TOEFL® PBT Test Sample Questions - Listening Comprehension (1)

College and high school students, government officials, researchers, academicians and others who want to take a TOEFL Paper Based Test Preparation course in an English course in Bogor can also learn some test sample questions from the internet. One of many sources that we recommend is wwwdotetsdotorg. In this website you can find some good test samples. The following is the introduction to Section 1 Listening Comprehension Practice Questions of the first part of TOEFL® PBT Test Sample Questions.

Section 1

The Listening Comprehension section tests your ability to understand both short and long conversations in English. The section contains recorded material that is similar to what you might hear if you were with a group of students at an English-speaking college or university. The language includes:

• vocabulary and idiomatic expressions common to spoken English
• special grammatical constructions used in speech

 Before completing these practice questions, print out an answer sheet so that you can become familiar with the format.

Directions and Practice Questions

Directions and examples of the types of questions you will find in the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL® test are below.

There are three parts to this section, with special directions for each part. Answer all questions based on what is stated or implied by the speakers you hear.

Do not:

• take notes or write in your test book at any time
• turn the pages until you are told to do so.

For those who want to take a private English course in Bogor, you may contact independent.ec@gmail.com.

TOEFL Tips for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Sections

TOEFL Tips for Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Sections

Executive summary about TOEFL Test by  Aaron K James

The test is referred to as TOEFL. Each university has got its own TOEFL cut-off. Many find it difficult to score high in To elf as their mother tongue is not English and due to regional influence. 

TOEFL READING TIPS

- Most importantly, improve your vocabulary. If you know the meaning of the word, scoring high in this section is a piece of cake
- Get a glimpse of the whole paragraph instead of reading through each sentence thoroughly
- Practice reading topics covering various niches like education, geography, history etc in newspapers and magazines.

TOEFL WRITING TIPS

Also while practicing, see that it is a familiar topic. This technique is referred to as pre writing
- Learn all the punctuation conventions properly before attempting
- Ask your lecturers to evaluate your paragraphs and articles

TOEFL LISTENING TIPS

- Keep watching more English movies. If you are a bit poor at listening, make use of subtitles during the initial stages. You will gradually understand the language flow
- Focus on the basic idea while listening to an article. The main idea is focused at the beginning.
- Make notes of the basic idea and important topics related to the paragraph. You are allowed to take notes during the test
- Frame a summary of the paragraph and note it down
- If nothing works out, make guesses since there are no negative marks!

TOEFL SPEAKING TIPS

- Read one paragraph from newspaper everyday and try to summarize it on your own and speak about it in your style
- Take some random topics and speak about them. Speak about positive as well as negative aspects
- You should be able to frame conclusions for any topic chosen.

TOEFL Preparation - Use Free TOEFL Practice Tests to Increase Your Score

The TOEFL exam measures your college level English abilities. More than 6,000 colleges, government organizations, and businesses accept TOEFL examination scores worldwide. The TOEFL test is delivered in two formats: the TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) and the TOEFL Paper-based Test (PBT). The TOEFL test that you're taking will depend on which tests your testing center offers. There are currently greater than 4,300 TOEFL test facilities worldwide.

The TOEFL iBT tests your English aptitude in four areas: reading, listening, speaking and writing. The TOEFL iBT test scores range from 0 to 120. The TOEFL test scores on the Paper-based (PBT) test range from 310 to 677. The range of test scores is between 31 and 68 for the structure/written expression and listening comprehension sections. The raw test scores for each portion are then transformed to the TOEFL test scale range of 310 to 677.

To do well on the TOEFL Test, it's important that you study smart - not hard! Among the best ways to study smart for the TOEFL Exam is to make use of TOEFL Practice Tests. Self-belief is acquired by continually practicing for the TOEFL exam.

TEFL TEST: WHAT IS IN THE TEST AND HOW IS IT SCORED?

TOEFL Tests - What is in the Test and How is it Scored?

Executive summary about TOEFL Test Preparation by Mark Fellows

The 'Test of English as a Foreign Language', or (TOEFL) was designed to assess an individual's understanding and use of English in an academic environment. Tests can be conducted in 'paper-based-tests' (pBT) or 'internet-based-tests' (iBT). For those of you wondering how a TOEFL score is calculated, this article provides a brief overview of the key-components used in assessing scores.

What you need?

Both Internet-based-tests and paper-based-tests are conducted in controlled environments at authorized test centers. To register for a test, contact your nearest test center which can be found with a simple Internet search. With over 4500 test centers worldwide, hopefully you will find a center near you. Follow the link at the bottom of the article.

Stage 1

Reading: 25% of overall score.

Duration: 60-100 minutes.

Test comprises: Reading 3-5 passages, and answering 12-14 questions.

This assessment comprises reading between 3-5 passages of approximately 700 words in length and answering questions associated with the text. All passages are academic in nature.

