the Reading and Listening 18etla ll lal..,., The test developers include experimental questions 'Of either the Reading or the Listening section 00 most TOEFL forms.. You must do your be
Trang 114 ORIENT~TION
EXAMINATION
>- What kinds 0' questions are 'o l d on the iBT?
The majority of the questions on the IBT are muftlple choice Some othel' types 01 questions
are also 00 the iBT These questions have special directions 00 the screen You will have many examples of them In the model tests in this book
>- Are all of the TOER e IBT tilts the same?
Unlike the Computer-Based TOEFL (CBT), which presented quesllons based on your responses to previous questions, the iBT Is a linear test That means that on the same form, all
of the test questions are the same
>- Why are some o the Reading and Listening 18etla ll lal ,.,
The test developers include experimental questions 'Of either the Reading or the Listening
section 00 most TOEFL forms You must do your best 00 all the questions because you will not know which questions are experimental and which are test questions that will be scored For example, you may be taking the iBT with someone who has experimental questions in Read-ing, but you may have experimental questions in Ustening For this reason, your friend's test
may have a longer Reading section, and your test may have a longer USlening sectioo The
experimental questions may be althe beginning, middle, Of end of the section
>- Ma, I choose the order of the lIetlans an my TOEFL?
You may not choose the order Reading, Ustening, Speaking, and Writing are tested in that
order on the TOEFL, with a ten-minute bl"eak between the listening and Speaking
>- What kinds at qlestlans are fa •• d an the IBT?
Most 01 the questions are multiple choice, but some questions have special directions 00 the screen You will have examples 01 the most frequently tested items In Chapter 5 in this book
>- Ma, I take notes?
You are permitted to take notes and use them to answar the questions on the iBT You will be given paper for that purpose when you enter the test room Your notes will be collected and shredded after the test
>- May I chang an answer?
On the Ustening section, you can change your answer by clicking on a new answer You can change your answer as many times as you wish until you click on the Confirm An _ button
On the Reading section, you can change your answer by clicking on the new answer You can change your answer as many times as you wish, and you can go back to previous answars on
Trang 2FAOs- FREOUENTL Y ASKED OVESTIONS ABOVT THE TOEFL- IBT 15
the same reading passage When you begin a new reading passage, you may not return to the previous passage to change answers On the Sp&aklng section you will 00 cu&d with a beep
to begin and end speakJng Eyerything that you say during the recording time will be submit·
ted You cannot change an answer On the Writing section, you can rellise your essays as much as you wish until the clock indicates that no time is remaining II you SlJbrnit your essays before time is up, you cannot return to them The C[)"ROM thaf supplements this book will
pr0-vide you with practice in choosing and changing answers on the computer screen
, H I am not sure of an answer , should I gless?
II you are not sure 01 an answer you should guess The number 01 Incorrect answers is not subtracted from your score First eliminate ali the possibilities that you know are NOT COfrect Then, il you are almost SlJre 01 an anSWef, guess that one II you have no Idea of the correct answer for a Question, choose one letter and use it lor your "guess answer" throughout the entire examination The "guess answer" is especially uselullor finishing a section Quickly
, Why do some of the TOEFL tests have addftlonal q ll estlons?
Some 01 the tests Include Questions that are being lleld·test&d lor use in future TOEFL admln· istrations These tests have more QuestionS, but your anSWefS to lhe additional fleld·lest Ques·
tions a re not calculated as part of your score
, What It I cannot hear the audio for the listening section?
You iII rtlC6ive your awn hoadphorM.ls with a miclophone aHachttd Before the Uslening sec-tion begins you will have an opportunity to adjust the volume yourself Be C8refullo adjust the volume when you are prompted 10 do so II you wait until the lesl begins, you may nol be able
to adjust It If there Is a problem ith your headset, raise your hand and ask the test SlJpervi·
SOt to provide you with another headset
, What can I do If there is a problem during tbe test?
If there is a problem with !he Inlernet connection or the pow-er that supplies the computers and
if the test must be discontinued everyone who is taking the test at that site is enlitled to a refund or a Iree test on another date This does not happen very olten
, What If I have a personal problem during the test?
II you become III or you are being disturbed by the behavior 01 another person in the room tell your test supervisor Immediately If you think that your score may be affected by the problem,
ask the supervisor to Iile an Irregularities Report
, Are breaks scbadllecl during the TOEfl?
A to-minute break is scheduled between the Ustening and the Speaking sections
besk ttel matcr<ale
Trang 316 ORIENTATION
, How otten may I take the lIT?
