I just got my TOEFL score and best to document it to help others before I move on in life!
Test Test Date Reading Listening Speaking Writing Total
Sat May 17 08:47:06 EDT 2014 29 30 28 29 116
1/ Preparation:
I did about 2 weeks of preparation in order to take the test on 17 May, because after that, all the tests were booked all the way till August.
I used the following books:
ETS TOEFL
official guideKaplan
Princeton Review
I used the ETS official CD test for practice
2/ Reading:
I'm already a good reader, but some of the passages were too difficult and convoluted. I feel that this section is a hit and run, as some are easy and others are difficult. During the test, I realised I was running out of time, and I decided to just attack the questions instead of reading the passages first. I found reading very strenuous.
3/ LIstening:
LIstening was really easy. I just wrote as much of the passages as I could. The questions for me were easy, but if you miss some parts of the passage, you could go wrong (sometimes, I felt myself day dreaming because the passages were so boring)
4/ Speaking:
My achilles heel as I am not a native speaker. I took a deep breath before I spoke (esp when you see it count down), so that I would sound forceful and confident. I also imagined myself as being interviewed. Thinking that way helps a lot.
5/ Essay:
There are templates on the web for essays, and just by using the templates, you would be up around 150 words. The remaining 200-300 words are for you to fill up. It should be easy, just write as much as possible! I was not really happy to have 1 point deducted. I thought I wrote very well and with plenty of words. I think I reached 500 words for the first and 750 words for the second essay.
6/ Admin:
I was given a pencil (HB) and 2 papers. When I was given them, I immediately started scribbling down the templates for speaking and the essay. Remember to ask for maybe 2 pencils as they run out of lead quickly!
When the speaking section starts everyone starts talking and it starts getting distracting. However, I heard the person speaking behind me answer his question and it happened to be the same question that was being asked of me!
Remember to drink an energy drink like Red Bull to keep your mind alert!
Know that you use the keyboard (mine was an irritating slide out type to the waist) only during essay section. The rest, you just use the mouse.
Recce the test school before the day of the test!
Good luck folks!