In this article, I’m going to share what I have learned and taken notes from this book, “The Official Guide to the TOEFL Test,” the fourth edition.
The reason why we need to take the TOEFL iBT test is that it’s crucial for test taker to be eligible for admission to virtually any institution in the world, including the top colleges and universities. Anyone who want to study abroad must prepare and take this examination before application of the school.
All the test information can be found at “www.ets.org/toefl” for details. The TOEFL iBT test contains four parts: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, with each score from 0 to 30 and the total score is the sum of the four skill scores. The scores are posted online approximately 10 days after the test date and then mailed to the institutions you selected. It’s valid for 2 years.
The Content of the this official guide includes:
Chapter1: About the TOEFL iBT Test
Chapter2: Reading Section
Chapter3: Listening Section
Chapter4: Speaking Section
Chapter5: Writing Section
Chapter6: Authentic TOEFL Practice Test1
Chapter7: Authentic TOEFL Practice Test2
Chapter8: Authentic TOEFL Practice Test3
Chapter9: Writer’s Handbook for English Language Learners
Chapter1 provides an overview of the test, information about test scores, and the introduction to the on-screen appearance of the different parts of the TOEFL iBT test, along with general test-taking suggestions. Chapter2, 3, 4 and 5 provide in-depth discussions of the kinds of questions that appear in each section of the test. Each chapter also includes practice questions and explanations of correct answers so that you will understand the actual communicative skills that are being tested in each section.
Chapter6, 7 and 8 provide three full-length actual TOEFL iBT tests that will give you an estimate of how you might perform on the actual test. Chapter9 is the Writer’s Handbook, a guide to help you write essays in English. It covers grammar, usage, mechanics, development, organization and style. There is also a discussion of different types of essays, tips on how to improve your essay be revising, editing, and proofreading and a glossary.
The authentic TOEFL practice tests will be taken on the screen of the installed program provided by CD-ROM. In this way, you can use the practice test in this book, CD-ROM and from TOEFL Practice Online to determine which of your skills are the weakest and improve it.
The official TOEFL iBT test consists of four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writting, The entire test is about 4 hours long and all sections are taken on the same day. The following chart shows the possible number of questions and the timing for each section.
| Test Section | Number of Questions | Timing |
| Reading | 3-4 passages, 12-14 questions each | 60-80 minutes |
| Listening | 4-6 lectures, 6 questions each, 3-5 minutes 2-3 conversations, 5 question each, 3 minutes |
60-90 minutes |
| Break | 10 minutes | |
| Speaking | 6 tasks: 2 independent and 4 integrated | 20 minutes |
| Writing | 1 integrated task 1 independent task |
20 minutes 30 minutes |
* The TOEFL iBT test is administrated via the Internet at a secure network of testing centers around the world.
* Test taker can take notes throughout the entire test but all the notes will be collected and destroyed at the end of testing.
* For the speaking section, test taker wear noise-canceling headphone and speak into microphone. Responses are recorded digitally and sent for scoring.
* For the writing section, test taker type their responses. The typed responses are sent to ETS for scoring.
* Scores are reported both online and by mail.
Reading:
All passages are classified into three basic categories:
* Exposition, providing an explanation of a topic.
* Argumentation, presenting a point of view and the evidence.
* Historical.
Common organization types are:
* Classification.
* Compare / Contrast.
* Cause / Effect.
* Problem / Solution.
Reading Question Format:
* Traditional multiple-choice questions with a single correct answer.
* Questions that ask test taker to “insert a sentence” where it fits best.
* “Reading to learn” questions.
This type of questions may contain more than four choices and more than one possible correct answer. Two types of these questions ask test taker to sort information and place the text options into category chart or summary.
Listening
Listening Question Format:
* Traditional multiple-choice questions with a single correct answer.
* Multiple-choice questions with more than four choices and one answer.
* Questions that require you to order events or steps in a process
* Questions that ask you to match objects or text to categories in a chart.
