Perfect Phrases for the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Sections (Perfect Phrases Series)

Perfect Phrases for the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Sections

Perfect Phrases for the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Sections (Perfect Phrases Series)  by Roberta Steinberg

Main description

Perfect Phrases to stand out on the TOEFL-for the more than 800,000 people who take the test

To be accepted into most North American undergraduate and graduate programs, international students must take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Perfect Phrases for the TOEFL Speaking and Writing Sections gives you all the phrases and most commonly used words you need to excel on both the writing and speaking sections of the test. Presented in the easy-to-understand Perfect Phrases format, these phrases allow you to effectively communicate and express yourself in standard American English, and to score your very best on the test.

The TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) is different from previous TOEFL exams in that it includes a speaking section and an integrated writing section. Students who have taken the test have found these additional sections to be particularly difficult. Using this book will help you prepare for these two sections. You will become familiar with the types of tasks or prompts for each section. Each prompt in this book is followed by a response, which highlights the vocabulary and phrases you can use when you take the test. By studying the phrases and vocabulary organized by skill and purpose, you will gain confidence in your speaking and writing ability.

The book is divided into three sections: the speaking section, the writing section, and suggestions for vocabulary development. In the speaking and writing sections, you will learn what is tested on the IBT exam. The speaking section tests six different types of tasks. The writing section tests two different types of tasks. For each task, you will find:

  •  A description of the particular task you must perform.
  • A description of the particular task you must perform. Two sample questions/lectures/conversations.
  •  Sample responses with note-taking suggestions and preparation tips.
  • Sample responses with note-taking suggestions and preparation tips.
  • Phrases and vocabulary with reference to each type of task, organized by skill and purpose.

At the end of the listening section you will find a list of helpful Websites. As you prepare for the test by listening to native English speakers as well as by reading and writing every day, you will recognize the need to improve your vocabulary. The suggestions for vocabulary development section includes several time-tested strategies as well as the Academic Word List, a 300-word list of the most frequently used words in university lectures as compiled by Averil Coxhead.

At the end of the book are two appendixes, one a grammar section with rules and exercises and the other a punctuation section with rules. Several of the exercises include actual student errors. Each appendix has a pretest and posttest with answer keys that direct you to the particular rule being tested. These sections will help you prepare for the TOEFL writing and speaking sections. They will be of particular help with your writing.

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Delta’s Key to the TOEFL iBT: Advanced Skill Practice With CD (Audio)

Delta's Key to the TOEFL iBT- Advanced Skill Practice

Delta’s Key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test: Advanced Skill Practice Audio CDs Audio CD by Nancy Gallagher

Delta s Key to the TOEFL iBT: Advanced Skill Practice is a revised and updated edition of Delta s Key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test.

Since the introduction of the TOEFL iBT in 2005, there have been significant changes to some of the test questions, particularly the integrated writing and integrated speaking tasks. The new 2011 edition of Delta’s Key reflects these changes with the addition of many new practice questions and updated strategies. All of the content in our new edition meets the current specifications of the Internet based TOEFL iBT.

Delta's Key to the TOEFL iBT- Advanced Skill Practice

Delta’s Key to the TOEFL iBT- Advanced Skill Practice

We have listened to the concerns of our users, and the new edition of Delta’s Key incorporates feedback from students and instructors. Now, for the first time, we include the companion audio in mp3 format on a single CD with the book. This means the full nine hours of audio can be played on a variety of media players. The audio does not have to be purchased separately. Continue reading

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Building Skills For Toefl IBT Beginning Listening (Ebook+Audio)

Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT, Beginning Listening

 Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT, Beginning Listening (with 4 Audio CDs) by Adam Worcester, Lark Bowerman

Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT is part of a three-level test-preparation series designed to prepare learners of English for the TOEFL iBT. In this first level of the series, beginning learners will be able to familiarize themselves with question types found on the TOEFL iBT while covering a variety of disciplines. In addition, learners can practice their skills in all four test areas: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Each book provides comprehensive coverage of the designated skill and offers learners extensive practice. Continue reading

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Top 10 Speaking Tips for the TOEFL iBT® Test

Top 10 TOEFL Speaking Tips

1. Find friends with whom you can practice speaking English – the more confident you are with speaking English, the easier you will find the TOEFL® speaking section of your exam. Need friends to practice with? Find friends on English, baby!

