J
ULIO AND
O
KSANA
will both be taking the TOEFL exam in a few weeks. Their proficiency in
English is at nearly the same level. They have both taken the practice exams in the TOEFL
®
Infor-
mation Bulletin. However, Oksana has done a few things that Julio has not. She has created a
study plan, determined her learning style, and reviewed test-taking strategies. She has also been learning how
to relax so that she won’t be nervous during the exam. Although Julio and Oksana have about the same Eng-
lish skills, Oksana is likely to score much higher than Julio on the exam. And for good reason: she is better
prepared. She knows what to expect on the test, how she learns best, and what she needs to study. She has been
following a study schedule, knows how to tackle multiple-choice questions, and knows how to calm her nerves
so she can do her best on the exam. Obviously, you want to be prepared for the TOEFL exam—that’s why you
bought this book. But good preparation takes a lot more than just taking a practice exam or two. That’s why
this first chapter is all about study skills and test-taking strategies. In this chapter, you will learn how to study,
how to better learn and remember, and how to tackle standardized tests like the TOEFL exam.
CHAPTER
How to Prepare
for the
TOEFL
®
Exam
The TOEFL exam is an important test, so it’s important to be properly
prepared. The advice in this chapter will help you set up an effective
learning environment and create a successful study plan. You will also
learn important study strategies and test-taking tips.
1
1


You can also get in the mood for studying by thinking about the short- and long-term rewards you will
receive for your hard work. Keep in mind the benefits you will receive from your TOEFL exam study time:
■
You will read and write better in English.
■
You will understand more of what you hear.
■
You will be able to apply to U.S. colleges and universities.
■
You will get the education you need for a successful future.
Remember, your attitude is very important. It can dramatically affect how much you learn and how well
you learn it. Make sure that you have a positive attitude. You will study, you will learn, and you will do well.
Your study time will be time well spent.
–
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TOEFL
®
EXAM
–
2
T
HE
R
IGHT
C
ONDITIONS
You can have the best attitude in the world, but if you are tired or distracted, you are going to have difficulty
studying. To be at your best, you need to be focused, alert, and calm. That means you need to study under
the right conditions.
Everyone is different, so you need to know what conditions work best for you. Here are some questions
to consider:

–
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TOEFL
®
EXAM
–
3
leave for school. If you wait until they are in bed, you will have a quiet house, but you may be too tired to study
well. Similarly, if you have trouble concentrating when you are hungry, schedule study time for shortly after
meals, or be sure to start your study sessions with a healthy snack.
T
HE
R
IGHT
T
OOLS
Help make your study session successful by having the right learning tools. As you study for the TOEFL exam,
have:
■
a good English-language dictionary, such as Webster’s 10
th
Edition
■
paper or legal pads
■
pencils (and a pencil sharpener) or pens
■
a highlighter, or several, in different colors
■
index or other note cards
■

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TOEFL
®
EXAM
–
4
and you may learn better by reading aloud. Try recording your notes on a tape player and listening to
your tapes. You may also benefit from listening to programs in English on the radio.
■
Kinesthetic. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing. (Kinesthetic means feeling the movements of the
body). They like to keep their hands and bodies moving. If you would draw a map or copy down direc-
tions, you are probably a kinesthetic learner. You will benefit from interacting with the material you are
studying. Underline, take notes, and create note cards. Recopying material will help you remember it.
■
Sequential. Sequential learners learn best by putting things in order. If you would create a step-by-step
list of driving directions, you are probably a sequential learner. You may learn better by creating out-
lines and grouping ideas together into categories.
Think carefully about how you learn. Which is your dominant learning style? Keep it in mind as you
read about Learning Strategies in Part II of this chapter.
WHATEVER your general learning style, most of us learn to speak and understand language best by listening.
So as you practice understanding spoken English, close your eyes and listen. Let your ears do the work of under-
standing what you hear. The more familiar you become with the sounds and rhythms of the language, the more
quickly you will learn. Spend as much time as possible around people speaking English. Go to places where you
will see and hear English, such as to plays or to the cinema.
Learning to read in English takes longer than learning to speak. Fortunately, the more you listen to and speak in
English, the easier it will be to write it. But the best thing to do to improve your English writing skills is to read.
Read as much as you can in English to learn the structure and style of the language. Rent movies based on nov-
els. Watch the film to build your listening skills, and then read the book to improve your reading comprehension
and writing skills. Good novel/movie combinations to try are those by John Grisham, including:
A Time to Kill The Firm
The Client The Pelican Brief

