Best tips

• Watch TOEFL Instructional videos - Speaking & Writing:
  toefl-instructional-videos-speaking-writing-very-useful-100611.html
• Post your essays and have them commented:
  want-your-writing-essay-read-please-read-100613.html
• Practice Speaking questions:
  toefl-speaking-practice-questions-106306.html
• Read the ETS TOEFL official tips official preparation page:
  http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/TOEFL_Tips.pdf

GMATClub best users debriefs

GMATClub users debriefs
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bhattman	111	link
bseb	118	link
chouky	113	link
Cielo	111	link
etienneb	102	link
irina7k	110	link
jbanzato	107	link
Matt1177	107	link
KingShark	117	link
Pathfinder	108	link
rafi	109	link
rid82	109	link
samidh	117	link
saruba	107	link
serhio	109	link
skpMatcha	104	link
snipertrader	108	link
sushmash	111	link
s138884	111	link
Todor	95	link
triple5soul	116	link
walker	108	link
vivsters	118	link
PeterPaul	116	link
e1s	106	link
darc	111	link
lucasp1589	111	link

About TOEFL

The TOEFL

TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language - in other words it is English Language Proficiency test that all US Business Schools require International applicants to take. The Internet Based Test or TOEFL iBT is scored from 0 to 120 but schools do not look at it from a scoring standpoint but rather Pass/Fail. Many schools will set a certain minimum that an applicants must get. If you are a native speaker or have been educated at a Western College that used English as the main language of instruction, there is a good chance that TOEFL requirement will be waived. US Residents and graduates of US colleges do not need to take TOEFL.

Sections

TOEFL IBT FORMAT
Test Section	Number of Questions	Timing
Reading	3-5 passages, 12-14 questions each	60-100 minutes
Listening	4-6 lectures, 6 questions each 2-3 conversations, 5 questions each	60-90 minutes
BREAK		8 minutes
Speaking	6 tasks, 2 independent, 4 integrated	20 minutes
Writing	1 integrated task, 1 independent task	20 and 30 minutes

* TOEFL is from 0 to 120 (0 to 30 each section).
* The time duration (Reading and Listening sections) is not fixed and it can differ from one exam to another. You can for example receive a longer Reading section (5 passages, 100 minutes) and then a shorter Listening section (4 lectures, 60 minutes), or the other way around.

Speaking section

SPEAKING SECTION
1.Personal Preference	This question asks the test taker to express and defend a personal choice from a given category—for example, important people, places, events or activities that the test taker enjoys.	Preparation time: 15 seconds Response time: 45 seconds
2.Choice	This question asks the test taker to make and defend a personal choice between two contrasting behaviors or courses of action.	Preparation time: 15 seconds Response time: 45 seconds
3.Campus Situation Topic: Fit and Explain	• A reading passage (75–100 words) presents a campus-related issue. • A listening passage (60–80 seconds, 150–180 words) comments on the issue in the reading passage. • The question asks the test taker to summarize the speaker’s opinion within the context of the reading passage.	Preparation time: 30 seconds Response time: 60 seconds
4.Academic Course. Topic: General/Specific	• A reading passage (75–100 words) broadly defines a term, process, or idea from an academic subject. • An excerpt from a lecture (60–90 seconds; 150–220 words) provides examples and specific information to illustrate the term, process, or idea from the reading passage. • The question asks the test taker to combine and convey important information from the reading passage and the lecture excerpt.	Preparation time: 30 seconds Response time: 60 seconds
5.Campus Situation Topic: Problem/Solution	The listening passage (60–90 seconds; 180–220 words) is a conversation about a student-related problem and two possible solutions. • The question asks the test taker to demonstrate an understanding of the problem and to express an opinion about solving the problem.	Preparation time: 20 seconds Response time: 60 seconds
6.Academic Course. Topic: Summary	• The listening passage is an excerpt from a lecture (90–120 seconds; 230–280 words) that explains a term or concept and gives concrete examples to illustrate that term or concept. • The question asks the test taker to summarize the lecture and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the examples and the overall topic.	Preparation time: 20 seconds Response time: 60 seconds

FAQ

What score do top business school require?
* Click here TOEFL score requirements for various schools
toefl-score-requirements-for-most-popular-schools-80110.html

What can I expect from the test center on the exam day?
* Contrary to the GMAT, TOEFL exams are not held in ETS official centers. You can expect taking the exam in a High School or other similar places, with no appropriated facilities.
* There will be a lot of people speaking aloud while you are taking the exam. Some test takers skip the Reading and Listening sections and start speaking very soon.
* Think about wearing earplugs to avoid losing concentration. You may use them during the whole exam turning up to the limit the volume of the headphones provided.

Where can I find the best preparation books?
* Everything you need about preparation books:
best-toefl-preparation-books-resources-reviews-comments-79121.html

How do they grade the Speaking section?
* The Speaking section contains six questions, and each one is scored from 0 to 4 points without decimal values.

For example, you can obtain the following set of results [4,4,3,3,3,3]. Then, they calculate the average of the results (sum of the the six scores divided by number of elements):(4+4+3+3+3+3) / 6 = 20 / 6 = 3.33 and the outcome (3.33) is converted to a 30 points scale.

- Rubric table:


-ETS scoring standards for each speaking question: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pd ... ubrics.pdf

How do they grade the Writing section?
* The Writing section contains two questions/essays, and each one is scored from 0.0 to 5.0 points with an interval of 0.5 points. That means that you can score 4.5 or a 4.0 in one of the questions, but you can't get a 4.25.

For example, lets say you obtain the following set of results: [4.5,4]. Then, they calculate the average (sum of the the two scores divided by number of elements): (4.5 + 4) /2 = 9.5 / 2 = 4.25 and the outcome (4.25) is converted to a 30 points scale.

- Rubric table:


- ETS scoring standards for each writing question: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pd ... ubrics.pdf

Can I retake the exam?
You can take the exam as many times as you like. There is no restriction.

Is there any TOEFL official statistics?
* Yes, here some statistics from 2009 (thanks to Pkit)
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pd ... y_2009.pdf

Great post rid!! Excellent initiative!! +1 when I come online.

Posted from my mobile device
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Excellent Post ! Kudos!
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Thanks so much. This cm is very effective for me :X

Hi samidh, thanks.



You are not allowed to skip a section and come back later. Once you have skipped it your score will be 0 in that section.

Some people skip the first sections because they are only interested in the score of the Speaking section. For example, some undergraduate universities require a minimum Speaking score, so a guy that has taken the TOEFL and obtained a good scores in all sections but Speaking, can be told to take it again to reach the Speaking requirement.

In my experience, at least 1/5 of the people who were taking the exam in the same room as me, started talking when I was in the middle of my reading section.



In my opinion I would say that for an average person the time/effort to score a 105 in TOEFL is much less that the time/effort to score a 700 in GMAT. But every one is different and really depends on your actual English level.

Good luck!
rid

Hi guys,
Anyone here knowing good prep material for mac, as the official prep CD-ROMs are only for windows?
Thanks
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excellent

hey guys so how differently does one need to prepare for toefl, meaning is there anything beside the gmat verbal topics that one needs to cover?

Greate source , thanks

Thanks a lot....This post means a lot to me...
I studied for 2 days using the links provided and gave exam on 3rd Feb 2013.
Today I got my score...and 100 it is...m lovin' it...:)
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