HOW TO IMPROVE TOEFL LISTENING SKILS & TIPS SUCCESS ON THE TEST DAY

Test-Taking Skills

• Learn to take notes effectively. This includes knowing which information is important and which information you can probably ignore. Effective note taking also involves proper pacing. Be able to keep up with the speed of TOEFL Listening tracks as much as possible.

• Speaking of pacing, learn to manage your time as you answer questions. Be aware of how much time you have per question. Be prepared to move on or make a quick, educated guess if you are stuck on a difficult answer.

• Be familiar with the different kinds of listening tracks on the TOEFL. You’ll hear conversations that involve opinions, problem solving and student life. You’ll also hear lectures, some that include student participation, and some that don’t. Be aware that different kinds of recordings require different approaches from the test-taker.

• Know how to answer the different types of TOEFL Listening questions. Understand the different requirements and strategies for questions related to detail, attitude, function, organization, main ideas, inference, categorizing, and so on.

Practice activities:

• Listen to transcripted English speeches and talks. Read the transcripts as you listen. While you won’t be able to read transcripts or captions on the TOEFL itself, this is still very good listening practice. Reading the transcripts can help you identify and learn new words common in spoken English. Looking at a written version of speech can also help you understand the structure of academic spoken English. You can find good transcripted English speech on websites like TED Talks, Upworthy, Khan Academy, and even right here at Magoosh.

• Expose yourself to real English lectures and conversations. Talk with others you know who speak English. If you can, attend English lectures and ask the speaker questions. Even if you live in a place with few other English speakers, there are ways to do this by phone or Internet.

• Practice actual TOEFL Listening Exercises, using the official TOEFL website and other recommended materials.

Tips for Success on Test Day

• Dress comfortably for any room temperature.
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes early.
• Follow directions carefully to avoid wasting time.
• Do not panic. Concentrate on the task in front of you. Do not think about questions you have already answered.
• Do not spend too much time on one question.
• Do not leave questions blank. If you are not sure of the answer, make the best possible choice.
• Pace yourself to answer every question and avoid rushing at the end.