was watching us said that for the lack of break, this time will be deducted from my Listening section time. I couldn't take it, so I ran, as fast as I could. When I returned, half of the 1st listening conversation was already over. I wrote down everything I could, and guessed about half of the question from the 1st section.
I was certain that I bummed it - but had a nice surprise when I opened the my score letter: 116 (Reading 30, Listening 28, Speaking 29, Writing 29).
I learned that even if one has a rough beginning, one can still make it!
Best of luck!
Maria