TOEFL 95 points/ How to cope with distraction

Here is my experience,

18 dec 2010 was my test date, and today 29 dec 2010 the score came

Reading 25
Listening 29
Speaking 19
Writing 22

Total 95 points.



19-dec-2010:" I took TOEFL iBT , in Sofia, Bulgaria. The name of the center is "SS Cyril and Methodius Foundation". Don't you ever go there. You'd better go to another city if you are from Bulgaria. Back in 2005 or 2006 i took the old TOEFL in other test center/ Fullbright/ and the room was nicely organized. I am writing the names of the test centers because some Bulgarians may find that useful.

The exam started like 40 min later, and the environment was very distracting. I am not going to complain about the noise that the participants in the room made.

The problem was that after the start, the two proctors started talking at such level that i couldn't focus at 100% After that one of them left.

Than, all of a sudden, two girls entered the room-they weren't participants in the exam,they just chatted 2-3 minutes with the proctor and then left I was going back and forth to correct my wrong answers, so I left 1-2 qs unanswered, no more time left for them.

Then two other guys came and started talking with the proctor... in my 10 min brake i saw that they were doing some work that was absolutely not related to the exam. for $180 they should at least give us good environment. My scores during the preparation was around 100 points and above./reding 90%, listening 90%+, speking 80%, Writing 75-80%/

I sent the same feedback to ETS, and in 2-3 weeks they said there will be some response for my case. If they do not do anything, I will go to the local CUTOMER DEFENCE Comission, and they will do their job. Did anyone of you had situation like mine, did you infrorm ETS , and what did the do about it."

How to cope with such coditions?
I was thinking: "I am going to say something to that proctor and he will shut up, he will make those people go out, or I should tell them to leave... Could work, but if he say something that I do not like, I could get angry, it could get worse...so keep looking at your monitor... yes but they are very noisy...stop thinking look at your monitor"
So just think only about your test. Try to focus all the time NO MATTER WHAT.

I went to score 100+ , but the truth is that I am applying for a Master program that requires 90 points. So 95 is enough for me.

Also I am disappointed of the organization and the noisy conditions because I am sure they influenced my score. There was so much distraction that I thought my score would be below 90. Now I am feeling lucky with 95 points. And I do not think to retake it.

Now I can focus on the GMAT, and I hope to get at least 600 points at the 1st try.


Good luck to all of you
T