Communicative English 2A: noviembre 2011

So next week you have the opportunity to take the TOEIC again. How cool!

It's a great opportunity to see how much we've learned in the last few months together. So, in preparation for this, we've done a little research for you. Here is a list of compiled tips for taking the TOEIC as well as other standardized tests:

GENERAL TEST TIPS:

FIRST OF ALL, ANSWER EVERY QUESTION!!!
Leave no answer blank, as even if you guess you may be lucky get it correct. You are certain to get it wrong if you do not answer the question.

PRACTICE: TAKE AN ENTIRE PRACTICE TEST, take as much time as you need to finish it, read the questions first for part 3 and 4 (but only one listening for each conversation) and calculate your score. This will give you a good idea what the test entails and of your estimated score.

TAKE EXTRA PENCILS, SOME WATER, AND A WATCH, (CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP TIME.)

TIPS BY SECTION:

LISTENING SECTION:

As on our class tests, PRE-READ THE QUESTIONS before the recording starts if possible. This will help you pick out key phrases and words while you are listening.

PARTS 1 & 2:

Answer immediately as there is no point in coming back on these parts later. If you don't know the answer or are not sure, JUST GUESS, pick something.

PARTS 3 & 4:

After pre-reading the questions...

Do NOT immediately write on your answer sheet. Circle all answers on your test question booklet while the recording is still playing.

(This will save and help you to keep your focus.)

THEN when the conversation has finished, quickly circle the answers onto the answer sheet and IMMEDIATELY move onto pre-reading the question for the next listening.

(It is MUCH more important to pre-read the next 3 questions then to worry over the answers you've already chosen.)

Then AFTER, the ENTIRE listening section is over, come back to the questions that you couldn't and guess the best you can. Chances are you will be able to eliminate some of the incorrect answers and make an intelligent guess.

A LISTENING OVERVIEW: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-listening.html

MORE LISTENING TIPS: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-listening-tips.html

READING SECTION: WATCH YOUR TIME!

Pay attention and manage what time you spend on each part!

Suggested reading section time management:

Part 5 (40 questions) + Part 6 (12 questions): 30mins

Part 7 (48 questions): 40mins

Again, as we did on our class tests, PRE-READ THE QUESTIONS, BEFORE YOU READ THE TEXT.

(This will help you focus on what being asked and filter out unnecessary information.)

READ THE ENTIRE TEXT!!! Sometimes the context is important for answering a question correctly.

BUT, if you find that you are running out of time to finish the reading section, search for hte questions that you can answer without reading the document completely, (such as vocabulary questions) and guess the answers for the other questions.

READING OVERVIEW: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-reading.html

MORE READING TIPS: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-reading.html

REMEMBER YOU KNOW THIS STUFF. (And if you don't relaxing can ONLY help you!)

Take a deep breath. Shake out your arms- get out the tension. RELAX!

Now once you are relaxed. TAKE YOUR TIME!!!

Remember it ALWAYS BETTER TO GO SLOW AND SPEAK CORRECTLY, THAN SPEAK QUICKLY (like you might hear on TV), AND MAKE MISTAKES!!

DON'T RUSH.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.

SAY ALL YOUR -S AT THE ENDS OF WORDS.

REMEMBER TO START A SENTENCE WITH A SUBJECT, (different from ESP)

A SPEAKING OVERVIEW: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-speaking.html

MORE SPEAKING TIPS: http://www.goodlucktoeic.com/TOEIC-speaking-tips.html

TRY READING THE QUESTION 3 TIMES, before answering it.

The first time, read for a general understanding.

The second read, make a list of the things that the question is asking you to do, explain or debate.

With the third read, check your list to make certain the all items from the question are there.

Now answer your question. WATCH YOUR TIME! When you complete your writing sample, make certain that your paragraphs has every item from your list.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

Here are some links to sites with practice tests and more tips. GOOD LUCK!