TOEFL Test Structure

We continue the series of publications on the TOEFL test - recall that in the previous article we gave a general description of the exam, described its features and talked about the assessment system. Today we will talk about the structure of TOEFL - we will talk in detail about each of the TOEFL sections and indicate its features.

As always, we are waiting for your comments, questions and suggestions!

The structure of the TOEFL test is quite simple and logical. The exam consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking (in this regard, it strongly resembles the IELTS test, which can be read about the similarities and differences here ), for which a total of four and a half hours is allocated.

TOEFL Reading

Tasks of the TOEFL Reading SectionEvaluate your ability to understand the main idea of ​​English texts on academic topics.

You have to read 3-4 texts and answer the questions posed to them.

Candidates need to answer questions regarding the main idea, details, text output and a summary. A total of 36-56 questions are presented in the section.

Reading section questions examples

- The meaning of the word “perspective” on line 32 is close in meaning to which of the following words ....
- Paragraph 6 reinforces which of the following statements ....
- Which of the following proposals best reflects the essence of this proposal?
- Based on data from the text, who conducted the study to study the effect of magnetic waves on human health?
- Based on paragraph 4, all of the following statements are true, with the exception of ...



Tips for going through the TOEFL Reading section

Working with TOEFL texts is quite difficult due to their large volume (up to 700 words), so it is important to follow the basic rules for passing the tests in this section.

Remember that you definitely need to return to the text to answer the question posed. Most often, questions refer you to a specific paragraph or sentence of the text. Even if there is no direct mention of a section of the text (according to ..., in paragraph ...), the question often refers to some piece of information mentioned in a separate paragraph of the text.

Please note that test developers, in order to confuse you, often offer statements in the form of answer options, which are essentially true and are mentioned in the text. However, they often do not answer the question posed and have no relation to it.

TOEFL Listening

60-90 minutes are allotted for the TOEFL Listening section.

34-51 The task of the test is aimed at assessing your understanding skills of oral English-speaking in the framework of lectures and dialogues on general topics.

Dealers need to listen to audio recordings, the number of which can vary; the following 2 options are most common:

- 9 audio recordings - 6 lectures + 3 dialogs;
- 6 audio recordings - 4 lectures + 2 dialogs.

In tasks, it is most often necessary to determine the topic of conversation, the purpose or attitude of the interlocutors to the problem. While listening to a recording, you can take notes.


Tips for completing the TOEFL Listening Section

1. Accents. Since various accents (British, Australian, American) have recently been used in TOEFL, we recommend that you practice practicing listening. You can hear the accents of the media on special training discs that are attached to the textbooks. We also recommend listening to and watching BBC, CNN, Discovery, Animal Planet, and other channels.
2. Intonation. Learn to distinguish people's emotions by their speech depending on intonation. This will help you answer Listening questions, even if you do not understand individual words in a dialogue or monologue.
3. Vocabulary, idioms, introductory structures. Constantly replenish your vocabulary, memorize new constructions and idioms. This will come in handy when listening to recordings - you will grab information on the fly.
4. Recordings. In the Listening section, it is not forbidden to record. Therefore, learn to record key points: the names of the characters, their roles, their positions, facts, numbers, verbs.
5. Only information. Do not speculate for the heroes, fantasize how they could develop a relationship. Pay attention only to the facts and the information provided.
6. Do not be distracted or looped. Do not try to understand the meaning of individual words, do not try to remember the meaning of these forgotten words. Otherwise, you risk losing the thread of discussion.
7. Films and music. You can test your listening skills by watching movies without subtitles and listening to songs without watching texts.

TOEFL Speaking

Speaking is the TOEFL test section that tests your ability to verbally express your thoughts on a given topic in English.

In 20 minutes of TOEFL Speaking you need to answer six questions, simple and integrated.

The section evaluates your ability to express your thoughts clearly and clearly - in simple assignments.
Also, in integrated tasks, you will have to read a small excerpt from the text and listen to the recording, after which it is necessary to compose the information received and give an exhaustive answer to the question posed.



Timing

Unlike this section in the testIELTS , where the dealer communicates directly with the examiner, a feature of the Speaking section is that the answer is dictated to the microphone. You have only 15 seconds to prepare for an independent task and 30 seconds to prepare for the answer to an integrated task. 45 seconds are allocated for reading.

About the same length will be an audio recording for listening.

Approximately 45 seconds (independent task) and 60 seconds (integrated task) are given for the answer, after which the recording automatically stops.

In general, examiners when listening to your notes pay attention to 4 components: a) disclosure of the topic (presentation logic, development of ideas, examples, facts, details), b) vocabulary (the volume of words used and their complexity, use of synonyms), c) presentation of information (fluency of speech, absence of pauses, etc.), d) general impression (correspondence of the answer to the task itself, use in the response of information that was given in the task).

