Hey Charlotte!

Let’s dive straight into it – the first thing you need to do is structure your essay. And this is something you can (and should) do even before the exam begins.

Choose to have a limited number of paras. Start by stating the topic and your opinion, use the second and the third paragraphs to support your opinion with 2 strong points. Use examples to support these points if needed.

In the fourth paragraph, acknowledge that your opinion is not perfect (because it’s an opinion and not fact) and talk about the strengths of the opinion you did not pick.

Use the fifth paragraph to say that even though the other side has its own advantages, you prefer yours. This is a good place to add a third point in favor of your own argument.

Conclude with the sixth paragraph by tying up everything you have said so far and restating your opinion.

There! The perfect structure to nail your TOEFL Independent Writing task.

Read about all these points in detail here: 8 TOEFL essay topics to prepare for the TOEFL exam

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Hey Rahul!

Following are some TOEFL Speaking Tips:

Prepare a standard response structure for each question type. For example, in the first Independent Task, you can dedicate the first sentence to stating the task, then state your opinion along with supporting arguments, and end with a conclusion. This way, you’ll have a format in mind, and won’t feel baffled when presented with a question. Record yourself speaking. Check if you’re pausing for long durations, or if you’re saying ‘umm’, or ‘oh’ a lot. Work on eliminating them. As soon as you see you have 15-20 seconds left, start stating your conclusion. Never end your response abruptly.

If you want to know more about the TOEFL exam, then read: All about the TOEFL exam | TOEFL sample test, exam pattern & more!

If you still need help choosing the right country for you, our study abroad experts can help. Reach out to them at +91 9145332283 or info@ischoolconnect.com.

Hey Shruti!
Here are a few tips on how to prepare for the TOEFL speaking test:

An excellent way to go ahead with this exercise is to write down some mundane topics on chits of paper and put them inside a bowl. At random, pick one up, give yourself 20 seconds to think, and then try to talk about it for a minute.
In the beginning, you can go easy on yourself and deal with topics like “Family,” “Food,” “Education,” etc. Gradually, you can take suggestions from TOEFL Speaking practice test and add them to your roster.

Read about all these points in detail here: TOEFL Speaking | 4 easy steps to excel in this exam

If you still need help in preparing for the TOEFL exam, our study experts can help. Reach out to them at +91 9145332283 or info@ischoolconnect.com.

@lavanya-mhatre
It is important to work on vocabulary for exams like TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
First, take a mock test. When you take the mock tests, you will find it difficult to understand the questions not because the questions are difficult in themselves, but because they are written using words that are difficult to understand.

To overcome this issue, you can go through these 50 difficult words with meanings: Difficult words with meanings

@shivu3009
This section tests your ability to write in English at a university level.
It comprises of 2 questions which you need to complete in 50 mins. The questions include:

Independent Writing task, which takes 30 minutes Integrated Writing task, which takes 20 minutes

To ace the writing section, do not forget to structure the essay. Spend the first 2 minutes to come up with 3 strong points to support your argument.

You can get a complete guide and some sample essays here: TOEFL writing section guide and essays.

If you are still confused about how to go about your test prep, you can always reach out to our test prep experts

Here are a few tips to improve your TOEFL Writing score-

Keep a standard essay structure in mind – Introduction, Problem Statement, Solution, Benefits of the solution, Drawbacks of the solution, Conclusion.
Dedicate each para to one heading, and understand that they do not necessarily have to be in this order. Write the entire essay first. Don’t listen to the critical side of your brain just now.
Once you’ve finished your first draft, you can always come back and edit.

Get more tips here

The questions in the TOEFL Reading section appear para-wise for each comprehension.
A good way to not feel lost is to read the first para, answer the relative questions, read the second paragraph, answer questions for that one, and so on and so forth.

You can download and use the sample paper at the end of this article

Even though you have to figure out the test set-up on your own, taking the test from the quiet comfort of your home is worth it So, if you have been preparing for the exam and have the needed equipment, room, and a speedy internet connection, go for it But in case you don’t have the proper technical equipment, materials, and testing room, I suggest you wait it out.

For this task, you will have to read a short passage, listen to a 2-minute lecture about the same topic, and write a response to what you read and listened to
You will have 20 minutes to complete this task
Here are a few tips to finish this on time

Sample question-
It is important to improve our skills and knowledge as much as possible. Some people prefer to learn from individuals who have more experience than they do – like teachers and supervisors – instead of learning from peers, like their colleagues and classmates. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
Get more practice questions here

I think that around 500 words is a good count to have
300 is usually not enough for summarizing the answer to this question

Yes, but if you focus too much on writing, you might miss out on a few things
So I suggest you write points instead of sentences while making notes

The Writing Section of TOEFL takes 50 minutes to complete and comprises of 2 questions-
Independent Writing task, which takes 30 minutes
Integrated Writing task, which takes 20 minutes

Try one of these-

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Human activity is making the earth a worse place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

For this task, you will be asked a question on a personal topic or an issue and have 30 minutes to solve it.
Depending on what the question is, you will either have to share a personal experience or give your opinion on the topic.
In case it’s an issue-based topic, you will also have to give reasons and examples that support your opinion.

PTE-
PTE is a three-hour long test.
The main parts of the exam include speaking and writing (together), listening, and reading.
You will also have the option to take a 10-minute break between the reading and listening sections.

During the test, you will encounter 20 different question formats, ranging from multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and essay writing to interpreting and repeating information.

For TOEFL, refer this chart

PTE is less widely accepted
But more fair and easier to prepare for

I think it's a good idea to give a mock test at the end of every week for the section you have studied