TOEFL Course EBooklet

TOEFL Course e-Booklet
www.seekingenglish.com
Introduction
The TOEFL exam lasts approximately 4 hours long. You will have a break in between of 10
minutes.
The score range goes from 0 to 120 points. The exam has 4 sections: Reading, Listening. Writing,
and Speaking. Each section is scored from 0 to 30 points that when added together will give you
your total score.
The Reading and Listening sections are scored by computer with a score range from 0 to 30.
The Reading section has 36–56 tasks based on reading passages from academic texts and
answering questions.
The Listening section has 34–51 tasks based on listening to lectures, classroom discussions and
conversations, then answering questions.
The Speaking section has six tasks rated from 0 to 4. The sum is converted to a scaled score of 0
to 30. ETS-certified test scorers rate responses and evaluate how well you develop your topic
and deliver your message in English.
The Writing section has two tasks are rated from 0 to 5. The sum is converted to a scaled score
of 0 to 30. The writing section is scored by:
o evaluating the integrated writing task for development, organization, grammar,
vocabulary, accuracy and completeness.
o rating the independent writing essay on overall writing quality, including

development, organization, grammar and vocabulary.
 Human rating — multiple, rigorously trained raters score tests anonymously. ETS raters
are continually monitored to ensure fairness and the highest quality.
 eRater® automated scoring technology is used with human ratings to score the
independent and integrated writing tasks. Using both human judgment for content and
meaning with automated scoring for linguistic features ensures consistent, quality
scores.
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Material enclosed is property of Seeking English
TOEFL iBT Listening
Format
The TOEFL iBT Listening section has four to six lectures and two to three conversations.
● There will be six questions per lecture and five questions per conversation
● Test duration is between 60-90 minutes
● Two types of Listening Materials: Conversations and Lectures
Conversations
There are two types of conversations in TOEFL.
● office hours
● services encounters
Office hours are interactions that take place in a professor's office. The content may be
academic or related to course requirements.
Example: Request extension on a due date
Service encounters are interactions that take place on a university campus and have non-
academic content.
Example: Inquiring about payment for housing or registering for class.
Lectures
These represent the kind of language used when teachers teach in a classroom. The lecture
excerpt may be just a teacher speaking, a student asking the teacher a question or the teacher
asking students a question and calling on one student for a response.
Each lecture is approximately 5 minutes and followed by approximately six questions.

The content of lectures reflects the content that is presented in introductory level academic
settings.
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● Arts
● Life Science
● Physical Science
● Social Science
Types of Questions
Gist Content Questions

Understanding the gist of a lecture or conversation means understanding the general topic or
main idea.
These questions require you to generalize or synthesize information in what you hear.
Tips
Gist-Content questions ask about the overall content of listening. Eliminate choices that refer to
only small portions of the listening passage.
● Use your notes. Decide what overall theme ties the details in your notes together
● Choose the answer that comes closest to describing the overall theme.
Gist-Purpose Questions
Some gist questions focus on the purpose of the conversation rather than on the content. This
type of question will more likely occur with conversations.
Tips
Listen for the unifying theme of the conversation.
For example, during a professor's office hours, a student asks the professor for help with a
paper on glaciers. Their conversation includes facts about glaciers, but the unifying theme of
the conversation is that the student needs help writing his paper.
In service encounter conversation the student is often trying to solve a problem. Understanding
what the student's problem is and how will be solved will help you answer the Gist Purpose
question.
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Detail Questions
Detail questions require you to understand and remember explicit details or facts from a
lecture or conversation.
This questions will test the examples and supporting details the lecturer provides.
Tips
● Note taking is key. Remember you will not be asked about minor points. Rather take
notes of the supporting arguments given.
● Do not choose an answer only because it contains some of the words that were used.
Only select major ideas.
Organization Questions
These questions test your understanding of the relationship between two portions of the
listening passage.
Test the overall organization of the listening passage. (First to Last)
Tips
● Overall organization questions are found after lecturers NOT conversations. Take notes of the
chronological order of events.
● Pay attention to the comparisons made by the lecturer.
● When the lecturer mentions something that is seemingly off-topic, ask yourself what point
the professor is making.
Connecting Content Questions