You may take the TOEFL as many times as you wish to score to your satisfaction Although there were restrictions 00 when you coulcl take the Compuler·Based TOEFl (CBT), you can take the iBT more than ooce each month if you choose to do so
• If I ba alrea", lakenllI TOEFL, how wllllllt pmlD SCDIII affect my
new score?
TOEFl scores are valid for two years If you have taken the TOEFL more than once but your firsl score report is more than two years ago, the first score will not be reported If you have taken the TOEFL more than once in the past two years, a report will be sent lor the tesl date
lhat you request
• May I keep my lest?
You cannol save your lest 10 a disk or send it to an e-mail address II you Ily to do so, the TOEFL office may take legal action There are examples of the official TOEFl test questions
00 the web site at WWW.Bts.Orgltoe"
, What happens to someone who cheats on the IBn
Entering the room with false identification, tampering with the computer, using a C8meJa, giv-ing or receiving help, or trying to remove test materials or notes is considered cheating Do nol cheat In spite of opportunity, knowledge that others are doing it, lhe desire to help a friend, or lear thai you will not make a good score, do not cheat On the TOEFL, cheating is a very seri -ous matter II you are discovered, you will be dismissed from the room, your score will be can-celed, and you may not be able to lake the test again 00 a future date,
SCORE REPORTS
, How is the Speaking section scored?
Trained raters listen to each 01 the speaking responses and assign them a number 0-4 The scores lor all six responses are averaged and converted to a lolal section score Cl 3O
The raters grade the Speaking section using checklists similar to !hose printed in this book
, How Is the Writing section scored?
Trained ralers read your essays and assign them a number 0-5 If there is disagreement aboul your score, a team leader will also read your essays The scores lor each essay are combined and converted to a section score 0-30 Raters grade the Wriling section using checklists similar to those printed in this book
, Howls the total TOEFL score calculated?
The IBT has converted section scores lor each of the four sections The range lor each section score is 0-30 When the scores lor the four sections are added together, the total score range will be 0-120
Trang 4FAOs- FREQUEN'Tl Y ASKEO QUESTIONS A80VT THE TOEFL ~T 17
, How do I Int e rpret my scare?
You cannot pass or fail the TOEFl Each school or agency will evaluate the scores according
to its own requirements Even at the same university, the requirements may vary for different programs of study, levels of study (graduate or undergraduate), and degrees 01 responsibWty (student or teaching assistant) Many universities are setting minimum requirements for each sectiOn The following range of requirements Is typical of admissions policies for North Ameri -can universities This assumes, of course, that the applicant's documents other than English proficiency are acceptable
Reading
Ustenlng
Speaking
Writing
TOTAL
1 9-2 1
17 -2 1 20-23 2<h25 76-00
To be certain of the requirements lor your schoof or agency, coolaclthem directly
, How do ttle sc o res compare on thl l lT , CIT , and PIT formats?
The following chart compares TOEFL scores on the three most recent formats-the Intemet-Based TOEFL (iST), the Computer-Based TOEFL (CBT), and the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT)
www ets org
1 11- 1 20 273-<lOO 64<HlIT
53-<4 153-182 4n-5 1 2
, Whln can I , "" scores ?
You will be able to see your score report online fifteen business days after the test date Score reports will be mailed to you and to the schools and ageodes that you designate on the day they are posted online You are entitled to live copies of your test results, including one copy
lor you and four official score reports
, May I cancII " scores?
After you view your estimated score on the screen, you will be given the option to report or cancel your SCOles ff you choose 10 report your scores, you will then choose four institutiOns
Trang 518 ORIEtrrATlON
or agencies to receive score reports All of this is arranged by responding 10 Questions 00 the
computer screen If you do not want your scores 10 be reported, click 00 cancel when this
option appears 00 the screen
) How can I SInd addlUonallC0f8 reports?
If you need more than four score reports , which are provicIed as par1 of your test fee, you may
order more at $17 each Order online or mail in the order form that you will lind in your
TOEFL iS T Regis/raUon and Infotmstion Bullelin Reports are sent in lour days when you
oreler them online Allow alleast two weeks lor mall orders
, Is there a direct conespond ce betw preflclanCl' I Engl and a
TOEfl score?
There is not always a direct correspondence between proficiency in English and a score 00
the TOEFL Many students who are profICient in English are not profICient in how 10 approach
the examination That is why it is important to prepare by using this book
) tan I estimate , TOEFL score before I take the official test?
