[ti:Getting Started with TOEFL] [ar:Adam Brock] [al:Education Report] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]If you are interested in studying [00:02.69]at an American university, [00:04.79]you have probably heard about [00:07.68]the Test of English as a Foreign Language. [00:10.92]The test is widely known as the TOEFL. [00:15.29]It is the most widely used [00:18.14]language assessment exam for American universities. [00:22.57]Many foreign students are frightened of the TOEFL [00:28.15]because it is risky. [00:29.84]Good test results on the TOEFL [00:33.43]will open many doors. [00:35.57]But a low TOEFL score will limit your choices [00:40.25]for financial aid and admission to top schools. [00:44.50]The most competitive universities generally expect [00:50.02]an Internet-based test score of 90 or above. [00:54.50]Others accept lower scores, [00:58.08]and some do not require a TOEFL score [01:01.81]at all. Most universities [01:05.56]do not publicize an actual cutoff score, [01:09.75]but a high score will always help. [01:13.10]There are two major versions of the TOEFL test. [01:18.48]The first is the iBT, [01:21.87]or Internet-based Test. [01:24.61]It is offered in most of the world [01:28.19]and accepted by nearly every university [01:32.07]and scholarship program in the United States. [01:35.66]The other version of the test [01:39.40]is called the Paper-based Test or PBT. [01:43.89]It is still used in some developing countries. [01:48.61]Scholarship programs provide money for a student [01:53.59]to continue his or her education. [01:56.98]Many scholarship programs [01:59.96]will accept the PBT results [02:02.95]when a student first asks for financial aid. [02:07.24]However, they may require students [02:11.03]to take the iBT before official admission. [02:15.42]The PBT is less costly to take [02:19.80]and does not require use of the Internet. [02:23.68]Some businesses and government offices [02:27.47]use the PBT to test the English language skills [02:32.64]of their employees. [02:34.38]The iBT and PBT have very different structures. [02:40.60]The main difference is that the iBT [02:44.19]is completely online and includes questions [02:48.44]to measure the person's ability [02:50.84]to speak in English. [02:52.83]The iBT also has integrated tasks. [02:57.02]For example, listening, reading, and speaking [03:01.99]are mixed together. [03:03.93]The Paper-based Test does not mix the different sections. [03:09.21]The PBT has an area to test grammar, [03:13.86]the rules governing the use of words and phrases. [03:18.35]The Internet-based Test does not. [03:21.29]If you have a choice, [03:23.54]take the iBT if it is not too pricey. [03:27.27]The Paper-based test is being phased out. [03:31.60]It will eventually disappear. [03:34.59]Here are some tips for getting started with TOEFL: [03:39.72]1. Plan ahead 每 [03:42.95]It takes a long time to improve your TOEFL score. [03:47.79]Many students study just before the test. [03:51.84]Raising your score will takes months of intensive work. [03:57.06]Do not expect a big lift in your test results [04:02.14]after two weeks. [04:03.83]There is no easy way to improve your score quickly. [04:08.77]You will have to spend a lot of time and energy. [04:13.15]2. Master the basics first 每 [04:18.23]Many students study for the TOEFL [04:21.82]before they are ready. [04:23.81]You should have at least an upper- [04:27.24]intermediate English level [04:28.93]before you attempt the test. [04:31.07]If you score below 500 on the PBT [04:35.25]or 70 on the iBT, [04:37.94]study the fundamentals for a few months [04:41.19]and come back to the TOEFL later. [04:43.59]3. Get a study guide 每 [04:47.37]It is easy to find study guides for the iBT. [04:52.15]Pearson, Barron's, ETS, and Kaplan [04:57.52]all produce quality materials. [05:00.41]Take a practice test once or twice a month. [05:04.89]The best study guides will have explanations [05:09.32]in the answer key. [05:10.82]PBT study guides are difficult to find [05:15.25]because the test is being phased out. [05:18.36]4. Use outside resources 每 [05:23.91]Using TOEFL practice materials all the time [05:28.44]will make you crazy. [05:30.24]Remember, you are learning a language, [05:33.62]not a test. [05:34.81]You can improve your TOEFL score [05:37.96]by making English part of your daily life. [05:41.24]Some simple ways are listening to podcasts, [05:45.77]informal conversation with English speakers, [05:49.11]watching movies and reading newspapers. [05:52.79]Some others are reading English textbooks, [05:56.77]sending and reading text messages in English, [06:00.55]and writing online comments in English. [06:03.84]The bottom line is, [06:06.34]the best way to do well on the TOEFL [06:09.27]is to know English well. [06:11.48]Do not depend on informal advice or tricks. [06:16.31]Do not try to outwit the test maker. [06:20.34]Think of reading, listening, speaking, writing, [06:25.37]and grammar as a single connected concept每communication. [06:30.54]The real goal of the test is to measure [06:34.37]how well a student can communicate [06:37.17]in English-speaking classroom. [06:39.86]Immerse yourself in English on a daily basis [06:43.70]and improvement is sure to follow. [06:46.54]I'm Adam Brock