You have to organize information in a different way from the way it was presented in the
listening passage.
You will be asked to classify items in categories in a table or determine cause and effect.
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Tips
While you take notes classify the examples given. This will help you complete the table quickly
If the lecturer classifies one example as sharing more than one element. Add the word BOTH on
your notes. Some tables have this categorization.
Pragmatic Understanding Questions

This question involves replaying a portion of the listening passage. It tests the understanding of
certain features of spoken English that go beyond basic comprehension. This question
determines how well you understand the purpose of a statement.
There are two Types:
● Understanding the function of what is said

● Understanding the speaker's attitude
Tips
● Understanding the function of what is said:
○ The answer is not literal, it is hinted
○ What does the speaker imply or infer with his statement.
● Understanding the speaker's attitude:

○ Pay attention to the speaker's tone of voice.
○ What is the speaker's attitude or opinion?
○ What are the speaker's feelings, likes and dislikes
TOEFL iBT Reading
Format
The TOEFL iBT Reading section has three to five passages.
● There will be around fourteen to fifteen questions per passage.
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● Test duration is between 60-100 minutes.
Types of Questions
Factual Questions
Identify factual information that is explicitly stated in the passage. These questions can focus on
facts, details, and definitions.
Recognizing Factual Questions:
● According to the paragraph, which of the following is true of X ?

● The author's description of X mentions, which of the following?
● According to the paragraph, X occurred because . . .
● According to the paragraph, X did Y because. . .
● According to the paragraph, why did X do Y ?
Tips
● Match appropriate keywords- Determine main idea of question match with passage
● Process of elimination- eliminate choices that present information that is contradicted in the
passage.
● Do NOT select an answer because it is mentioned in the passage. You must answer the
specific question.
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Example
Answer
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Negative Factual Questions
These questions ask you to verify what information is true and what information is NOT true or
not included in the passage.
Recognizing Negative Factual Information Questions:
● According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of X ?

● The author's description of X mentions all of the following EXCEPT ?
Tips
● More time intensive, you have to check more of the passage than a Factual Information
question.
● The three choices that are mentioned in the passage may be spread across a paragraph
or several paragraphs.
● The correct answer either directly contradicts one or more statements in the passage or
is NOT mentioned in the passage at all.
Example
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Answer
Inference Questions
These questions measure your ability to comprehend an argument that is strongly implied but
not explicitly stated in the text. You should think about not only the explicit meaning of the
author's words, but the logical implications of those words.
Recognizing Negative Factual Information Questions:
● The author of the passage implies that X . . .

● Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about X ?
Tips
Make sure your answer does not contradict the main idea of the passage.
● Don't choose an answer just because it seems important or true. The correct answer
must be inferable from the passage.
● Your answer must point to explicitly stated information in the passage that leads to the
inference you have selected.
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Example
Answer
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Rhetorical Purpose Questions
Rhetoric = the art of speaking or writing effectively.
Here you are asked to demonstrate you understand the rhetorical function of a statement as it
relates to the rest of the passage.
Recognizing Rhetorical Purpose Questions:
● The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to . . .

● Why does the author mention X ?
● The author uses X as an example of . . .
Tips
These questions do not ask about the overall organization of a passage. Instead, they focus
on the logical links between sentences and paragraphs.
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Example
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Answer
Vocabulary Questions
These questions ask you to identify the meanings of individual words and phrases as they are
used in the passage.
Recognizing Vocabulary Questions:
● The word X in the passage is closest in meaning to

