Top 3 iBT TOEFL Tips

Professor Winn is often asked about tips for the iBT TOEFL.

Here are three top TOEFL tips to hold you in good steed:

1) Increase your vocabulary!

A strong vocabulary cuts across all four sections of the TOEFL - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Unfairly or not, one is judged by his or her word choice. Remember there is a passive and active vocabulary. The passive is used mainly while reading when you recognize familiar words that may not be used in everyday speech. An active vocabulary is the group of words you do use when communicating in line at the grocery store or swapping stories with friends. The Academic Word List is a good starting point.

2) Target and Improve Your Pronunciation Weaknesses

The speaking section of the iBT TOEFL  is unnerving for some. That is why it is doubly important to identify any weaknesses in your pronunciation BEFORE the exam. One way is to record your voice on a tape recorder. Is your voice steady? Do you hesitate or use ´´um, um?´´ To score high, one must be confident and express this confidence in their voice. Practice with a tape recorder will help!

3) Know thy grammar

Sure, it´s boring. Many times grammar is skimmed over by well-meaning teachers. However, no doubt about it, grammar is at the heart of a language. Without the rules, how can you drive from point A to point B? Grammar brings order and structure to the language and mastering the basics yields a strong foundation to express yourself intelligently in writing and speech. Knowing thy grammar will boost your score, too!

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If you are in São Paulo and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs or TOEFL preparation, please call Professor Winn at 6214-1511 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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Sipping English Exam Soup II

In our previous post, we covered the primary exams for entry into a US university.

An entire testing industry is also devoted to British English and entry into university in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

The University of Cambridge administers the testing alphabet soup via its ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) department.

The British are more organized in spreading their brand of English with a British Council office is almost every country. American English on the other hand is diffused on a wide basis through popular culture - music and film without a strategic plan to advance the use of American English.

British English Exams

There are principal British English tests served up in our alphabet soup of exams today each leading to a higher level of English language proficiency.

1. KET (Key English Test) - The KET tests on a basic English language level. It's a starter exam to prove competencies in four main disciplines of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. According to its official handbook, "a language user at this level needs to be able to read simple
texts, many of which are of the kind needed for survival in day-to-day life or while travelling in a foreign country."

On the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), a scale of language abilities, the KET encompasses levels A1 and A2. The target age group is 12 to 16 year olds (mostly female), but some adults take the exam as well. The KET prepares one for the PET.

2. PET (Preliminary English Test) - The PET tests on an intermediary English language. "PET reflects the use of language in real life, such as understanding signs and announcements, and is accepted by many employers as proof of ability to use English in clerical, secretarial or managerial jobs."

3. FCE (First Certificate Exam) - The FCE tests on an upper-intermediary English language level. Mastery of the FCE demonstrates core competencies to function in work or study.

4. IELTS (International English Language Testing Sytem) is the granddaddy of the British English exams. Its official website boasts about a half of million candidates take the test every year, far less than the TOEFL. The nearly 3 hour exam is scored from 0-9 - a 9 indicates an "expert user." Many universities require a 7-8 for entry. The IELTS is required by universities using the British brand of English.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Sipping English Exam Soup I

An alphabet soup of exams to test your English proficiency exists. We explain the acronyms and the gist of each test to dispel any confusion.

In this post, we will discuss those exams geared more for attending a US university in particular or US English in general. In our second post we will cover the exams with a focus on British English.

TOEFL: (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) - The TOEFL exam is the granddaddy of all the US-based English exams. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) declares boldy on its website that the TOEFL is "most widely accepted English-language test in the world."

There are two TOEFLs: paper-based (PBT) and Internet-based (iBT). The TOEFL PBT tests reading, listening and writing skills in English, but you will need the TSE® (Test of Spoken English™) for your speaking ability. The iBT has the two advantages: 1) it covers all four disciplines incuding speaking English in one sitting and 2) given it is taken on the Internet, wherever in the world you are with a Net connection you can take the exam. By visiting their site, you can download an e-book with test tips and even take a practice exam.

TOEIC -(Test of English for International Communication^TM) - The sister of TOEFL, may be less known, but 4.5 million annually take the exam measuring your business skills in English. We have previously discussed the importance of Business English in the global economy (1,2). Speaking, writing, reading and listening to English are tested.

MELAB - (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) - The renown University of Michigan stirs the bowl of English exam alphabet soup by offering its MELAB to evaluate "advanced-level English language competence of adult nonnative speakers of English." The MELAB also tests the four main components of mastery of the English language in three parts: a composition, a listening test, and a written test containing grammar, cloze, vocabulary, and reading comprehension problems and an optional speaking test. As of November 2008, according to their website, the test has been designed with more questions.

TOEFLGear MELABGear TOEICGear IELTSGear FCEGear KETGear

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs including test prepartion or other English Language Services, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations (Spanish, French, and Portuguese > English) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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TOEFL Exam Preparation Course

Mr English 101 is happy to announce the launch of our “TOEFL Preparation Course."

The TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is the most widely used English tests in the world and 6,000 colleges and universities in 110 countries accept it for entry into their courses.

The test is very convenient and the whole testing process takes just a day to complete.

With experienced, mature teachers you will improve both your understanding of the TOEFL test and improve in all the key areas necessary to get the grade you deserve.

The best way to prepare for your TOEFL exam is by taking an TOEFL preparation course. Professor Winn from Mr. English 101 runs regular TOEFL preparation courses which are customized to your exact needs.

If you are in Buenos Aires and need TOEFL preparation or want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!