To estimate your TOEFL score, after you complete each of the seyen model lests, use the
score estimales in Chapter 8 of this book If you complete Model Tests 1-7 00 the C[)'ROM
thai supplements this book, you will see an estimate of your TOEFL score 00 the screen
, Willi succeed on tIta TOEfl?
You will receive from your study what you give to your study The information is here Now , it is
up to you to devote the time and the effort More than one million students haye succeeded by
using Barron's How to Prepare for /he TOEFL You can be SlJCC&SSlul, tqo
STUDY HABITS
A habit is a pattern of behavior thai is acquired through repetition Research indicates that it
takes abotJt twenty-one days 10 form a habit The foflowing study habits are ctI8Iactelistic 01
successful students Be successful! Form these habits now They will help you on the TOEfl
and after the TOEFL
~ Accept nsibility
SlJCC&SSful students understand that the score on the TOEFL is their responsibility It doesn'
happen because 01 lucie It is the result of their own efforts Take responsibility lor your TOEFL
score 00011eaye it to chance
• 0001 rely 00 luck
• WorK diligently
besk Itet ateriale
Trang 6STUOV HABITS HI
, Get organized
You will need a place to study where you can concentrate Try to lind a quiet place where you can arrange your study materials and leave them until the next study session If that is not practical, then find a bag Ihat you can use to store all your materlats so that you can have
everything you need when you go to the library Of another place to study Oorl~ use the bag for anything else This will save time because you will not be looking fOf everything in different
~ areas of your house or room, and you wW not be trying 10 find TOEFL preparation material among other things in the bag You are tess likely 10 lose important notes
• Find a study area
• Keep your materials in one place
Be honest about your preparation Sludents who are just beginning to learn English are not
prepared to take the TOEFL Give yourself the time you need to prepare By set1ing an unreal· istic goal, lor example, to finish preparing with this book in one week, you will probably be very disappointed Even advanced students need time to learn academic skills and review Ian·
guage skills as well as to lake modellesls
• Evaluate your English
• Set a goal that you can achieve
, Make a plan
It is not enough 10 have a goal, even a realistic goal Successful students also have a plan to
accomplish a goal What are you going to cIo to achieve Ihe goal you have set? You will need
to have time and resources What afe they? To help you make your plan look atlhe options fOf
II ~yllllbu~ on page O
• Dedicate time and resources
• Select a syllabus
, Establish priorities
The pretest on pages 21-65 in this book will be helpful to you when you set priorities Byana-lyzing your strengths and weaknesses on the test, you will know which sections of the test wilt
be the most diffiCult and which will be easy for you You will also know which problems within
each section require the most study By focusing on those sections and problems, you can set priorities and use your time wisely
• Take the pretest
• Analyze your strengths and weaknesses
, Manage time
How do you spend time? Clearly, a certain amount of your time should be spent sleeping or
relaxing ThaI is importanllo good health However, you should think about how much time you spend worrying or procrastinating That is not a healthy way to spend lime Successful
Trang 720 ORIENTATION
students have a schedule that helps them menage their time Preparing lor the TOEFL is writ-ten down on the schedule TOEFL preparation is planned fOt on a regular basis just like a standing appointment If it is written down it is more probable that you will give it the time
nec-essary to achieve your goal When you start to wOl'TY, use that energy to do something
posi-tive Learn to use time while you are waiting lOt an appointment or commuting on public transportation to study Even a five-minute review will help you
• Schedule study time
• Use unscheduled time well
, Learn from mistakes,
and on the model tests Read the el\Planatory answers, and learn lrom your mistakes If you
do this, you will be less likely to meke those mistakes again on the official TOEFL
• Study the explanatory answers
• Review your errors
Stay motl,atod
It is easy to begin with enthusiasm, but it is more difficult to maintain your initial commitment
How do you stay motivated? To keep their energy up, SOIT\& students give themselves some
incentives Without small rewards along the way, it may be more difficult to stay motivated Just be sure that the reward doesn' take more time than the study Remember, an incentive is supposed to keep you moving, not slow you down
• Give yourself smell inceotives
, Choose to be p tl
must develop paltems of positive thinking To help develop a positive altitude, memorize the
you begin to have negative thoughts:
I know more today that I did yestarday
I am preparing
t wln succeed
Remember, some tension Is normal and good Accept it Use it constructively It will motivate
you to study But don' panic Of worry Panic will cause loss 01 concentration and poor perfor
-mance Avoid people who panic and worry Don' listen to them They will eocourage negative
thoughts
You are preparing
You will succeed
There is more advice for success in the 'AdviSOl"'s Office" throughout the book Please read and consider the advice as you continue your TOEFL preparation