2. Choose questions from the end of English, baby! lessons and imagine this is the free-choice section of your TOEFL® speaking exam. Plan your response by preparing what you will say for your introduction as well as three supporting ideas. You should aim to do this at least three times a week – the more you practice, the easier you will find responding to questions with limited time to plan your response. Continue reading

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Top 10 Writing Tips for the TOEFL iBT® Test

Top 10 TOEFL Writing Tips

1. Make a list of familiar topics – English, baby!’s daily lessons are great examples. Practice planning and writing an essay for each topic. First, think of one main idea or opinion for each topic and then think of a few points that support this idea or opinion. When you first start practicing this, take at least forty-five minutes to plan, write and check each essay. Once you improve, you should be able to do this in half an hour or less.

2. Write out every word in full – never use abbreviations! Although you may want to save time, abbreviations such as u instead of you are not acceptable for TOEFL® writing. Save these abbreviations for the English, baby! chat room. Continue reading

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Top 10 Reading Tips for the TOEFL iBT® Test

Top 10 TOEFL Reading Tips

1. Become familiar with reading in English. You should be reading in English every single day. Read the newspaper or news online, print out the daily lessons on English, baby! and find academic papers at the library or online. Do not just stick to topics related to areas that you are interested in – become familiar with a variety of subjects!

2. Practice skimming passages rather than spending valuable time reading the passage in detail. (Skimming is when you quickly glance through text rather than reading every single word.) Then go back and read the passage more slowly – you will find you understand more now that you know what the key points of the passage are. By practicing using any passage of written English, such as today’s lesson on English, baby! you will dramatically increase your fluency and reading rate. Continue reading

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Top 10 Listening Tips for the TOEFL iBT® Test

Top 10 TOEFL Listening Tips

Top 10 Listening Tips for the TOEFL iBT® test and Paper English Language Tests

1. Take past TOEFL® listening tests and become familiar with the format. Quickly read the comprehension questions before the recording begins – this helps you to listen out for key points – often there is a lot of content that you will not be tested on – keep your focus and energy for the points that count!

2. Practice note taking whenever you are listening to something in English – only write down key words or phrases, use abbreviations for long words and always write in English. Record only the major points – you will not have time to write down the minor, unimportant details in the exam. Continue reading

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The IELTS or the TOEFL Test, Which is Better ?

TOEFL vs IELTS Comparision

You might wonder if the TOEFL or the IELTS is better for you. Read on and find out!

Forr many years, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was the exam most U.S. colleges and universities relied on to measure and test English language skills exhibited by applicants from non-English speaking countries. Worldwide, that was not the case. Another test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), was the exam required by most other English-speaking countries, including Britain and Australia, to test English language skills. The IELTS is often considered to be the only test that can compete with the TOEFL test in the United States.

The TOEFL test did not match the IELTS in all areas

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About the TOEFL Test

Overview TOEFL Test

An overview of the TOEFL test

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures your English skills by testing reading, writing, listening, and now, in most locations, speaking. The TOEFL test is offered in 180 countries around the globe.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures your English skills by testing reading, writing, listening, and now, in most locations, speaking. The TOEFL test is offered in 180 countries around the globe.

If you’re a non-native English speaker at the 11th-grade or above level, planning to attend college or graduate school in the United States, chances are you need to take the TOEFL. More than 6,000 colleges and universities worldwide require the TOEFL test as part of your application. It is designed to evaluate your mastery of the English language and your ability to be successful in an English-speaking academic environment.

The original TOEFL was a paper and pencil test. Gradually, the TOEFL Paper-based Test (PBT) was joined by the computer-based version, the CBT. Until 2005, the TOEFL was administered primarily as the CBT. Since then a new version of the test, the Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT), was introduced and is being integrated worldwide. Depending upon your testing location, the TOEFL will be administered in either iBT or PBT format. The CBT version is no longer offered. Continue reading

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Why is the TOEFL test changing?

TOEFL Tips Tricks
  • To measure the ability to communicate successfully in an academic setting

The new test will better measure what colleges and universities need to know: a prospective student’s ability to use English in an academic setting. The new Speaking section evaluates a person’s ability to use spoken English, and the new integrated Writing and Speaking tasks measure the ability to com­bine information from more than one source and communicate about it.

  • To reflect how language is really used

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What is different about the TOEFL iBT test?

TOEFL iBT test
  • It tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The emphasis will be on using English to communicate.
  • It will be delivered via the Internet in secure test centers around the world. Once the new test is introduced in an area, the computer-based and paper-based tests will no longer be offered there.
  • Some tasks require test takers to combine more than one skill. To succeed academically in English­speaking colleges and universities, students need to be able to combine their language skills in the classroom. New integrated questions, or “tasks,” help students build the confidence needed to com­municate in the academic environments they plan to enter. The new integrated tasks will ask test takers to: Continue reading
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