84. Getting Started with TOEFL

If you are interested in studying¹ at an American university, you have probably heard about² the Test of English as a Foreign Language³. The test is widely known as⁴ the TOEFL. It is the most widely used language assessment exam⁵ for American universities. Many foreign students are frightened⁶ of the TOEFL because it is risky⁷. Good test results on the TOEFL will open many doors⁸. But a low⁹ TOEFL score will limit your choices¹⁰ for financial aid¹¹ and admission to top schools.

The most competitive universities generally expect¹² an Internet-based test score¹³ of 90 or above¹⁴. Others accept lower¹⁵ scores, and some do not require¹⁶ a TOEFL score at all¹⁷.  Most universities do not publicize¹⁸ an actual¹⁹ cutoff score²⁰, but a high score will always help²¹.

There are²² two major²³ versions of the TOEFL test. The first is the iBT, or Internet-based Test. It is offered²⁴ in most of the world²⁵ and accepted by nearly every²⁶ university and scholarship²⁷ program in the United States. The other version of the test is called the Paper-based Test or PBT. It is still used in some developing countries²⁸.

Scholarship programs provide²⁹ money for a student to continue his or her education. Many scholarship programs will accept the PBT results when a student first asks for³⁰ financial aid. However³¹, they may require students to take the iBT before official admission. The PBT is less costly to take³² and does not require use of the Internet. Some businesses³³ and government offices use the PBT to test the English language skills³⁴ of their employees³⁵.

The iBT and PBT have very different structures. The main difference³⁶ is that the iBT is completely online and includes questions³⁷ to measure³⁸ the person’s ability to speak in English. The iBT also has integrated tasks³⁹. For example, listening, reading, and speaking are mixed together⁴⁰. The Paper-based Test does not mix the different sections. The PBT has an area to test grammar, the rules⁴¹ governing the use of words⁴² and phrases. The Internet-based Test does not.

If you have a choice, take the iBT if it is not too pricey⁴³. The Paper-based test is being phased out⁴⁴. It will eventually disappear⁴⁵. Here are some tips⁴⁶ for getting started⁴⁷ with TOEFL:

1. Plan ahead⁴⁸ – It takes a long time⁴⁹ to improve⁵⁰ your TOEFL score. Many students study just before⁵¹ the test. Raising⁵² your score will takes months of intensive work. Do not expect a big lift⁵³ in your test results after two weeks. There is no easy way⁵⁴ to improve your score quickly⁵⁵. You will have to spend⁵⁶ a lot of time and energy.

2. Master⁵⁷ the basics first – Many students study for the TOEFL before they are ready⁵⁸. You should have at least⁵⁹ an upper-intermediate⁶⁰ English level before you attempt⁶¹ the test.

If you score below⁶² 500 on the PBT or 70 on the iBT, study the fundamentals for a few months and come back to the TOEFL later.

3. Get⁶³ a study guide⁶⁴ – It is easy to find study guides for the iBT. Pearson, Barron’s, ETS, and Kaplan all produce quality materials. Take a practice test once or twice a month⁶⁵. The best study guides will have explanations⁶⁶ in the answer key. PBT study guides are difficult to find because the test is being⁶⁷ phased out.

4. Use outside resources⁶⁸ – Using TOEFL practice materials all the time will make you crazy⁶⁹. Remember, you are learning a language, not a test. You can improve your TOEFL score by making English part of your daily life. Some simple ways are listening to podcasts, informal conversation with English speakers, watching movies and reading newspapers. Some others are reading English textbooks, sending and reading text messages in English, and writing online comments in English.

The bottom line⁷⁰ is, the best way to do well on the TOEFL is to know English well. Do not depend on informal advice⁷¹ or tricks⁷². Do not try to outwit⁷³ the test maker. Think of reading, listening, speaking, writing, and grammar as a single connected concept–communication. The real goal⁷⁴ of the test is to measure how well a student can communicate in English-speaking classroom. Immerse yourself in English on a daily basis and improvement is sure to follow. I’m Adam Brock

Vocabulary

1. interested in studying = interessado em estudar
2. you have probably heard about = voce provavelmente já ouviu falar a respeito
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language = teste de Inglês como uma lingua estrangeira
4. widely known as = amplamente conhecido como
5. assessment exam = exame de avaliação
6. frightened = assutados, com medo
7. risky = arriscado
8. will open many doors = abrirá muitas portas
9. low = baixo(a)
10. choices = escolhas
11. financial aid = ajuda financeira
12. expect = esperam
13. score = pontuação
14. above = acima
15. lower = mais baixo
16. require = exigem
17. at all = absolutamente
18. publicize = publicar, revelar
19. actual = real
20. cutoff score = nota de corte
21. will always help = sempre ajudará
22. There are = há, existem
23. major = grande, importante
24. offered = oferecido
25. most of the world = maior parte do mundo
26. nearly every = quase todas
27. scholarship = bolsa de estudos
28. developing countries = paises em desenvolvimento
29. provide = fornecer
30. asks for = pedir
31. However = contudo
32. less costly to take = menos caro de fazer
33. businesses = negócios , empresas
34. skills = habilidades
35. employees = empregados
36. main difference = diferença principal
37. questions = perguntas
38. measure = medir
39. integrated tasks = tarefas integradas
40. mixed together = misturados
41. rules = regras
42. words = palavras
43. too pricey = caro demais
44. phased out = eliminado gradativamente, aos poucos
45. It will eventually disappear = acabará desaparecendo
46. tips = dicas
47. getting started = dar inicio, iniciar
48. Plan ahead = planeje com antecedencia
49. It takes a long time = leva muito tempo
50. improve = melhorar
51. just before = imediatamente antes
52. Raising = elevar
53. a big lift = uma grande elevação
54. There is no easy way = não há forma facil
55. quickly = rapidamente
56. spend = passar, gastar
57. Master = dominar
58. ready = pronto
59. should have at least = deveria ter pelo menos
60. upper-intermediate = intermediario superior
61. attempt = tentar
62. below = abaixo
63. Get = obtenha, consiga
64. study guide = manual de estudos
65. once or twice a month = uma ou duas vezes por mês
66. explanations = explicações
67. being = sendo
68. outside resources = recursos externos
69. make you crazy = deixar voce louco
70. bottom line = ponto de partida
71. advice = conselho
72. tricks = truques
73. outwit = iludir, enganar
74. goal = objetivo