What Are the Different Types of TOEFL® Practice?

Some colleges require taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL®) of students who are not native English speakers. It requires students to answer questions about various reading passages, fill in the missing parts of sentences, speak about a topic, listen to different materials and write an essay. The exam has distinct sections with different testing formats, so different TOEFL® practice tools are needed to prepare. Some useful practice tools include workbooks, courses, practice exams and conversations with other English speakers and learners.

Books are an excellent resource for TOEFL® practice, especially when preparing for the grammar, reading and writing portions of the test. In addition to the official test guide that covers all portions of the exam, one can purchase workbooks and study guides that deal with a specific exam topic. Some test guides also list example essay topics and include a rubric for grading the essay, so one can get used to writing a structured essay based on a given topic. Another advantage of books is that some have practice exercises similar to the types of questions seen on the actual TOEFL®. After working through the practice exercises, one can spend study time on the topics he or she really needs to work on more.

Another effective method for TOEFL® practice is a TOEFL® course from a university or language school. These courses allow students to practice all areas of the exam, including the ones that can be difficult to master on their own. They'll get to have conversations with other students to help them improve their speaking and listening skills, and they'll have a teacher available to answer any questions they might have. If other commitments prevent one from attending a class at a physical location, there are plenty of online TOEFL® courses available that include multimedia elements.

If the student feels comfortable with most of the exam's content and really wants to put his or her skills to the test, he or she can consider taking a TOEFL® practice exam. The Internet is a good source for free practice exams that don't require one to grade the questions manually. A majority of students will likely take the real exam on a computer, so online practice tests can also prepare them for the testing environment and possibly ease their nerves on test day. There are also paper-based practice exams, if a more traditional format is preferred.