English Only on Test Day

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on January 7, 2009

Switching between languages is hard on the brain, so on test day, wake up and only use English all day until your TOEFL test. If you live with people who speak your language: get out of the house as soon as you wake up. Go to a library and read, or go shopping alone. Just don’t speak any other language besides English.  If you speak another language before your TOEFL test, your brain will be thinking in that language, and it will be hard to switch out of it. Students often pause, can’t think of vocabulary, and say “ummm” a lot when they have spoken another language before their TOEFL test.

Early Arrival

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on

If you arrive for your TOEFL test early, then you will most likely be the first to start the test. This is very helpful because if you start later than other people, they will begin the speaking section while you are still on the listening section. In this situation, students usually complain that the voices answering the speaking section make it harder to listen to the lectures and conversations on the listening section. 

If you know you will have this problem, then here’s a tip:  When practicing listening at home, turn a radio on in the background. This will train you to listen to the lecture while there is other distracting noise (the radio) around you.

What to Eat on Your 10-Minute Break

by Strictly English TOEFL Tutors on January 6, 2009

TOEFL gives you only a 10-minute break between the listening and speaking sections. Be sure to bring a banana and a powerbar or some other source of protein and carbohydrate.  You’ll need the energy for the second part of the test!
GOOD LUCK!
Remember: When you need TOEFL, You need Strictly English!
Located in Boston, MA, Strictly English is America’s first TOEFL-only tutoring company.

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