TOEFL is a test used in a variety of situations, including entrance exams for returning students, applications to overseas universities, and in-house English language qualification evaluations. We also receive inquiries from families living in Singapore who complain that their scores are not improving even though they are in an English environment.
Being able to make a living using English and getting a good score on the TOEFL are two different skills. TOEFL is a test that deals with academic content, and requires vocabulary and reading comprehension that are different from everyday conversation.
In this article, we will explain the following points regarding TOEFL preparation.
- TOEFL score structure and goal setting concept
- How to identify sections where you can easily improve your score in a short period of time
- How Singapore residents can take advantage of the environment
- Effective use of mock exams and past questions
TOEFL score structure and goal setting
First of all, understanding the test structure correctly is a prerequisite for improving your score.
It is a test that measures four skills.
TOEFL iBT consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, and the total score for each section is the total score.
In other words, rather than having a vague idea that I’m good at English,The starting point for countermeasures is to break down and understand which of the four skills are strong and which are weak.While children living in Singapore are relatively good at listening and speaking, we often see lower scores in reading and writing.
Target score is calculated backwards from “purpose”
TOEFL is not a test where you aim for a perfect score. The target value will change depending on what you need the score for.
The required score varies greatly depending on the purpose, soFirst, check the requirements of the school or place you are applying to, and then set your goals from there.If you study aimlessly with vague goals, you will not be able to improve your time efficiency.
Please note that the TOEFL test format and content may be revised. Please be sure to check the latest exam format and score requirements on the official website before taking the exam.
Sections where you can easily improve your score in a short period of time
In order to improve your score in a limited amount of time, it makes sense to start with the sections where you have the most room for improvement.
Reading and Listening can be improved with “Kata”
The question patterns for Reading and Listening are somewhat standardized.
Therefore, by learning how to solve each question format, you can expect to improve your score in a relatively short period of time.In particular, the ability to quickly identify “where in the text is the basis for an answer” will improve in proportion to the amount of practice.
There are cases in which children living in Singapore can understand the listening audio itself, but are unable to organize the information due to the lecture-style audio with academic content and end up dropping the audio.In this case, note-taking training is more effective than listening practice.
The shortest route to writing is to remember the structure type.
Writing is evaluated not on the originality of the content, but on whether you can write a logically structured sentence.
The quickest way to improve your score is to learn how to clearly state your argument in the introduction, provide evidence in the main body, and summarize in the conclusion.On the other hand, if you try to write using only your English ability without knowing the patterns, even students who can speak English will not get a good score.
The difference in Speaking depends on how you use your preparation time.
Speaking requires you to assemble what you are going to say within a limited amount of preparation time.
Children who are in an English environment often have no problems with their pronunciation, but if they do not practice “thinking about composition in a short period of time”, their content will become scattered and points will be deducted.It is effective to prepare several template speaking patterns.
How Singapore residents can take advantage of the environment
Being in an English environment can be a huge advantage if used correctly.
Building a bridge from “everyday English” to “academic English”
The main thing you will learn while living in Singapore is everyday English. TOEFL tests academic English, and there is a gap between the two.
An effective way to fill this gap is to have daily exposure to academic content in English.By habitually reading and listening to English articles and lecture videos in fields that are likely to be asked on the TOEFL, such as science, history, and sociology, you can directly link the benefits of the environment to countermeasures.
Repurpose lessons from local schools and inter-schools into countermeasures
If you attend a local or international school, the classes themselves are training you in academic English.
Just getting into the habit of summarizing the content covered in class in English will strengthen your writing and speaking skills.The key is to think about “school studies” and “TOEFL preparation” in a connected manner, rather than separating them.
Effective use of mock exams and past questions
The final step in the preparation is a practical exercise.
Solve the full set once at an early stage
Before starting the countermeasures, we recommend that you try to solve the problem once in the actual format.
It will clarify the difference between your current score and your target score, as well as where your weaknesses are in the four skills. If you start taking measures without making this diagnosis, you may end up wasting your time on things you can already do.
spend time reviewing
Exercises are more valuable in “reviewing” than in “solving”.
For the questions you got wrong, please categorize why you got them wrong (lack of vocabulary, misreading the question, time allocation problem).Since countermeasures vary depending on the cause, this classification will determine the next learning content.
Be sure to practice time allocation
TOEFL is a test with little time to spare.
Even if you understand the content, you will not receive a score if you do not solve it within the time limit.本番と同じ時間設定で演習し、各セクションの時間配分を体に覚えさせておく必要があります。
summary
The benefits of an English environment depend on how you use it. We will organize the key points for TOEFL preparation.
- The starting point is to break down and understand where the four skills are weak.
- Set your target score by calculating backwards from the requirements of your desired school/place of application.
- Reading, Listening, and Writing can be improved in a relatively short period of time by learning “Kata”
- Consciously bridging the gap from everyday English to academic English
- Exercises are more valuable for review and time allocation training than for solving them.
Please request free information below for a study plan calculated backwards based on the difference between your current score and your goals.