Speaking Section Tips

Of course, Speaking is one of the most difficult sections of the exam for many reasons: a) the presence of a language barrier, b) the lack of an interlocutor, c) a limited amount of time for an answer. However, in the minuses you always need to look for the pros. For example, the absence of an examiner will save you from tricky and unexpected questions on his part or a banal subjectivity.

Below are some tips for the Speaking section:

1. Answer clearly the question posed, do not go into lengthy discussions.
2. Do not make a big introduction. Because of him, you simply will not have time to approach the disclosure of the topic, and your speech will be cut short.
3. In preparation for passing the TOEFL, we advise you to record your answers to the recorder, and then listen to the next day, do an analysis, note your weaknesses, and do some work on mistakes.
4. Learn special bunch words, introductory words that will help you fill in the pauses between the key components of sentences.

TOEFL Writing

Writing is the final section of the TOEFL exam. It takes 50 minutes. This section consists of two parts: Integrated writing task and Independent writing task. The volume of the first part is 150–225 words, the second is at least 300 words. Probably, it will surprise someone that in less than an hour it is necessary to write texts of such a volume, however, examiners should take into account that the necessary skills can be developed and improved.

In many training manualsfor the exam (for example, published by Cambridge, Barron's, Delta, Longman) publishes strategies for organizing the time allotted for the Writing section. In addition, they publish essay samples, analyze the answers given by applicants (both successful and “failed”, rated low). To improve written skills, it is advisable to work with a teacher who knows the secrets of preparing for TOEFL for a while, or sign up for a special exam preparation program.



Integrated writing task

Integrated writing task - the first task of the section. It goes as follows: the examiner has 3 minutes to read the passage. Then he listens to the message associated with him. This takes 2 minutes. After this, the applicant proceeds to write an essay. This work takes 20 minutes.

Performing a complex task will show whether the examiner is able to summarize the material presented to him. Of course, the answer should demonstrate how the message listened confirms or refutes the information contained in the read passage.

It is advisable to make any notes already during the reading, although before the entrants are asked to proceed with the immediate completion of the assignment, the passage will appear again. Teachers also recommend jotting down information while listening, as the text is played only once. Clarifications and examples require particular attention, which confirm or, conversely, cast doubt on the data presented earlier. Do not think that any details will be superfluous. When an applicant begins to write, he will understand that it is necessary to use all the information.

The examiner must remember that the complex task does not imply the expression of their own opinions. First of all, it is required to qualitatively generalize all the material presented. It is recommended to do only what is specified in the task. It is not worth adding or decreasing anything.

Independent essay

Independent essay is the second part of the Writing section. For 30 minutes, the applicant must write an essay (4 or 5 paragraphs, approximately 300-350 words), in which he will answer the question.

You must have a clear idea of ​​what to write. The assignment may contain a requirement to agree or disagree with the statement, pick up arguments, explain something and decide on preferences.

The first 5 minutes are best spent sketching out a plan for a future essay. Many applicants prefer improvisation (the opportunity to save time plays an important role), however, as practice shows, having a plan allows you to focus faster and formulate thoughts in the best way.

If you decide on the basics and come up with examples, the process of writing an essay will be much easier. Teachers are often advised to refer to the book How to Prepare for the TOEFL Essay (Barron's). It contains various methods and exercises to make exam preparation as effective as possible.

If at the planning stage it turns out that there are not enough arguments to write a quality and convincing essay, you should think about the opposite point of view. The basis of a great essay is fresh ideas, interesting examples. The chosen point of view may not coincide with personal opinion, since the task is not to express one’s own position, but to create a convincing text.

Having decided on a point of view, arguments, choosing examples, you should go directly to the text. It is necessary that the examiner, having read the first sentences, immediately understand what point of view the applicant adheres to. If he has to think about it, then the position is not clearly formulated. Naturally, this is a minus for the essay. The following paragraphs should contain arguments and examples, in the last it is necessary to draw a conclusion.

A good essay always begins with a clear and “decisive” introduction and ends with a convincing conclusion. Only in this case will it make a positive impression on the examiner.

It is advisable to organize the time in such a way that after writing the essay there will be about 5 minutes to check the work. Then the applicant will have the opportunity to read the finished text and correct the grammar and / or stylistic errors. This will undoubtedly improve the quality of the essay.

In order to successfully complete the task in this part of the Writing section, it is recommended that you write an essay in preparation for the exam. A list of topics is available at www.ets.org .

The next publication will focus on preparing for the TOEFL.

The author of the article is Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult