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                        Lets talk about TOEFL iBT. Although, TOEFL iBT Test consists of 4 sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking & Writing. In this article we will focus on Reading section.

Section Time Limit (Minutes)Questions

Reading60-8036-56

Listening60-9034-51

Speaking206 tasks

Writing502 tasks

TOEFL iBT Reading Section

                          The Reading section of TOEFL iBT measures your ability to read and comprehend the information presented in the form of passages. The Reading section in TOEFL iBT consists of 3-5 texts; each text is about 700-750 words long. Each reading text is followed by 12-14 questions related to the text. The allotted time ranges from 60-80 minutes and the number of questions ranges from 36-56. Students need to read and interpret the information.

                          The aim of the passage in most of the reading is incorporated in the introductory paragraph, so it is very important for the reader to understand what he/she is reading. Students are also expected to read a lot of academic material on variety of subjects i.e. History, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Literature, and Science.

Strategies for Reading:

1) Read Extensively – engage in Active reading 2) Skim and scan the text 3) Highlight the main points/ Take notes 4) Focus on Vocabulary 5) Transition from Casual to Critical reading 6) Use contextual clues to locate the meaning of difficult words. 7) Read the passage even if you are familiar with the content. 8) Use time strategically.

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If you want to know what happened during my test day, please READ THIS. The post has updates about how the issue was resolved. However, I thought it would still be a good idea to share tips about how I studied and prepared for the exam on my own. If you would like to learn more about the TOEFL test, click HERE.

1. DEDICATED STUDYING TIME

Decide how long it will take you to prepare for the test. You can take your time studying; however, once you register for the exam, know how much time you have left. This will be your dedicated studying time. It will allow you to focus on studying for the exam only and you can create a to-do list and a timetable dedicating time in your week when you will study for this exam. This is helpful if you’re still in school and have to manage studying for your classes and preparing for an additional test. My dedicated studying time was 8 weeks. 

2. TAKE A PREP COURSE

I found a FREE TOEFL Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide course on edX! edX is a free platform where people interested in taking university classes can educate themselves on topics of their interest. edX has partnered with TOEFL to prepare an official prep course, which is self-paced where potential exam takers can learn about the TOEFL test, what it is comprised of, how it’s scored, tips + advice on taking the test, as well as complete quizzes and free practice tests! I took this course for 8 weeks to prepare on my own, so I highly recommend this free resource (this is not sponsored and the link is not an affiliate link). Click HERE to learn more. 

3. FREE QUICK PREP VOLUMES

The TOEFL website has a section titled ‘TOEFL iBT Quick Prep’ where you can find 4 volumes of past TOEFL tests. I would recommend doing all of the free practice tests that you can find; however, make sure that they’re actually representative of the TOEFL test! TOEFL is different from IELTS, so it is better to only complete the available practice tests from past TOEFL tests. They also have a an Interactive Sampler and videos about what you can expect on the test day, as well as a study planner.

4. OTHER RESOURCES

There are other resources, like THIS BLOG POST, or THIS website. There is also an official TOEFL app called the TOEFL Go! Official app HERE. I also found THIS blog post on Tumblr about general TOEFL tips and THIS academic word list. You can find more by searching the #TOEFL on Tumblr!

Even though I’m probably not taking the test anymore and I never received my scores, I hope these tips help some of you out! The test is expensive and preparation courses can be expensive too, so the costs can quickly add up; therefore, studying on your own is smart.