<p>I've just got my TOEFL score. I got 14 in the reading, 18 in the listening, 24 in the speaking and 17 in the writing, 73 overall.</p>
<p>I have a great chance in getting a higher score this summer, because, this was like a trial to me and I'm still a 16 year-old 11th grader (a).</p>
<p>what's your peice of advice to me???
how can I get 90+ in my next shot?</p>
<p>I'd be thankful for your advice. =)</p>
<p>tc</p>
<p>What do you think were your weaknesses? If you need to polish your English skills, the obvious advice would be to read more, watch English movies or TV channels, and get familiar with the American 5-paragraph essay. It took me a while to realize this, but Americans organize persuasive and argumentative papers differently from what I learned in high school overseas. (For example, I learned that it was good to appear neutral for most of the paper, while Americans state their point of view very early. There might be a similar difference with what you have learned.)</p>
<p>Some students have a hard time with the test format itself because they are not used to multiple choice questions. Did you feel like you understood the texts themselves but could not find the information to answer the questions at hand?</p>
<p>First of all, many thanks for your reply (f)</p>
<p>I think I couldn’t realize that I was taking the test!!!
I was the first to enter that small room, my photo was taken, I chose a computer and started the test. While I was reading the 1st passage, another 14 names were called and I couldn’t focus because of what was going on there =(</p>
<p>anyway, I hate reading, I think it’s one of my weaknesses, whenever I grab something to read, I feel sleepy =S whether it was in English or Arabic which is my Mother Language.</p>
<p>the listening was easy, very easy. but I don’t know how I ended up scoring 18!</p>
<p>I didn’t practice writing, I guess this was something I should have done. I really want to work on it, but I don’t know where to begin =( and how =(
I wrote a 4 paragraph essay, you think this was enough??? about 180 words in the independent and couldn’t finish the integrated essay =P</p>
<p>the speaking was the most difficult section, I was very happy to see my speaking score =) </p>
<p>"Some students have a hard time with the test format itself because they are not used to multiple choice questions. Did you feel like you understood the texts themselves but could not find the information to answer the questions at hand? "</p>
<p>well, yeah!
specially in the reading, you know how to deal with that?? I found it difficult to know which the correct answer was. Am talking in particular about the Qs which asks for what describes the highlighted information the best "+</p>
<p>Thanks again… tc</p>
<p>Haven’t you taken your SAT’s yet ? Because I guess -I dnt really know since I haven’t taken the TOEFL test yet - that it’s the same kind of multiple choice questions…</p>
<p>I was planning to take it this Saturday, but I decided to take it next year…
I’ll prepare for the test this summer and I’ll take it in October.</p>
<p>I missed the registration date, they said I could take it as a stand by and I can’t guarantee that =(</p>
<p>I’ve just took the Arabic SAT 3 weeks ago and I got a good score, hopefully I score the same =)</p>
<p>Another thing, practice writing a lil formally even when you are chatting or posting on forums 
You can also take some online prep or a book from the market to prepare for TOEFL.</p>
<p>the problem is that I don’t know how to write formally =S
I study ESL at school not Academic English =(
now that I have already taken the TOEFL I should change my way of speaking and writing
=(
but I don’t know how =(</p>
<p>… I would like to ask something to all of you if you don’t mind =)</p>
<p>what do you think of my score? is it good?</p>
<p>Gary… could you please show me how a formal post would be??? just to give me an idea of what you would consider formal… I stopped using short forms ( except for the pls in the title that was a mistake =P ) and I now write I instead of i << that what I’d consider formal LOL</p>
<p>tc</p>
<p>Formal writing means purposeful, well organized and graceful writing. For instance, using proper punctuation like a comma or period to indicate a pause/completion of expression of a thought. Instead of going on like this –> … use proper phrases for transition. Finally, smileys should be reduced to a bare minimum 
If nothing else works, just imagine you are writing a letter to the Dean of your dream college. If you think he would not have to frown at the piece of paper you’ve written on, you are probably doing just fine for a start
P.S. Just my personal opinions.</p>
<p>Four paragraphs are fine. The reason I suggested you look at an explanation of a five-paragraph essay is because it is a format for a persuasive essay that is taught to all high school students in the US: one paragraph for an introduction, three paragraphs for arguments, one paragraph for the conclusion; and each paragraph has a set internal structure (e.g. where the thesis statement goes). It can be shortened to four or expanded to six paragraphs depending on how many arguments you have, but the general format is very useful for a standardized test when you don’t have much time to think about how to structure your essay. Definitely also look at several good sample essays to get a feeling for how an American student would organize and write an essay. It might be different from what you have learned. You would also see how more formal writing looks like.</p>
<p>I am afraid I don’t know how to work on your test taking skills, but maybe others here can help you. The only suggestion I have is to take lots and lots and lots of practice tests, both for the TOEFL and for the SAT (which has a very similar format).</p>
<p>Thank you Gary for your personal opinions.
what transitions would best suite what I have written in post #7?
I can’t remember using any transitions except for “however” in my essays.
note that I have not posted any smileys. Al though I could have used at least 3 of them now.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot Barium :)</p>
<p>Ummm #7 would require a lot more work, so I’ll edit your last post insted(Which mind you, was a LOT better!)</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinions Gary! What transitions would suit post #7 according to you? I can’t remember using any except “however” in my essays. By the way, do you notice that I have not put any smileys in this post although I could have used at least 3?</p>
<p>FYI my mother toungue is Hindi 
But I looooove reading! I know you don’t ‘love’ it. But you must love SOMETHING! Just go ahead and read only about THAT 
It need not be some high sounding Shakespearean novel.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply Gary! I understand now where my mistakes were.
I have just asked my Father for one of his old Shakespeare’s novels, he said that he used to have a box full of them, unfortunately he does not have them anymore.</p>
<p>I will try to buy a novel this week. Which novel do you suggest? </p>
<p><em>^</em>^<em>^</em>^<em>^</em>^
That was difficult to be honest. I have used my father instead of dad + however LOL
I see what I’ve written awkward though.</p>
<p>I think I will get used to it over time : D
Thanks for making my mistakes clear :)</p>
<p>No probs Ruby And I think you misinterpreted me… I said you don’t really need a Shakespearean novel! ANY good book would do. Read about something you’d like to.</p>
<p>opps</p>
<p>pardon me, I missed the not in your previous post. :)</p>
<p>This is not meant to be mean, just FYI:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You cannot use a comma to separate two sentences that could go independently. The mistake is called a comma split.</p>