Following reading the text, test-takers answer a series of questions to check their understanding. Questions relate to: main context, ideas, inferences, key information, vocabulary and essential information. The subject content requires no previous knowledge, as indeed it does for all subsequent tests.

Stage 2

Listening: 25% of overall mark

Duration 60-90 Minutes

Test comprises: Listening to 6-9 passages and answering 5-6 questions.

This section comprises listening to 6 passages, 3-5 minutes in length and answering questions relating to the passage. The passages are academic in nature, normally comprising student conversations or lectures and discussions.

Each audio recording is heard only once and test-takers are permitted to take notes while they listen. Each conversation has an associated 5-6 questions to answer which are intended to measure an ability to understand: main ideas, key details, intentions and purpose and attitude of the speaker.

Stage 3

Speaking: 25% of overall score

Duration: 20 Minutes

Test comprises: 6 tasks and 6 questions

This section comprises 6 tasks of which 2 are independent and 4 integrated.

For the independent tasks, test-takers answer questions on familiar subjects.

Test-takers are assessed on their capacity to answer questions spontaneously and to relay their ideas clearly and coherently. The audio recordings are of academic-type situations.

In the integrated tasks, test-takers are required to utilize skills and answer questions from reading and listening material, and are given a little time to prepare themselves before beginning to speak.

Stage 4

Writing: 25% of overall score

Duration: 55 minutes

Test comprises: 2 tasks and 2 questions

This section measures the test-taker's ability to write in an academic environment. The test consists of 2 tasks, 1 integrated and 1 independent.

In the integrated task, candidates read a passage and listen to an audio recording of the same subject. They are then required to write a summary of the key points of the passage and relate them to the audio recording.

In the independent task, candidates are required to write an essay, expressing their opinion on a topic rather than purely responding to choice.

Stage 5

The scores of the four individually assessed tests are collated to form a final score. There is no pass or fail scores, but educational establishments and employers may require certain scores to meet entry level requirements.

For a paper-based-tests scores range from 200-677, and a score in excess of 600 are very good.

For Internet-based-tests scores range from 0-120 and a scores above 97 are considered very good.

TOEFL Preparation - 5 Key Things

Executive summary about How to Prepare for the TOEFL by Tim Dickeson

Deciding on how to prepare for the TOEFL is probably the most important thing you will investigate before taking the TOEFL.

Many TOEFL preparation courses have set structures that they go through with the classes and there are also TOEFL preparation books which you can use and follow.

However over my English teaching experience and more importantly the experience I have gained teaching TOEFL, I have come to learn that regardless of which ever method you use, it is extremely important to understand 5 key things which you must incorporate into your TOEFL preparation.

1) TOEFL Sections - Having a comprehensive understanding of the format and structure of the TOEFL so you know exactly what to expect.

2) Question Types - Learning the different question types so you are familiar with how the question will be presented to you.

3) Answering System - Developing a system for answering the different question types to minimise time and assist structuring your answers correctly.

4) Answer Analysis - Analysing what makes a high scoring answer so you are familiar with what you also need to do to produce a high scoring answer.

5) English Skills - Increasing your vocabulary and grammar skills to increase your score

Don't take a chance on the TOEFL. If you work on all of these areas as part of your TOEFL preparation, you will substantially increase your confidence going into the TOEFL and increase your ability to get a high score.

TOEFL AND IELTS

TOEFL or IELTS - Which is Better?

Executive summary about TOEFL and IELTS by Walton Burns

One of the most frequent questions I hear is which test is easier or which test is better. The IELTS test administrated by the British Councils, the University of Cambridge, and IELTS Australia or the TOEFL? Pick the test you think will be easier for you to complete.

Structure of the TOEFL

As of last year, official TOEFL is almost universally given in the iBT (Internet Based Testing) format.

Reading

The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4-6 passages of university level and to answer multiple-choice questions about them (multiple-choice means you choose the answer from provided options). Questions test you on comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style.

Listening

The Listening Section presents long 2-3 conversations and 4-6 lectures. Speaking

The Speaking section is recorded. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation--and may ask your opinion as well. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation. Again, the topics of the conversations are always university-related.

Writing

Finally, there are two short essays on the TOEFL.

IELTS Structure

The IELTS contains the same 4 sections, Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, but the format is very different.

Reading

The variety of questions on the IELTS is quite broad, and not every text will have every question type. One question type asks you to match headings to paragraphs in the text. There may be multiple-choice questions that ask you about key details. Finally, some questions are short-answer but the answers will be taken directly from the text itself.

Some questions come before the text and may not require careful reading to answer.

Listening

The IELTS has four listening sections. There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS.

Speaking

The first part of the test will be a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics.

Writing

There are two writing tasks on the academic IELTS. The first asks you to summarize a table or chart in about 300 words. The second task asks you to present your opinion on a statement about a fairly open topic.

