By Ellen Comis

1. Ellen Comis
EL Fellow
Ecuador, 2015-17

2. TOEFL iBT Success:
Strategies & Tips
Presenter: Ellen Comis
EL Fellow in Quito, Ecuador
2016

3. Why Are You Interested in Learning
More About TOEFL iBT?
❏ Future study in an English speaking University
❏ Employer requirement
❏ Deciding which English proficiency test to take
❏ Improve your test taking skills
❏ Other

4. Let Me Introduce You to Two Students:
Student 1 Student 2

5. Why Do You Think:
Student 1 looks so
worried?

6. Why Do You Think?
Student 2 looks so
delighted?

7. Review TOEFL iBT Test content
Provide you with skill building tips
Gain confidence so you can be successful!!
Objectives

8. Agenda
Understanding the TOEFL iBT
Six Strategies & Tips for Success
Suggestions for Test Day

9. Understanding the TOEFL iBT
Test Section Number of Questions Timing
Reading 3 - 4 passages, 12 - 14 questions each 60 - 80 minutes
Listening 4 - 6 lectures, 6 question each
2 - 3 conversations, 5 questions each 60 - 90 minutes
Speaking 6 tasks; 2 independent and 4 integrated 20 minutes
Writing 1 integrated task
1 independent task
20 minutes
30 minutes

10. Understanding the TOEFL iBT
The Scoring
★ The Test provides scores in four skill areas:
Reading 0 - 30
Listening 0 - 30
Speaking 0 - 30
Writing 0 - 30
Total Score 0 - 120

11. Understanding the TOEFL iBT
Resources to learn about test:
http://www.ets.org/toefl

12. How Many of You Have Taken the
TOEFL iBT?
❏Yes, I´ve taken the TOEFL iBT
❏ No, I haven´t taken the TOEFL iBT

13. Share with Your Partner(s) What Skills
in the TOEFL iBT You’d Like to
Strengthen

14. Six Strategies & Tips for Success
❏ Be prepared!
❏ Read everything. Listen to everything.
❏ Learn to take good notes
❏ Plan before you write or speak
❏ Speak clearly and be organized
❏ Practice, practice, practice

15. If You’ve Never Taken the TOEFL iBT
Before, How Long Should You Give
Yourself to Prepare?
❏1 - 2 weeks
❏1 - 2 months
❏6 months to a year

16. Tip #1: Be Prepared!
Nothing should be a surprise
Know every question & task
Know the exact score you need
At the very least, GET A TEXTBOOK

17. During the Past Few
Days, Have you:
1) Read the Paper
2) Listened to the
radio
3) Watched TV or
internet
❏ Yes, I have read,
listened, or watched
❏ No, I haven’t read,
listened, or watched

18. Checkout internet resources
Voice of America Learning English
NPR News
Newsela
National Geographic News
BBC News
Cover a wide variety of topics
Build your vocabulary
Tip # 2: Read Everything. Listen to Everything.

19. http://learningenglish.voanews.com

20. http://npr.org http://listenwise.com
For Your Classroom!

21. http://newsela.com/

22. http://news.nationalgeographic.com

23. http://bbc.com/news

24. Websites offer a variety of topics & build vocabulary

25. A good note taker should:
❏ Write down everything
❏ Only write words he/she knows
❏ Only write essential information

26. Tip # 3: Learn to Take Good Notes
You can only listen ONCE!
Only write down the essential information
Practice on the VOA and NPR websites
Use symbols & shorthand:

27. Think of a time when you went
shopping without a shopping list.
What happened?
Discuss your response

28. Tip # 4: Plan Before You Write or Speak
Essay writing tends to follow the same format
Make a brief outline
Be sure to include:
Introduction
Body (2-3 paragraphs)
Conclusion
One Paragraph = One
Thought

29. Introduction - Opinion
Reason
#1
Reason
#2
Reason
#3
Details
1.
2.
3.
Details
1.
2.
3.
Details
1.
2.
3.
Conclusion

30. Tip # 4: Plan Before You Write or Speak
Connect Ideas
with
Transitional
Words
But

31. Tip # 4: Plan Before You Write or Speak
Did I answer the question being asked?
If there is a choice, did I identify it?
Did I write clearly?
Did I use words correctly?
Did I organize my ideas clearly and coherently?

32. True or False?
Discuss your response
The best way to prepare for the speaking
section is to read & listen to lots of sample
responses

33. Tip # 5: Speak Clearly and Be Organized
Practice Speaking!!
Record yourself & listen
Speak in the mirror
Avoid frequent pauses & “um”

34. Tip # 5: Speak Clearly & Be Organized
An organized response matters:
Main Idea
Reasons
Details
Conclusion

35. True or False?
Discuss your response
If I study too much, I’ll get confused
& bored.

36. Tip # 6: Practice, Practice, Practice
Can only improve with practice
Do all the tests in the practice book (3)
Do all the ETS TOEFL iBT website tests (5)
Do at least 8 practice tests!

37. Suggestions for Test Day
Learn to relax
Visit the test center before the test
Don’t “cram” the day before
Get a good night’s sleep
Take deep breaths throughout the test
Concentrate on the current question only
Remember, you can always take the test again!!!

38. Thank You for
Joining Me!!
Now get to work & break a
leg……..

39. Can you tell me what I
mean by saying
“break a leg” ?
Hint: It is a theatrical expression

40. References
Educational Testing Service, The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test (Fourth
Edition). (2012). New York: McGraw Hill.
The Ten Best Tips to Get a High Score on the TOEFL iBT! Retrieved from
http://www.englishteachermelanie.com/ten-tips-for-the-toefl-ibt/
20 TOEFL Tips. Retrieved from https://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-
toefl-tips.htm
How to Get a Great Speaking Score. Retrieved from
https://edition.englishclub.com/esl-magazine/toefl-speaking-score/