Just starting TOEFL prep

Question

Hi all,

I am just starting my TOEFL prep and trying to get an idea how much time do I need.
I am fluent in English (both speaking and writing). 
I just took GMAT and got 80 percentile for Verbal.

So, what is your estimate, how much time I need to prepare for TOEFL?
What books do you recommend?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

oldguru82 · Answer

Hello,

Please take some time to read the stickies in this forum, where you will find a lot of information about how to prepare the exam.
You can start for this one: everything-you-need-to-prepare-for-the-toefl-100641.html

rid

Fijisurf · Answer

Thanks. 
I did not notice how much information is there... Sorry.

Raja2 · Answer

Dear friends,
 I am writing this message regarding Toefl iBT, and i am sure after reading this message u would like to guide me properly.
 I have been taking toefl iBT in 2010 and all the times i have been getting almost same marks.
 
 Reading 18 
 listening 19 
 Speaking 24 
 Writing 26 
 But i need 23 in reading and 25 in listening. Unfortunately during reading session i cant concentrate for a long time. Five long passages and 14 questions each make it more difficult. As far as the listening is concerned ,the lectures and the dialogues are presented in a simple way but the questions are very tricky. It is funny to say sometimes they ask why professor does this... why he burbs, why he breaths etc.lol
This test has been made more memory and less logicable. Even most of the native speakes cant get advance level in this exam. Plz i request u to help me, to make my reading and listening better. I am so frustrated i want to replace it with IELTS.
Raja.

oldguru82 · Answer

the only thing I'd suggest you is to read and listen English as much as you can. For example, buy The Economist and read it entirely, or rent movies in English. You need to improve your concentration skills, not only for the TOEFL but for the next (GMAT? GRE?).

You are getting high scores in the usually harder sections of the TOEFL, and low scores in the easier ones :shock:

Raja2 · Answer

Thank you rid82 for your valuable suggestion. Actually i am a veterinarian from India and residing in USA for last two years. I need toefl iBT for my ECFVG programme. Believe me i have taken the toefl iBT three times and all the times almost same marks. I am trying to improve my listening and reading skills. Would u suggest some reading and listening material ( Books, audio cds). so that i could directly purchase them instead of spending money on some rubbish stuff?
Regards,
 Raja.

samidh · Answer

Hi Raja,

Its really an unique problem that is very difficult to assess without actually knowing you in person. I can give you a tip which helped me in my preparations. Pick up the newspaper everyday and go through the editorial section, specially on topics which do not interest you. That way not only will your reading and comprehension skills increase, but I feel it would help you with your patience too which I feel has played a big part in your previous TOEFL attempt. Since you are a doc, I am sure you have huge amounts of patience already! Just utilize it in the first 2 sections of the test.

All the Best!

Just starting TOEFL prep

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