<p>Hey guys,
Nowadays, the minimum TOEFL score to be recommended at most colleges seems to be something around 100. I took it last year and got only 90 (R:26, L:22, S:20, W:22) as a result of cramming "DELTA's key to the next generation TOEFL" and a lil bit "Official Guide ETS" in two weeks before test day. In fact, I knew nothing about TOEFL iBT until those two weeks.</p>
<p>Recently, I took some practice tests in Barron (on computer) and paradoxically, the results stayed roughly the same as my real test :(. </p>
<p>How are your scores? Have you got any tips/strategies for score improvement in just, say, several weeks? (I'm taking the test in mid-December)</p>
<p>What is your prefered way of approaching EACH section in the test?
Particularly,
Listening: Do you take notes? If you do, what do your "notes" look like? And does note-taking works for you? (in lectures or conversations?)
Speaking: What to say in only less than 60 secs? Any advice on integrated Speaking tasks?
Writing: Can I practise following some templates? Any useful templates? Especially the "Cast doubt" tasks?</p>
<p>PS: I'm so sorry to have bombarded you with tons of questions like these. But I'm really confused. Thanks for spending your val. time!</p>
<p>I did some practice like 3-4 days before the test. Meaning I skimmed through the first 3 chapters of "Kaplan's TOEFL iBT Exam" then decided that it was scam and practiced my reading&listening skills with the practice tests. I didn't do any real practice for writing and speaking.
I got a total score of 115, no idea how that happened.<br>
I'd say the best thing to do in general is taking practice tests over and over again.
As for the speaking part, try to find somebody who'd practice with you.</p>
<p>Well, I think it doesn't really come down to really prepping for the actual test (maybe getting familiar with it). I guess it's more important to get your level of english up to par..
Read a lot of english books, expand your vocabulary, try to listen to a lot of spoken english (even television shows!) WITHOUT SUBTITLES!, try to speak a lot of english with, say, your parents.. If your more confidant about your english, it should be oke! Just try maybe one or two practice tests and some essay-writing (its easiest to work according to a plan: an introduction, 3 arguments with clear headlines; conclusion).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you very much!</p>
<p>117</p>
<p>Read through a prep book and do one practice test to get used to the format of the test.</p>
<p>Notes helped me alot, so i really recommend taking them.</p>