■
How much does it cost?
■
What do you need to bring with you to the exam?
■
What exactly will be tested on the exam? (What subjects? What kinds of questions?)
Some of this information has already been covered in the introduction. Chapter 6 will provide
additional information. Be sure to find out answers to any questions you have about the test that are
not answered in this book. (You may need to contact the TOEFL exam testing center or the university
you would like to attend for those answers.)
2. Find out what you already know and what you need to learn. To create an effective study plan, you
need to have a good sense of exactly what you need to study. Chances are you already know some of
the test material well. Some of it you may only need to review. And some of it you may need to study
in detail. Take a practice TOEFL exam to find out how you would do on the exam. How did you score?
What do you seem to know well? What do you need to review? What do you need to study in detail?
3. Set a time frame. Once you have a good sense of how much studying is ahead, create a detailed study
schedule. Use a calendar to set specific deadlines. If deadlines make you nervous, give yourself plenty
of time for each task. Otherwise, you might have trouble keeping calm and staying on track.
To create a good schedule, break your studying into small tasks that will get you to your learning
goals. A study plan that says “Learn everything by May 1” isn’t going to be helpful. However, a study
plan that sets dates for learning specific material in March and April will enable you to learn every-
thing by May 1. For example, if you need to focus on building your reading comprehension skills, you
might create a schedule like the following:
Week 1 Review basic reading comprehension strategies. Start vocabulary list.
Week 2 Practice finding main idea.
Week 3 Practice vocabulary in context questions.
Week 4 Practice specific detail questions.
Week 5 Practice inference questions.
Week 6 Practice finding references.
Week 7 Take reading comprehension practice test.

postpone your studies to take care of that problem. And that’s okay—as long as you reschedule your
study time. Better to study later when you can concentrate than to waste time “studying” when you are
unable to focus.
So, if you miss one of your deadlines, don’t despair. Instead, just pick up where you left off. Try to
squeeze in a little extra time in the next few weeks to catch up. If that doesn’t seem possible, simply
BY creating a study plan, you can avoid cramming—trying to learn everything at the last minute. Cramming can
make you very nervous, and for good reason. If you wait until a few days before the test, chances are you won’t
be able to learn everything. And if you stay up all night trying to get everything done, you will be too tired to study
effectively.
Create a study plan that spaces out your learning goals. Give yourself plenty of time to learn and time to
review. Learn at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Stay Away from Cramming!
–
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TOEFL
®
EXAM
–
7
adjust your schedule. Change your deadlines so that they are more realistic. Just be sure you still have
enough time to finish everything before the exam.
How Do You Know What You Know?
One of the keys to successful studying is knowing what you know, and knowing what you don’t know. Prac-
tice tests are one good way to measure this. But there are other ways.
One of the best ways to measure how well you know something is how well you can explain it to some-
one else. If you really know the material, you should be able to help someone else understand it. Use your
learning style to explain it. For example, if you are an auditory learner, talk it out. If you are a visual learner,
create diagrams and tables to demonstrate your knowledge. Rewrite your notes or make up your own quizzes
with questions and answers like those on the exam. Provide an explanation along with the correct answer.
How do you know what you don’t know? If you feel uncertain or uncomfortable during a practice test
or when you try to explain it to someone else, you probably need to study more. Write down all of your ques-