An ESL blog

I have received couple of emails asking about TOEFL preparation courses offered in Canada after I wrote about preparing for TOEFL post . I didn’t take any courses because they are very expensive, instead I prepared myself using various materials(CDs and books). I found some additional resources while I was searching for some books on the internet.

Peterson’s TOEFL success is also on the amazon bookstore for $25, but in the publishers site there are more books specific to each area writing skills, reading skills and TOEFL vocabulary. In addition to TOEFL they provide resources for various exams like GRE,GMAT, LSAT, NCLEX ,MCAT and MAT. Canadian users can take advantage of strong Canadian dollar by buying in US dollars.
Study Guides :

Master the TOEFL Writing Skills

Master the TOEFL Reading Skills

Master the TOEFL Vocabulary

Here are some tips from Peterson’s TOEFL guide.

Prepare with a Practice Test
Practice tests are an ideal way to begin your preparation. They’re affordable and will give you instant results to see how you might score if the test were today. You’ll learn your strengths and weakness, and be able to develop a personalized study plan. Try prepping with Peterson’s practice tests for the TOEFL.

Approach the test with a plan
Spend enough time preparing that you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Having this kind of understanding can help you decide where to focus your energies. Work first on questions that deal with your strengths and make sure to answer them correctly. Then move on to questions that are more challenging for you. The only way you’ll be able to use your time wisely is to know where your abilities are beforehand.

Be well-rehearsed
Practice makes permanence! If you set aside time in a quiet place to take some practice exams, you’ll be ready for the rigors of sitting in a chair and focusing on test material for a few hours. You can also use this opportunity to assess where you need to spend more time studying.

Be ready for test conditions
It’s a good idea to dress in layers and bring a sweater or sweatshirt because the temperature in the testing room may be warmer or colder than you anticipated.

Reading Comprehension
Skim the passage first to get a sense of the main idea. You can always go back and look up specifics. Answer the questions that ask about vocabulary words and details first. Then work on questions that ask you about the main idea or require you to make inferences.

Structure and Grammar
Think about the simplest, clearest way to express an idea. If an answer choice sounds awkward or overly complicated, chances are good that it’s wrong.

Speaking and Listening
Become as familiar with the English language as you can, including learning vocabulary words and idioms. Practice working with the language in everyday life; this will help you become more comfortable with it and understand it better.

Writing
Planning for a few minutes before writing will help you to write a more focused and organized essay. It is also important to develop your ideas and express them clearly, using examples to back them up. Although the essay doesn’t need to be grammatically perfect, try to make as few errors as possible. Always save a few minutes at the end to proofread.

Follow this link to Prepare For The TOEFL Test
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Update : 2007 - 2008 list of Universities which accept TOEFL results for English competency.