Hi, friends, Redrock again.
The following message is for those who are going to TOEFL within weeks.
( This letter will be delivered in English to ease those who has been suffering from error code. My written English may not be as good as some of my students had expected, I hope you understand still. )
As I was asked so frequently about test preparation, I feel the strong responsibility to respond those who are anxious to get advised before they take TOEFL I was indebted to do so because most of the receivers of this e-mail actually helped me a lot in my previous surveys.
Test Preparation for TOEFL.If history may tell about the future, I will give you a brief description about recent TOEFL tests since August, 2000.
The reading part becomes easier. , I even get the same response from a high school student. No much new words appear in the test. Of course, these facts does not necessarily for tell that the coming one willalso be as easy.
For people who has been making more than 7 mistakes in Reading, they still need to focus on the vocabulary. If you are using my book, "Selected TOEFL Vocabulary (new edition)" 《新版托福詞匯精選》張紅巖編著。I seriously suggest you recite the 50 lists at least four times before test. You may also choose to buy the accompanying tapes, which are now sold in NOS, underground section. Also you need to do the "300 selected vocabulary questions" from now on. Funny that those word questions still appear on real test. Make sure you can remember every correct answer.
For people who remain excellent in Reading part and those who want to achieve full score in Reading. I suggest them to read the whole article from the very beginning, as articles are becoming more and more tricky. Try reading through the first 3 articles. and then read the remaining 2 articles in the "shortcut way" I taught in class. That procedure "from question to related details in articles" still work in general. It makes sense if you rely on this method to achieve a high score, but may not guarantee a full score. Whether a full score in Reading is your major concern determines your choice. (honestly I don't think to spend too much time on reading is worthwhile.) Don't ask me this question again. ( You aim at a full score, but may not achieve it. So, in conclusion, in what way your read does not matter. The most important thing is that your vocabulary is enough for you to understand what you choose to read.)
The august TWE Topic is related with Teacher. I am tired of guessing new topics. I was doing this just to encourage people to practice something. It really does not matter whether a certain topic is to be tested or not. It is the action of your practicing that matters. Only one week left before the test. I think you need to write at least an article every day.
Do pay attention to the following rules:
1. When writing A or B type of topics, you must comment on both sides. This is highly valued when scoring.
2. Mind that you do not use unfamiliar words. Avoid mistakes as much as possible.
3. Don't forget to cite specific example, and exact figures or numbers to support your idea, even fake ones.
4. Get very familiar with frequently used words and phrases and use these words to outline the general structure or your article.
5. Quote others remarks to support your point if you can come up with one. If you don't, you still can fake a Chinese one to fancy those evaluators.
The grammar part is as usual. Unlike what happend before, to make a full score, you are required to understand the meaning of a whole sentence. Some tricky problems appear that way
Advice:
1. Check through a certain TOEFL grammar book very briefly.
2. Figure out what kinds of mistakes you are liable to make by doing 4 or 5 grammar parts consecutively. List your mistakes and remind yourself every time before you start a new test.
3. Keep on practicing at least four Grammar sections everyday before test.
Enough, if you still fail there. It does not mean you are not diligent enough, it may suggest you were a poor student in English since high school.
In listening comprehension, I should remind most of you to concentrate on the understanding of idioms and short phrases.
They matter most if you want to achieve high or full score. My full score experience tells me that you are not building Rome within one day. But before you can achieve a full score, you need to get close Rome, to say the least. Only allow yourself to make no more than 4 mistakes even in normal practice.
Advice:
1. Keep a good sense. Practice at least one hour, which means two sections of LC.
2. Find a book ( Xu Yang's Idiom Book will do) and get yourself familiar with those words.
3. If you are English major or something, take your time to immerse in certain movies.
It still help. I only do LC 4 days before Test. I had a good excuse for enjoying various kinds VCDs two months before test. Choose those films that contains enough words rather than some other shits.
4. Don't get yourself too much burdened 2 days before test.
Just imagine tomorrow is the test date, and do what you need to do right now.
Ok, Ok, that's enough for the TOEFL thing. It does not deserve more respect. Do remember " TOEFL" is nothing more than a test. Do not pay too much for your whistle. If you did well in a test, well, it's great. A good starting point. That's all.
If you don't feel good about the test. Do remind yourself that you still have your friends,your family and a bright future.