● In stating X, the author means that
Tips
● Most TOEFL iBT vocabulary questions can be answered correctly by determining the exact
definition.
● Divide words to find clues of meaning (prefix-suffix).
● Process of Elimination classifying words as positive or negative.
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Example
Answer
Example
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Answer
Reference Questions
Identify referential relationships between the words in the passage. Often, the relationship is
between a pronoun and its antecedent (the word to which the pronoun refers).
Recognizing Reference Questions:
The word X in the passage refers to
* The four answer choices will be words or phrases from the passage. Only one choice is the
word to which the highlighted word refers to.
Tips
If the reference question is about a pronoun. make sure your answer is the same number
(singular or plural) as the highlighted pronoun.
Substitute your choice for the highlighted word or words in the sentence. Does it make sense?
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Example
Answer
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Example
Answer
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Example
Answer
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Example
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Sentence Simplification Questions
You are asked to choose a sentence that has the same essential meaning as a sentence that
occurs in the passage.
Recognizing Sentence Simplification Questions:
Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?
Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.
Tips
Make sure you understand both ways a choice can be incorrect:
● It contradicts something in the highlighted sentence.
● It leaves out something important from the highlighted sentence
Ensure your answer does not contradict the main argument of the paragraph.
Example
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Answer
Insert Text Questions

You are given a new sentence and are asked where in the passage it would best fit. You need to
understand the logic of the passage, as well as the grammatical connections between sentences.
Recognizing Insert Text Questions:
In the passage you will see four black squares. Where would the sentence best fit?
Tips
Make sure the inserted sentence connects logically to both the sentence before and after. Look
for connecting words.
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Example
Answer
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Summary Questions
● Measures your ability to recognize the MAJOR IDEAS and relative importance of information in a
passage.
● You will be given 6 answer choices and asked to pick the three that express the most important
ideas in the passage.
● This question is worth two points. If two of three are answered correctly, you earn one point.
Tips
Execute "Process of Elimination" with the help of Keyword Matching
● Begin to think in terms of major and minor ideas.
● Eliminate examples of that reinforce a major idea.
● Broad statements are usually a major idea.
● Select statements that summarizes the basic compare-contrast relationship of the entire
passage
● Select statement that reaffirms the distinctions discussed in other previous paragraphs.
TOEFL iBT Writing

There are two tasks in the Writing section of the TOEFL iBT: an Integrated Writing Task and an
Independent Writing Task.
The Integrated Writing task comes first because it involves some listening, and when you are
taking the real TOEFL iBT you will wear your headphones.
When you are finished with the Integrated Writing Task, which takes about 20 minutes, you will
be free to take your headphones off to work on the Independent Writing Task. You will have 30
minutes to complete the Independent Writing Task.
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For both writing tasks you are not expected to produce a well-researched, comprehensive essay
about a highly specific, specialized topic.
You can earn a high score with an essay that contains minor errors.
Integrated Writing Question

You will read a passage about an academic topic for three minutes, and then you will hear a
lecture related to the topic. Then you will be asked to summarize the points in the listening
passage and explain how they relate to specific points in the reading passage. A successful
response typically has between 150 to 250 words.
This tasks demonstrates your ability to show that you can communicate in writing about
academic information you have read and listened to.
Strategy
1. Read the passage with calm. It will reappear while you write your response. Utilize the 3
minutes to find the main idea and supporting arguments.
2. Visually locate the arguments. There are usually three supporting arguments.
3. NOTE TAKING DURING LISTENING IS KEY.

4. Focus on taking notes about details of contradicting arguments.
5. You have 20 minutes to write your response in four short paragraphs.
The question will read:

1. Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on
specific points made in the passage.
OR
2. challenge specific claims/arguments...
OR
3. specifically explain how they answer the problems raised…
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Response Format
Paragraph 1:
* State the main idea of the passage.

“According to the passage…”
* Introduce the "lecturer's" view.

“The lecture opposes the idea stated in the passage because ... (briefly mention the lecture’s
arguments)”
Paragraph 2:
Use transitional phrases in each paragraph. (First, Second, Third)
“First, the passage says that... (briefly state argument 1 from passage). This idea directly
contradicts what the lecturer describes... (state argument one from lecturer). (Provide extra
details from lecture).”
Paragraph 3:
“Second, according to the passage… (state argument two from passage). This idea directly
contradicts what the lecturer states (state argument two from lecture). (Provide extra details
from the lecture).”
Paragraph 4:
“Third, the passage argues that... (state argument three from passage). This idea is refuted by the
lecturer because (state argument three from lecturer). (Provide extra details from the lecture).”
Independent Writing Question

