How to Pass the TOEFL Essay

If English is not your first language and you want to get into a college or university in an English-speaking country, then you are usually expected to take the TOEFL exam before you are admitted. If writing is not your strong suit, then you should do some careful preparation before taking the test.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Practice reading nonfiction books, newspapers and magazines. Then rewrite what the book or article said in your own words as quickly as you can. This will help prepare you to interpret written English and write about it.

2. Talk to people who speak English without an accent and keep a written journal of what you discussed. You can also write about what you hear on English recordings, such as books on tape. This will help you learn to interpret spoken English more quickly and accurately.

3. Assign yourself topics and write about them in English. TOEFL essays are typically around 350 to 400 words. You can get TOEFL preparation books at your local library or in a bookstore that will provide you with topics similar to those on the actual test.

4. Take practice tests. These tests are available in test preparation books or online at the official TOEFL website (see Resources below). You'll want to take more than one practice test to build up your score. The higher your score in practice, the more likely you'll get a good score when you take the actual test.

Tips & Warnings

• Give yourself a break from studying on the last day of the test and do something you enjoy. This will help you be more relaxed when the test begins.

Resources

• Buy a TOEFL practice test at the official TOEFL website.