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Joined: 27 Feb 2017
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Location: United States (WA)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GRE 1: Q169 V168
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Re: Retake TOEFL for Harvard 2+2?
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24 Mar 2021, 23:21
With some preparation, you should definitely improve your listening and speaking scores.
Listening: Actually TOEFL questions are mainly about overall understandings. There are indeed details questions, but if you make sure that you understand conversations / lectures in general, you should have no problem answering almost all of them. (The same cannot be said for IELTS detail questions.) Now, if you took notes in the test, practice not taking any notes. Conversely, if you did not take note during test, try taking notes for a change. Find one approach that suits you better. We take notes mainly to help us focus. In actuality, notes may only be needed for just 1-2 questions, which can still be answered correctly, albeit with low confidence level, without notes. You should aim for 28-29 for listening.
Speaking: Just relax for task 1. Showcase your native speaker's strength, and you should receive full mark. For task 2-4, you do need to make sure that you cover major points. Task 2 is the easiest: spend 20 seconds summarizing the reading materials. Then clearly and curtly mention "the man / woman agrees / disagrees". Spend the next 20+20 seconds to reiterate 2 points used by the man / woman to support his / her position. Task 2 should be a walk in the park for you.
Task 3 and 4 are designed to be more challenging so that TOEFL can differentiate top performers from good ones. One is harder than the other, and it can be task 3. Remember you have just 1 minute, so you can only cover the most important ideas and examples. Maintain normal speaking speed. Do not try to repeat everything.
You should get 28 in speaking.
As for writing, definitely write at least 325 words for integrated task and more than 425 words for independent writing. Make sure to use proper grammar by, for example, taking heed of all the major grammar rules covered in GMAT. You will then be guaranteed to a score around 25, which you did. In order to raise your writing score, you probably need to practice more.
You can do better! Good luck!
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