How Do I Prepare for the TOEFL®?

To prepare for the Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL®) exam, you may use study guides and take preparatory classes. Often, classes are offered both in traditional and online form. You may also benefit from getting plenty of practice talking with native English speakers and reading books, magazines, and newspapers in English. Additionally, watching television shows and movies in English may prove helpful as well.

Preparatory guides and classes may help you to prepare for the TOEFL®. You may find guides available on the Educational Testing Service website, for example. You may also find both online and classroom-based courses to help you prepare for the exam. Online reviews may help you determine which courses are likely to provide the best preparation. You may also seek recommendations from individuals who have taken the exam.

One of the best ways to prepare for the TOEFL® involves practicing with native English speakers. If you have friends who are native English speakers, you may find that engaging in frequent conversations with them helps you prepare for the exam. Ideally, some of your conversations should involve descriptions of common things such as movies you’ve seen and places you’ve visited. Offering your opinion in English and responding to your friends’ questions and comments may also prove helpful as you prepare for this exam.

You may also prepare for the TOEFL® by reading in English. Books, magazines, and newspapers that are written in English may help you build a better understanding for the language. You may also boost your comprehension skills by writing a summary of the passages you read in English and sharing it with others who have read the same material. This way, you can get a good idea of how well you are grasping the materials you read.

While you read English material, it is important that you try to understand the meaning of unknown English words in the context of the passages you are reading. Then, you can find the words in a dictionary. This may not only help you build your English vocabulary, but also help to boost your comprehension skills as you prepare for the TOEFL®.

Though many people may dispute whether or not television is good for you, there are some cases in which it can prove helpful. For example, watching television may help you gain a better grasp of the spoken English language. You can watch for changes in tone and body language to get a sense of the meaning behind the words the speaker is using. Likewise, you can use television and movies to increase your understanding of the way native English speakers structure their sentences.