You will have 30 minutes to write an essay based on a random question provided by the test. An
effective response is typically 300 words long
The question format may read like this:
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1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? (Issued to be discussed) Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
Strategy
Use 5 minutes out of the 30 minutes to prepare a brainstorm or outline on what you are going to
write about. This will allow your essay to be well organized and easy to read.
During your brainstorm make sure that you choose 3 supporting arguments to your answer.
These arguments should be experiences that you can relate from personal experience or second
hand experience. Once that is completed, proceed to choose specific (as specific as possible)
details about those arguments.
Once you 5 minutes have passed proceed to start writing. Two minutes before time is up, STOP,
and check for any grammatical or spelling errors.
Response Format
INTRO
Answer the question explicitly.
Introduce at least three of your arguments/reasons.
Start with a bang ! Take a risk, be creative!
BODY
Compose one paragraph per argument/evidence
Utilize transitional phrases:
- First of all.. Second... Finally (one per paragraph)

OR
- For example, For instance, In addition
Build each paragraph with:

1. Supportive Information
2. Anecdotal Evidence
3. Examples
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CONCLUSION
Use phrases such as: “To conclude; To sum up; In summary”. Your final paragraph must:
1. Repeat your stance on the topic. Do you support or oppose?

2. Repeat your three arguments.
3. End with grace! Your last sentence should be creative or anecdotal. Show some emotion.
TOEFL iBT Speaking
Format
Independent Speaking:
Two questions where you express your opinion when responding.
Integrated Speaking:
Four questions where you will listen or read a brief discussion or lecture, before you are asked
the question.
Speaking Section is 20 minutes long. Response time between 45 to 60 seconds.
Scoring
The rater will listen to various features in your response and assign a single score based on the
overall skill you display in your answer.
The raters will listen to the following features in your response:
● Delivery - How clear your speech is. Pronunciation, natural pacing
● Language Use - Grammar and vocabulary use
● Topic Development - How well organized is your response. Your progression from one idea to
the next.
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Independent Question One
You will be asked to speak about a person, place, object or event that is familiar to you.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds Response
Time: 45 seconds.
● Your notes should have at most 2 arguments. One word for each. This will serve as a reminder
of the next argument when responding.
● Build your arguments while speaking.
● Use transitional phrases when moving to the next argument
Exercise
Choose a teacher you admire and explain why you admire him or her. Please include specific
examples and details in your explanation.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Response Time: 45 seconds
1st Reason
After 20 to 25
No long intro secs, switch to 2nd
reason
2nd Reason
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Independent Question Two
You will be presented with two possible actions, situations, or opinions. You will be asked which
of the actions or situations is preferable.
Preparation Time: 15 seconds Response
Time: 45 seconds.
● Begin by clearing stating your preference or opinion
● Take notes of two arguments. One word for each argument
● Use the notes to move to the next argument while speaking
● Expand on the arguments while speaking
● Transition properly to the next argument. For example: Secondly,
Exercise
Some students study for classes individually. Others study in groups. Which method of
studying do you think is better for students and why?

1st Reason
After 20 to 25
No long intro secs, switch to 2nd
reason
2nd Reason
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Integrated Question One
Reading + Conversation
Read a passage (announcement or proposal) for 45 seconds
Listen to a conversation. Two people discussing proposal; one has an opinion and 2 reasons.
Question format:
Briefly summarize the announcement. State the student’s opinion and
the reasons for that opinion.

Exercise
Reading Time: 45 seconds
Evening Computer Classes May Be Added

The computer department is considering offering evening classes in the fall. The proposal to add
the classes is a response to student complaints that day time computer classes have become
increasingly overcrowded and there are no longer enough computers available. The department
has decided that despite some added expense, the most cost-effective way of addressing this
problem is by adding computer classes in the evening. It is hoped that this change will decrease the
number of students enrolled in day classes and thus guarantee individual access to computers for
all students in computer classes.
Listen to Track 15
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Question:
The man expresses his opinion about the proposal described in the article. Briefly
summarize the proposal. Then state his opinion and the reasons he gives for holding
that opinion.

