Archive for the ‘TOEFL’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the TOEFL category.
8
Dec
2009
English Writing Skills
Writing in English
In order to begin writing in English there are a few basic things you will need to understand. One of these is how to structure a sentence in English. A basic sentence must have a subject, a verb and an object. The subject is who is performing the action, the verb is the action being performed (what) and the object is what is receiving the action (to whom). More complex sentences then add relative clauses to give extra information. For example
- Basic sentence: I stepped on the cat. (I = subject, stepped = verb, cat= object).
- Complex sentence: While eating a sandwich, I stepped on the cat, who was sitting in the middle of the kitchen. (Relative clauses in bold)
Writing in Exams
English Exams such as TOEFL or the IELTS will typically have a writing test section, along with sections testing reading, listening and speaking skills. Some of they key things to keep in mind when preparing for the written section of an English exam include punctuation and structure.
One of the most important things when writing a formal piece of text is to structure it logically and clearly. This includes the overall structure of your essay, article or report, such as the introduction, body and conclusion, as well as the structure of your paragraphs and sentences. For example, a paragraph will usually have one main point, expressed with a:
- Topic sentence: express the main idea
- Supporting sentence: expand the details of the main idea
- Concluding sentence: summarise the paragraph or draw a conclusion from it
Paragraphs are useful because the separate the main ideas of the text, signalling to the reader when you are about to introduce a new idea or argument.
Punctuation is highly important when writing a great piece of text. Without punctuation, not only will it be very difficult and confusing to read, but you may not actually convey what you are trying to say. The position of punctuation marks change the meaning of the sentence.
8
Dec
2009
English Reading Skills
Reading Skills
There are four main types of reading skills. When you read something in your native language, you usually don’t read every word or even have to understand every word. When reading a document with words you don’t understand, it is possible to guess the meaning of a word from what the sentence is saying, what the paragraph is about, and what the topic of the document is overall. The same goes for reading in English. The four reading skills are skimming, scanning, extensive reading and intensive reading.
Skimming is when a reader only reads key sentences or words to grasp what the main ideas of the text is. It is used to understand current events quickly or understand the main outline of a business situation. People will often skim newspaper articles and business brochures.
Scanning is used to find a specific piece of information. Your eyes glance over the text to pick out the specific facts or information you need. People will typically scan bus timetables, TV guides, travel guides, web sites and so on. Extensive reading on the other hand is used to obtain a general understanding of a subject, and is usually used for longer texts. These could be textbooks, business procedures, manuals or even novels.
Intensive reading is used with shorter texts to extract specific and detailed information. When reading a text intensively it is important to understand every word in order to grasp all the relevant details accurately. Examples of occasions when people read documents intensively can include accounting records, contracts, or an article in a comprehension exam.
English Exams
Reading is usually one aspect of English exams, whether the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). These English exams demonstrate English proficiency for entrance into tertiary institutions, whether a university or a TAFE college, gaining employment and applying for permanent residency in English-speaking nations.
The reading sections of these exams test your understanding across different types of texts, requiring you to answer questions on them. This could be in regard to vocabulary, grammar or overall understanding of the content.
4
Dec
2009
TOEFL Exam Preparation
What is TOEFL?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and is used to demonstrate English language proficiency if you are a non-native speaker. TOEFL tests English skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing at a level suitable for entry into English colleges and universities. It is the most widely accepted English language test in the world, accepted by over six thousand institutions in more than 130 countries. This give students more choice when choosing where to study, as well as great flexibility and convenience. It was first administered in 1964 and has been taken by more than 23 million students.
The entire test is taken in one day, and candidates can retake the test after a week if they wish to improve their scores. The test is fair and accurate as it is administered consistently, with ETS-certified experts grading the tests (which are anonymous). TOEFL results are valid for two years because after such a period of time a candidate’s language proficiency could have changed significantly. Educational institutions usually only consider a candidate’s most recent score.
TOEFL is offered in two formats: the Internet-based Test (IBT) and the Paper-based Test (PBT). Which format is taken depends on which is offered at the test centre attended. Since the IBT’s introduction it has progressively been replacing the computer-based test and the PBT (although these are still used in select areas).
Exam Preparation
TOEFL exam preparation courses are designed to help students communicate in real-life academic situations. It is not enough to know simply the basic of English to succeed at an English college or university. Students need to be able to communicate their ideas effectively both orally and in written form in the classroom and on campus.
A TOEFL exam preparation course will prepare students to be able to understand lectures, read academic textbooks, conduct research online and in the library, write academic papers, and speak with lecturers and other students. By taking a course at an English college, students should be able to take the test with confidence.