Although
I might not remember all the things still I will state the overall experience.
I
prepared for at most one week from the two sources:
1) ETS online TOEFL course
2) Princeton Review 2017 edition
Both
were very helpful resources and I didn’t need a third resource neither I had
time for that. Some people think that those who have scored excellent in verbal
can secure good marks in TOEFL too. This is a misconception. I have seen people
getting great marks in TOEFL while their GRE was low and those getting lower
marks in TOEFL whose GRE verbal was good.
BECAUSE:
You
need to understand the format of every test. You need to know what are the things
that they look for, precisely. What should be the format of your answer? What should
be the structure of your essay? How to start and how to conclude? Which words
should be your preferred ones while speaking? How to support an idea and how to
refute it? How many reasons or examples to support your opinion? This is what
is more important than your vocabulary. TOEFL is not about memorizing 1000
words, it’s about understanding the sentence structure and understanding the
meaning behind each sentence spoken, written or illustrated.
FORMAT:
Coming
towards the format it is divided into four particular sections:
1. Reading: You will be given passages and each passage
will have 5-7 questions and each question will be of different type
2. Listening: You will have to listen to some conversations
and answer the questions. Once answered you cannot go back and change them.
3. Speaking: It will be a combination of reading and
listening. There will be two types of questions. One that are open and about a
general thing. Second, about a specific topic and you will have to take notes
about that while listening or reading.
4. Writing: It will require you to write two essays.
This section will also require your listening and reading skills.
So the complexity level increases as you go for each
level of the test.
AT THE CENTER:
Do bring your proof of ID, a valid one ofcourse, and
also your registration proof to the center. You might be asked to do some paper
work, for their own record. Then you will deposit your stuff (handbag, wallet, jewelry,
watch etc.) in a locker. After that you will be taken to a room where your
picture will be taken and you will be asked to read a few lines (that will be
written on a piece of paper), to record your voice. This is to validate your
response from the test. After that you will go through screening and security
checks, you will check in your time and go to your seat.
You will be given PENCIL AND PAPER, there is no need
to bring your own neither you will be allowed to take your own. You will be
given two pencils, if one goes rough you can always ask for a sharped one, as
you will have to write a lot. You will be asked initially to speak something
just to check if the mike and headphones are working. You will then validate
your details on the computer screen and start your test.
TIP: try to enter the test hall as early as possible
so that you can start your speaking section before the others start speaking,
because most of the centers are not sound proof and you cannot concentrate much.
One more observation that I would like to share in
this post is that I saw a pattern in the paragraphs or conversations regarding
to the major fields. One passage or conversation will be from Psychology, one
from Physical Sciences (Physics/ Astronomy), one from Environmental Sciences,
one from Biology/Chemistry and one from Arts (Literature/Music/Architecture).
That is what I observed during the test.
Do make your mind of spending 3 to 4 hours in the
test center. Be patient, because this is what these tests are all about. I know
at the end you will be fed up of listening, reading and writing English. But
you will have to endure it for your own good. It is not that tough if you
follow the guidelines.
More on separate section and types of questions:
COMING SOON J
Cheers!!
RMK J
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