Response time: 60 seconds
Summarize the proposal or

announcement. (30 secs)
Agrees Reason 1
or then, (30 secs)
Disagrees Reason 2
Integrated Question Two
Reading + Lecture
Read a passage (arts or sciences) for 45 seconds
Listen to a lecture. The professor will offer two examples about the main topic.
Question format:
Explain how the lecture is related to the passage.
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Exercise
Reading Time: 45 seconds

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
When we speak with other people face-to-face, the nonverbal signals we give - our facial
expressions, hand gestures, body movements, and tone of voice - often communicate as much as,
or more than, the words we utter. When our nonverbal signs, which we often produce
unconsciously, agree with our verbal message, the verbal message is enhanced and supported,
made more convincing. But when they conflict with the verbal message, we may be
communicating an entirely different and more accurate message than what we intend.
Listen to Track 17
Question:
Explain how the examples from the professor’s lecture illustrate the relationship
between verbal and nonverbal communication.

1st Example (30 secs)
The professor gave

2 examples about
____________
2nd Example (30 secs)
Integrated Question Three
Only Conversation
Listen to a conversation: two people talking; one has a problem, and two possible solutions.
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Question format:
Briefly summarize the problem. Then state which of the two solutions
you prefer and why.

Exercise
Listen to Track 18
Question:
Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which of the
two solutions you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your
recommendation.

Summarize the problem (20 secs)
Summarize the solutions (20 secs)
Your choice and why (20 secs)
Integrated Question Four
Only Lecture
Listen to a lecture (arts or sciences with two examples)
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Question format:
Talk about how the examples explain the main idea of the lecture.
Exercise
Listen to Track 19
Question:
Using points and examples from the lecture, explain the importance of visual elements
in painting.

1st example (30 secs)
The professor gave

2 examples about
________________
2nd example (30 secs)
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Listening Appendix
Homonyms
Certain words are known as homonyms. These are words that sound the same but may differ in
meaning, spelling or usage.
Homonyms can be of two types-words that are spelled alike and words that sound alike. Words
that are spelled alike but differ in meaning are called homographs.
An example of a homograph is the word bear, which can mean a type of animal, or the verb bear,
which means "to carry".
Words that sound alike but differ in meaning and spelling are called homophones. The words
Whole and Hole are homophones. Whole is an adjective meaning "complete" and hole is a
noun meaning "an empty place."
What follows are examples of some common homonyms.
here adverb meaning "in this place"

We have been waiting here for an hour.
hear verb meaning "to listen"

Do you hear the birds singing?
hole noun meaning "an empty place"

The children dug a big hole in their sandbox.
whole adjective meaning "with no part removed or left out, complete" Our
whole project will involve cooperation from everyone.
its: pronoun possessive form of “it” The

kitten hurt its paw.
it's: contraction of it is
It's not fair to leave her behind.
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know verb meaning "to feel certain, or to recognize" Do
you know how to get to the subway?
no adverb used as "a denial or refusal" The

employee said no to the job offer.
knew verb past tense of the verb to know The

boy knew how to count to ten.
new adjective meaning "not old"

At the start of the school year, the students bought new books.
desert noun meaning "a dry and sandy place"

It rarely rains in the desert.
desert verb meaning "to abandon"

The officer commanded the troops to no to desert their posts.
dessert noun meaning "the final course of a meal" After a big

meal, I enjoy a simple dessert of vanilla ice cream.
to preposition meaning "toward"

The man pointed to the sun.
two adjective or pronoun meaning "the number 2"

Five is two more than three.
too adverb meaning "also"