British versus American English

While both the UK and the US accept both tests, and while British English and American English are not as different as some think, the fact of the matter is the IELTS tends to use British English and the TOEFL uses exclusively American English. If you are more comfortable with US English, the TOEFL is a good bet but if you are used to British English and accents, you'll do better on the IELTS.

Multiple choice versus Copying Down

For the reading and listening sections, TOEFL gives you multiple-choice questions, whereas IELTS generally expects you to copy down words from the text or the conversation word-for-word. Multiple-choice questions will tend to be require slightly better abstract thinking, but the IELTS favors people who have good memories and think more concretely. Of course, the TOEFL is also more predictable than the IELTS. If you like talking to people, the IELTS is a better bet. Finally, the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL are graded holistically. The IELTS by contrast is marked by individual criteria and you are scored individually for grammar, word choice, fluency, logic, cohesion, and a dozen other criteria. The IELTS will not overlook bad grammar.

WHAT IS TOEFL?

Independent English Course in Bogor also provides preparatory courses on TOEFL. What is TOEFL? Here we post an article about what TOEFL is. Happy reading.

 

Everything You Need To Know About TOEFL

Written by Manjusha Nambiar  

The author is an English language instructor based in Mumbai.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests the English language skills of non-native students who want to study or work in countries where English is the language of communication. It is an exam developed by ETS (Educational Testing Service). More than 6,000 institutions and agencies in 110 countries rely on TOEFL scores to select students with the English skills needed to succeed.

TOEFL tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. There are three versions of the TOEFL: paper-based, computer-based (CBT) and internet-based (iBT). The majority of test centers now use the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT).

Paper-Based & Computer-Based TOEFL
The computer-based TOEFL (CBT) was introduced in 1998. Its format is very similar to that of the original paper-based test. In areas where the computer-based test is not available, the paper-based test is used. Remember that you cannot change your answers in the first two sections of the CBT after you have confirmed them on the computer. There are more "types" of questions in the CBT, such as clicking on a phrase and looking at a diagram. Before you start the CBT you will take a tutorial which shows you how to answer the questions properly. The total time you will spend taking the paper-based test is 2.5 hours. The CBT takes approximately 4 hours (including tutorials).

TOEFL format (paper based)

Listening comprehension (30 minutes)

Part A: short dialogues

Part b: Long conversations

Part c: mini-lectures

Structure and written expression (25 minutes)

Sentence completion (15 questions)

Error recognition (25 questions)

Reading comprehension (55 minutes)

50 questions - approximately 5 passages

Computer based

Adaptive listening (60 minutes)
Part A: short dialogues

Part B: conversations, academic discussions, mini-lectures

Adaptive structure (15-20 minutes)

Sentence completion (approximately 10 questions)

Error recognition (approximately 15 questions)

Reading comprehension (70-90 minutes)

Over 60 questions - approximately 6 passages

Writing (30 minutes)

1 essay topic

Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT)

The TOEFL (iBT) was launched in 2005. It is intended to replace the other two versions of the test and is gradually becoming available worldwide. The new TOEFL iBT is a linear and not a computer adaptive test. This means that every candidate answers questions from the same range of difficulty, rather than receiving questions based on their ability levels.

The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. All four sections are taken on the same day, and the entire test is about four hours long. What is most unique about the test is that it asks you to combine, or integrate, more than one language skill, just like you do every day. For example, sometimes you read a passage, listen to a short lecture about a topic, and then speak or write a response. And you can take notes throughout the entire test just like you would in a real academic class. Language heard on the TOEFL iBT is designed to sound like real-life conversations. The reading passages are taken from real textbooks and course materials.

TOEFL iBT format

Reading (60-100 minutes)

3-5 passages (12-14 questions each)

Listening (60-90 minutes)

4-6 lectures and academic discussions (6 questions each)

2-3 conversations (five questions each)

BREAK 10 minutes

Speaking (20 minutes)

6 tasks (2 independent, 4 integrated)

Writing (50 minutes)

I integrated task, 1 independent task

Test registration

Go online to register for a test. You can also register by phone or mail. When you register for the test, you can designate which universities you want to receive your scores. Or, you can wait until you receive your scores before sending them to your selected universities. Your scores will be available online 15 business days after you take the test. ETS will also send you a paper score report for your records.

TOEFL requirements

TOEFL is a source of anxiety for most international students who are not educated in English. But remember that it is almost unavoidable. Required TOEFL scores vary by institution, usually, the more prestigious the university, the higher the TOEFL score. So contact your selected university or college to determine their score requirements. On the TOEFL Web site at http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/codelists.html you'll find a list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores. You can also view a list of score requirements for some representative universities.

TOEFL waivers

Some universities have what is called a TOEFL waiver option. You can opt for this option if you are willing to study at the university's Intensive English Program (or another affiliated English program) until acquiring the required level of proficiency in English.