The following message is for those who are going to TOEFL within weeks.
( This letter will be delivered in English to ease those who has been suffering from error code. My written English may not be as good as some of my students had expected, I hope you understand still. )
As I was asked so frequently about test preparation, I feel the strong responsibility to respond those who are anxious to get advised before they take TOEFL I was indebted to do so because most of the receivers of this e-mail actually helped me a lot in my previous surveys.
Test Preparation for TOEFL.If history may tell about the future, I will give you a brief description about recent TOEFL tests since August, 2000.
The reading part becomes easier. , I even get the same response from a high school student. No much new words appear in the test. Of course, these facts does not necessarily for tell that the coming one willalso be as easy.
For people who has been making more than 7 mistakes in Reading, they still need to focus on the vocabulary. If you are using my book, "Selected TOEFL Vocabulary (new edition)" 《新版托福詞匯精選》張紅巖編著。I seriously suggest you recite the 50 lists at least four times before test. You may also choose to buy the accompanying tapes, which are now sold in NOS, underground section. Also you need to do the "300 selected vocabulary questions" from now on. Funny that those word questions still appear on real test. Make sure you can remember every correct answer.
For people who remain excellent in Reading part and those who want to achieve full score in Reading. I suggest them to read the whole article from the very beginning, as articles are becoming more and more tricky. Try reading through the first 3 articles. and then read the remaining 2 articles in the "shortcut way" I taught in class. That procedure "from question to related details in articles" still work in general. It makes sense if you rely on this method to achieve a high score, but may not guarantee a full score. Whether a full score in Reading is your major concern determines your choice. (honestly I don't think to spend too much time on reading is worthwhile.) Don't ask me this question again. ( You aim at a full score, but may not achieve it. So, in conclusion, in what way your read does not matter. The most important thing is that your vocabulary is enough for you to understand what you choose to read.)
The august TWE Topic is related with Teacher. I am tired of guessing new topics. I was doing this just to encourage people to practice something. It really does not matter whether a certain topic is to be tested or not. It is the action of your practicing that matters. Only one week left before the test. I think you need to write at least an article every day.
Do pay attention to the following rules:
1. When writing A or B type of topics, you must comment on both sides. This is highly valued when scoring.
2. Mind that you do not use unfamiliar words. Avoid mistakes as much as possible.
3. Don't forget to cite specific example, and exact figures or numbers to support your idea, even fake ones.
4. Get very familiar with frequently used words and phrases and use these words to outline the general structure or your article.
5. Quote others remarks to support your point if you can come up with one. If you don't, you still can fake a Chinese one to fancy those evaluators.
The grammar part is as usual. Unlike what happend before, to make a full score, you are required to understand the meaning of a whole sentence. Some tricky problems appear that way
Advice:
1. Check through a certain TOEFL grammar book very briefly.
2. Figure out what kinds of mistakes you are liable to make by doing 4 or 5 grammar parts consecutively. List your mistakes and remind yourself every time before you start a new test.
3. Keep on practicing at least four Grammar sections everyday before test.
Enough, if you still fail there. It does not mean you are not diligent enough, it may suggest you were a poor student in English since high school.
In listening comprehension, I should remind most of you to concentrate on the understanding of idioms and short phrases.
They matter most if you want to achieve high or full score. My full score experience tells me that you are not building Rome within one day. But before you can achieve a full score, you need to get close Rome, to say the least. Only allow yourself to make no more than 4 mistakes even in normal practice.
Advice:
1. Keep a good sense. Practice at least one hour, which means two sections of LC.
2. Find a book ( Xu Yang's Idiom Book will do) and get yourself familiar with those words.
3. If you are English major or something, take your time to immerse in certain movies.
It still help. I only do LC 4 days before Test. I had a good excuse for enjoying various kinds VCDs two months before test. Choose those films that contains enough words rather than some other shits.
4. Don't get yourself too much burdened 2 days before test.
Just imagine tomorrow is the test date, and do what you need to do right now.
Ok, Ok, that's enough for the TOEFL thing. It does not deserve more respect. Do remember " TOEFL" is nothing more than a test. Do not pay too much for your whistle. If you did well in a test, well, it's great. A good starting point. That's all.
If you don't feel good about the test. Do remind yourself that you still have your friends,your family and a bright future.