Tom and Eleanor wanted to go with them too.
Grammar Appendix
Sentence Errors
Fragments
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A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It does not express a complete thought, even though it
starts with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark. It is missing either a subject or a verb
or both.
Here are three examples of fragments:
Fragment: Where there were mice and cockroaches.
Fragment: A movie that inspires deep emotions.
Fragment: Analyzing the characters' motives.
These three groups of words cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They can be corrected in
two ways.
1. One way is to attach the fragment to a complete sentence:
Corrected sentence: Peter left the apartment where there were mice and cockroaches.
Corrected sentence: I went to see "Avatar", a movie that inspires deep emotions.
Corrected sentence: Analyzing the characters' motives is central to understanding a novel.
2. Another way to correct fragments is to add a complete subject, complete verb, or other words
that express a complete thought:
Corrected sentence: This is where there were mice and cockroaches.
Corrected sentence: A movie that inspire deep emotions is rare.
Corrected sentence: Analyzing the characters' motives is important.
Run-on sentences
Run-on sentences happen when we join two sentences together without a conjunction or the
correct punctuation. Run-on sentences can be very confusing to read. There are several ways to
correct run-on sentences:
1. Divide the run-on sentence into two separate sentences.

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Run-on sentence: My sister loves to dance she is very good at it.
Corrected sentence: My sister loves to dance. She is very good at it.
Run-on sentence: Jim showed us his ticket someone gave it to him.
Corrected sentence: Jim showed us his ticket. Someone gave it to him.
2. Connect the parts of the run-on sentence with a coordinating conjunction and a
comma.
These are the most common coordinating conjunctions: FANBOYS, which stands for:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Corrected sentence: My sister loves to dance, and she is very good at it.
Run-on sentence: She agreed to chair the meeting she didn't come.
Corrected sentence: She agreed to chair the meeting, but she didn't come.
3. Connect the parts of the run-on sentence with a subordinating conjunction.
These are the most common subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, if,
since, unless, until, when, whereas, while.
Corrected sentence: My sister loves to dance because she is very good at it.
Run-on sentence: Maria and John like skiing Karen does not.
Corrected sentence: Although Maria and John like skiing, Karen does not.
4. Connect the parts of the run-on sentence with a semicolon.
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Run-on sentence: Gordon laughed at Sandy's joke it was funny.
Corrected sentence: Gordon laughed at Sandy's joke; it was funny
Run-on sentence: I thought he was here I was wrong.
Corrected sentence: I thought he was here; I was wrong.
Wrong or Missing Words
Especially when writing or typing quickly, people often use the wrong word or misspell words.
When you begin to revise, edit, and proofread, read carefully for wrong words or words that you
have left out.
One of the most frequent problems is the use of the instead of they.
Incorrect: The went to the store each Monday.
The writer most likely intended the following:
Correct: They went to the store each Monday.
Another common error is a missing noun after the word the.
Incorrect: The go to the store each Monday.
The writer most likely intended the following:
Correct: The brothers go to the store each Monday.
Other Things to be Careful About

Examples of some commonly confused words include:
accept/except, advice/advise, affect/effect and loose/lose.
Computer spell checkers will not catch these words if you have misused them. When you review
your work, proofread to see whether you have used the correct word. Even English native
speakers often make mistakes with confused words when they are writing, especially when they
are in a hurry.
Review the meanings of some commonly confused words.

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accept verb meaning "to receive" or to take what is offered" I
accept your kind invitation.
except preposition meaning "other than or leaving out," "excluding" Everyone

except Phil can attend the conference.
advice noun meaning "an opinion given about what to do or how to behave" He
has always given me valuable advice regarding my future plans.
advise verb meaning "to recommend or counsel" I

advise you to stay in school and study hard.
affect verb meaning "influence" or "to produce an effect on" The

weather can affect a person's mood.
effect noun meaning "result"

When students study for tests, they see a positive effect on their tests results.
loose adjective meaning "detached, not rigidly fixed," "not tight" She
lost her bracelet because it was too loose on her wrist.
lose verb meaning "to be deprived or to no longer have,"to not win" If

you don't pay attention to the signs, you might lose your way.
quit adjective meaning "to give up or abandon," "to stop"

The boys will quit their jobs the week before school starts.
quite adverb meaning "to some extent"

