Apply each of these steps as a guide when reading your TOEFL passages.
In order to score high on the TOEFL
Have a reading score above 180 words per minute. Read general academic material for at least 30 minutes per day. Increase your academic vocabulary and improve affix comprehension.
General Reading tips while testing 1.) Have a thorough understanding of the directions beforehand. 2.) Don’t waste time reading the directions when taking the test. 3.) Spend most of your time answering the questions and less time on reading the passage. You do not need to read the passages in depth‐ just understand the purpose, organization and major/minor points. 4.) Identify what type of question you are being asked and where that information is found in the passage. 5.) Choose the BEST answer; make sure to use the 5‐step process. 6.) Avoid spending too much time on any single question. If you are unsure, guess and come back when you have time at the end. 7.) Monitor your time. Spend approximately 90 seconds for each question. 8.) Make sure to answer every question before time expires, even if you must guess.
Academic Reading skills 1.) Taking‐notes A. Anticipate the purpose. 96‐97 Act 1 B. Identify Major and Minor points. 100‐102 Act 5 C. Use key words to understand the purpose throughout the text. 103‐105 Act 6 D. Draw relationships between the subjects in the text using step C. 110‐113 2.) Paraphrasing A. Read for meaning by making connections and comprehending the ideas. 128‐ 130 Act 15 3.) Summarizing A. Be aware of which sentences are details and examples to have a definite understanding of the text. 142‐143 Act 21A
B. Identify the Emphasis by observing how much text is associated to the major points. 158‐159 Act 28A C. Identify problem summaries. 161‐163 Act 30 4.) Synthesizing Note: This skill is only effective with the listening exercises’ and is necessary for writing and speaking sections. A. Recognize the primary source (with instructions). 165 Act 31 B. Recognize categorization as either extension or contrast (with instructions). 166‐167 Act 32 C. Clarify the relationship by determining how the sources compare to one another. 168‐ 169 Act 33
Academic Reading Strategies 1.) Preview A. Determine the general idea of the text. B. Prepare to understand the point of each paragraph. 2.) Read Faster A. Using peripheral vision, read phrases instead of individual words. B. Read for meaning by comprehending ideas as a whole. 3.) Use Contexts A. Make a prediction of what unknown words mean through surrounding sentences. 4.) Make Inferences A. Draw conclusions based off evidence.
5.) Skim and Scan A. Locate content words to determine the meaning of the text quickly; and synonyms from keywords within the questions to best answer them. B. Use the passage references as a guide. 6.) Make Connections A. Be aware of how the next sentence builds off the previous one. B. Find references and insert sentences. 7.) Summarize A. Identify the main idea of the text and the major/minor points.
Five Step Process • Determine this and use the corresponding skill or strategy. Problem Type
Impression
Apply
• Take note of the first idea you may have of the question without looking at the choice answers.
• Reread the referenced sentence in the text and determine the meaning using the context or specific skill involved therein. • Locate word groups to draw relationships as appropriate.
• Eliminate the answers you can, and substitute the remaining choices within the text. Eliminate
• Confirm that the sentence or choice answer is logical within the context. Confirm