Secondary Skills Tips

• Such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling, are not tested in separate sections of the TOEFL, but are tested indirectly throughout the exam.

Grammar

• it is still important for you to be comfortable using a wide range of grammatical structures, which will be evaluated indirectly in the speaking and writing sections of the test.

• The most important grammar points to cover are: verb tenses, nouns, pronouns, modals, parts of a sentence, verbs, prepositions, gerunds, infinitives, articles, noun clauses, adjective clauses, adverb clauses, prepositional phrases, comparatives, superlatives, conjunctions, connectives. In addition, you will want to check your writing for: parallel structures, word order, word forms, word choice, and redundancy.

• Remember the main difference between the older exams and the new one is that you no longer have to choose the right answer to a multiple choice question, but you do have to choose the correct grammatical structures from your own mind to convey your ideas effectively and clearly, in speech and writing.

Vocabulary

• In the TOEFL iBT, having access to a large vocabulary will enable you to obtain a high score in every section – reading, listening, speaking and writing. From a long-term point of view, as well, research has shown that students who wish to pursue university studies may need up to 10,000 words.

• you can enrich your vocabulary. You can read newspapers, magazines, textbooks, brochures, children’s books, and various types of literature. You can also listen to radio broadcasts, the news, interviews, documentaries, movies, conversations and audio books. If your intention is to improve your vocabulary, you will have to listen for new words, check their meaning, keep track of them in a vocabulary notebook and then try to use them in conversation or writing.

Pronunciation &  Spelling

• You are not being asked to imitate an American or British accent. You are being judged on whether your speech is intelligible.

• According to the Speaking Rubrics developed by ETS, your speech will be assessed on whether it is well-paced, clear, and articulate, with effective intonation and rhythm, which does not obscure the message.

• The best way to improve your pronunciation is in a pronunciation class or with a private teacher. Develop your ear by listening carefully to newscasts on CNN or BBC. You can also benefit greatly from using some of the English pronunciation programs on the market today, which will enable you to practice at home, while driving, etc.