Speaking
Independent Tasks
| Task Type | Task Description | Timing |
| 1. Personal Preference |
This question asks the test taker to express and defend a personal choice from a given category, for example, important people, place, events, or activities that the test taker enjoys. | Preparation: 15s Response: 45s |
| 2. Choice | This question asks the test taker to make and defend a personal choice between two contrasting behaviors or courses of action | Preparation: 15s Response: 45s |
Integrated Tasks (Read/Listen/Speak)
| Task Type | Task Description | Timing |
| 3. Campus: Fix & Explain |
* A reading passage (75-100 words) presents a campus-related issue. * A listening passage (60-80 seconds, 150-180 words) comments on the issue in the reading passage. * The question asks the test taker to summarize the speaker’s opinion within the context of the reading passage. |
Preparation: 30s Response: 60s |
| 4. Academic: General / Specific |
* A reading passage (75-100 words) broadly define a term, process, or idea from an academic subject. * An excerpt from a lecture (60-90 seconds, 150-220 words) provides examples and specific information to illustrate the term, process, or idea from the reading passage. * The question asks the test taker to combine and convey important information from the reading passage and the lecture excerpt. |
Preparation: 30s Response: 60s |
Integrated Tasks (Listen/Speak)
| Task Type | Task Description | Timing |
| 5. Campus: Problem / Solution |
* The listening passage (60-90 seconds, 180-220 words) is a conversation about a student related problem and two possible solutions. * The question ask test taker to demonstrate an understanding of the problem and to express an opinion about solving the problem. |
Preparation: 20s Response: 60s |
| 6. Academic: Summary |
* The listening passage is an excerpt from a lecture (90-120 seconds, 230-280 words) that explains a term or concept and gives concrete examples to illustrate that term or concept. * The question asks test taker to summarize the lecture and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the examples and the overall topic. |
Preparation: 20s Response: 60s |
Responses to all six Speaking tasks are digitally recorded and sent to ETS for rating. The six different certified rater will listen to the following features in test taker’s responses: Delivery, how clear the speech was, including fluid and clear responses with good pronunciation, natural pacing and natural sounding intonation patterns. Language use, how effectively the test taker use grammar and vocabulary to convey ideas. Topic development, how fully test taker answer the question, how coherently they present their ideas and how well the test taker synthesize and summarized the information.
Writing Task
| Task Type | Task Description |
| 1. Integrated: Read / Listen/ Write Response: 20min |
* Test takers read a short text of about 230-300 words within 3 minutes on an academic topic. * Test takers may take notes on the reading passage. * The reading passage disappear from the screen during the lecture follows. It reappears when test takers begin writing so they can refer to it as they work. * Test takers listen to a speaker discuss the same topic from a different perspective. The listening passage is about 230-300 words and 2 minutes long. * The listening passage provides additional information that relates to points made in the reading passage. Test taker may take notes on the listening passage. * Test takers write a summary in connected English prose of important points made in the listening passage, and explain how these relate to the key point of the reading passage. Suggested response length is 150-225 words, however there is no penalty for writing more as long as it is in response to the task presented. |
| 2. Independent: Response: 30min |
* Test takers write an essay that states, explains, and supports their opinion on an issue. An effective essay will usually contain a minimum of 300 words, however, test takers may write more if they wish. * Test takers must support their opinions or choices rather than simply list personal preferences or choices. * Typical essay questions begin with statements such as: - Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use reasons and specific details to support your answer. - Some people believe X. Other people believe Y. Which of these two positions do you prefer/agree with? Give reasons and specific details. |
Responses to all writing tasks also are sent to ETS and will be rated by two certified rater and the automated scoring system. How the reponse to the integrated writing task is rated is based on the quality of writing, including the organization, appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary, and the completeness and accuracy of the content. The independent writing essay is scored on the overall quality of the writing such as developmen, organization and appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary.
The remaining of the first chapter, “About the TOEFL iBT Test,” also talked about the learning tips for how to improve reading, listening, speaking and writing. Besides, test preparation tips from ETS indicate some good test-taking strategies, including carefully follow the direction, click on help, do not panic, avoid spending too much time on any one question and pace yourself.
In this article, we only share the content of the first chapter which overview the whole TOEFL iBT test. If possible, we will share you with the detail of other chapter such as in-depth reading session and the other. Practice makes perfect and the better way to improve English is through frequent reading, listening, speaking and writing. We hope everyone can speak fluent English and achieve their dream in the future.
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