Moving to a new city will be quite a change for my family.
sense noun meaning "conscious, awareness or rationality" or "the faculty of perceiving by means
of sense organs"
My brother had the good sense to keep out of trouble.
The doctor explained that my sense of smell is not functioning well.
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since adverb meaning "from a definite past time neil now;" conjunction meaning "later than"
Ginny has lived in the same house ever since she moved to town. Karl has worked as an
accountant since graduating from college.
Apostrophe
Some people write contractions without the apostrophe. They are incorrect. The following
sentence shows an incorrect use of a contraction.
Incorrect: Lets go to the park tomorrow.
Correct: Let's go to the park tomorrow.
Let's is the contraction of let us. Without the apostrophe, the word means "allow," as in this
sentence:
Incorrect: She let’s us use the computer when she's not using it.
Correct: She lets us use the computer when she's not using it.
Fused words
Sometimes writers fuse two words together to form an incorrect compound word. The sentences
below show examples of fused words:
Incorrect: Some people say that highschool is the best time of your life.
Incorrect: I like to play soccer alot.
Each of the underlined fused fords should be two separate words.
Correct: Some people say that high school is the best time of your life.
Correct: I like to play soccer a lot.
Duplicate words
When writing a first draft, you might make errors simply because you are thinking faster than you
can write or type. As a result, you might write the same word twice.
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Sometimes you might write two words in a row that, though different, function in the same way.
It is very common for writers to type two verbs, pronouns, or articles in a row in early drafts.
Incorrect: Sally's older sister can may help her pay for college.
Incorrect: He was as silly as a the clown.
In each sentence, one of the underlined words should be deleted.

Correct: Sally's older sister can help her pay for college. (meaning that the sister is able to help
Sally)
Correct: Sally's older sister may help her pay for college. (meaning that the sister might decide to
help Sally)
Correct: He was as silly as a clown. (meaning that he generally acts clownish)
Correct: He was as silly as the clown. (meaning that he acts like a specific clown)
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o rating the independent writing essay on overall writing quality, including

● Test duration is between 60-90 minutes

● Two types of Listening Materials: Conversations and Lectures

Example: Request extension on a due date

Example: Inquiring about payment for housing or registering for class.

Each lecture is approximately 5 minutes and followed by approximately six questions.

Gist Content Questions

Test the overall organization of the listening passage. (First to Last)

● Pay attention to the comparisons made by the lecturer.

Connecting Content Questions

Pragmatic Understanding Questions

● Understanding the function of what is said

● Understanding the speaker's attitude:

TOEFL iBT Reading

● There will be around fourteen to fifteen questions per passage.

Recognizing Factual Questions:

● According to the paragraph, which of the following is true of X ?

Recognizing Negative Factual Information Questions:

● According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of X ?

Recognizing Negative Factual Information Questions:

● The author of the passage implies that X . . .

Recognizing Rhetorical Purpose Questions:

● The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to . . .

Recognizing Vocabulary Questions:

● The word X in the passage is closest in meaning to

Recognizing Reference Questions:

The word X in the passage refers to

Recognizing Sentence Simplification Questions:

● It contradicts something in the highlighted sentence.

● It leaves out something important from the highlighted sentence

Insert Text Questions

Recognizing Insert Text Questions:

● Begin to think in terms of major and minor ideas.

● Eliminate examples of that reinforce a major idea.

● Broad statements are usually a major idea.

TOEFL iBT Writing

Integrated Writing Question

3. NOTE TAKING DURING LISTENING IS KEY.

The question will read:

* State the main idea of the passage.

* Introduce the "lecturer's" view.

Use transitional phrases in each paragraph. (First, Second, Third)

Independent Writing Question

The question format may read like this:

Answer the question explicitly.

Introduce at least three of your arguments/reasons.

Start with a bang ! Take a risk, be creative!

Compose one paragraph per argument/evidence

Utilize transitional phrases:

- First of all.. Second... Finally (one per paragraph)

Build each paragraph with:

1. Repeat your stance on the topic. Do you support or oppose?

TOEFL iBT Speaking

Two questions where you express your opinion when responding.

Speaking Section is 20 minutes long. Response time between 45 to 60 seconds.

The raters will listen to the following features in your response:

● Delivery - How clear your speech is. Pronunciation, natural pacing

● Language Use - Grammar and vocabulary use

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Preparation Time: 30 seconds

Evening Computer Classes May Be Added

Preparation Time: 30 seconds