Do you want to know in-depth about the TOEFL exam?

Are you aware of the new changes in TOEFL that have been incorporated?

If you are unsure of any of the above questions, then you鈥檝e landed in the right place. Here, we will take you through what the TOEFL really is about, who conducts it, why it is important, and what you can do to best prepare for it. Moreover, since the 1^st of August 2019, there have been some changes in the TOEFL exam, and we will guide you through those as well!

What is the TOEFL?

Devised and conducted by the Educational Testing Service (), the 鈥�Test of English as a Foreign Language鈥� 鈥� or TOEFL as it is commonly known 鈥� is a very popular exam that tests students鈥� proficiency in the English language. Accepted by American universities, this test forms a mandatory prerequisite for most schools abroad. 

The ETS states that 鈥渢he TOEFL tests an international student鈥檚 usage and understanding of English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university surroundings鈥�. The sole proprietary of this exam rests with the ETS, and thus the responsibility for setting the TOEFL questions, its conduction, and correction is in their hands.听

The TOEFL is a year-round exam, which means that students are given the freedom to choose from multiple TOEFL test dates across the span of a year, and can even select their preferred test centers to appear in for their exam. This test can also be attempted as many times as the candidate chooses to, but to take a re-test the student must wait for a 12-day period after their previous attempt. There are two kinds of TOEFL exams 鈥� Internet-based (TOEFL iBT) and paper-based. Both are priced at US$180.听

The scoring ranges are as follows:

• Reading: 0鈥�30
• Listening: 0鈥�30
• Speaking: 0鈥�30
• Writing: 0鈥�30

What are the changes in the TOEFL exam?

Earlier in the year, the governing body ETS announced that from the 1^st of August 2019 there would be significant changes in the format and pattern of this exam. These major changes will be in the Reading, Listening, as well as Speaking sections. The table below shows the comparison between the 2018 format and the updated 2019 format:

Other Changes

The primary reason behind these changes is to help reduce fatigue and lower stress levels in students, invariably helping them to achieve higher scores overall.

The table above shows the major changes in the Listening, Reading, and Speaking sections, while the Writing Section remains majorly untouched. Candidates will still have to complete two writing tasks in 50 minutes or under on one integrated and one independent topic.

However, one other aspect that the ETS has decided to change is their scoring policies. That鈥檚 right! The TOEFL exam 2019 (and henceforth) will contain a separate section in your score report, referred to as “MyBest Scores“.  

This section will combine the best result from each section over all the attempts you have given in the last two years. The IBT MyBest score works similar to the SAT scoring system. ETS will automatically pick your best sections (from your previous 2 years) and then combine them to create your highest score possible. So, if you had a wonderful TOEFL exam, but your overall scored was hampered due to one bad section 鈥� this will have you covered! 

Let鈥檚 look at an example. Imagine you took your TOEFL 4 times in the last 2 years. Hence:

Using this scoring system, your overall changes a dramatic 12 points! This has been put in place by the ETS to help candidates achieve their target scores and reduce the damaging effects of one bad section that could have otherwise cost you admission into the program of your choice.

To Summarize the Changes

To quickly summarize, there are seven major changes to keep in mind for your TOEFL 2019 exam. They are:

1. Independent Writing questions are slightly longer.
2. Students will also now find a warning that renders “used memorized examples” null and void for the independent Writing section.
3. In multiple-choice questions, candidates can now pick more than one option per question.
4. The Speaking questions are slightly longer than before
5. It is now possible to score 25 points in the Speaking section.
6. The 鈥淢yBest Score鈥� section is added from August 2019.

How to Prepare for the New TOEFL Format?

Well, since there are all these changes 鈥� the most common question that arises is:

鈥淲hat do I do to prepare for the changes in TOEFL?鈥�

The simple answer is nothing!

This is because of the systematic and comprehensive way in which the ETS has conducted these changes to augment the test-taking experience. Since no question types are added or removed from the Reading and Listening sections, your preparations will continue unhampered. Your question types all remain the same, and the difficulty, as well as weightage, aren鈥檛 doctored. In fact, your overall time of the exam has decreased by 30 minutes, so that it鈥檚 easier to build up the stamina for this exam! 

These changes are great for everyone and will help you score higher as well!

We hope this article helps you in your preparation for your TOEFL. If you have any more questions, don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out to us. For more information, you can contact us directly at 91热爆.com! 

Good day and good luck!

The post Changes in TOEFL Exam from August 1st, 2019 appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

I鈥檓 sure you have. It鈥檚 one of those days when you wake up as soon as the first alarm goes off, peacefully enjoy your breakfast, admire the scenery on the way to your college or office, reach on time and somehow find that the rest of the day carries on at the same pace.

I love those days. I keep reminding myself to do that every single day.

The differentiating factor between good days and 91热爆AT days is TIME!

You wake up as planned and you have enough TIME for yourself to do the things you NEED to have a good day at college or work.

Similarly, your 91热爆 and TOEFL preparation also NEEDS the time and space to develop into a smooth experience rather than a jerky last-minute affair that you regret undertaking.

The distinguishing factor in students who have a good score in 91热爆 and TOEFL, getting admitted into such top universities is the time they take in polishing their application.

While a 91热爆 and TOEFL score above 320 and 100+ respectively, can surely get you through the first round of the shortlisting process,听making it to the final stages requires a persuasive SOP and convincing LORs.

So, when should I take听91热爆 and TOEFL?

Scheduling your 91热爆 and TOEFL exam dates are similar to how you plan your morning commute college/work. You consider your destination first, calculate the time it takes to get there and then work back to the time you actually have to start.

Similarly, deciding on a 91热爆 and TOEFL dates are dependent on whether you are targeting the Fall or Spring admission seasons. Your destination here is the application deadlines for your target admission season and the time it would take to get the process ready.

If you are targeting admissions abroad, a typical admission timeline looks like this:

Ideal Time for 91热爆 and TOEFL

Alright, considering that you are looking at the general admission deadlines, let鈥檚 work back from that date to when it would be perfect for you to give 91热爆 and TOEFL.

Step #5: Applying to universities

Most universities have admission deadlines in the first or second week of December. It is necessary that you have your application ready at least three weeks before the deadline. This helps you stay ahead of the pack, especially with the first come-first serve admission procedures.

Step #4:听Finalize your college transcripts & documents

Getting your application ready-to-go is a tedious process. It involves collecting transcripts, tweaking your SOP and collecting your LORs. Some universities also ask you to provide additional documents such as a research agenda or a diversity essay. Create a checklist of all the necessary documents you are required to send to ensure you don’t miss out on anything!听

Step #3: Prepare your SOP & LOR

This is the most important and most time-consuming portion of your admission application, which is,听

1. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
2. Letter of Recommendation (LORs)

Your SOP: If you are applying to different universities with different programs, you MUST ensure you modify your SOP accordingly.

AdmitEdge听Pro Tip: Don’t make the mistake of sending out a generic common SOP. Admission officers are expert psychologists who review more than 10,000 applications every time. Your SOP must be genuine and unique to you. It should reflect your passion for the course and talk about your qualifications, your aspirations as well as your expectations from the university.

It takes most students an average of 2-3 weeks of research, consultations and edits before their SOP is ready to be sent out to universities.

Get your free eBook on “How to craft a great SOP?” written听by our admission experts. Download Now!

Your LORs: You must give your professors and employers enough time to write your LORs because it is a testament to your skills made by a third person. These letters are scrutinized by admission officers to see if you would be a good fit for their university and how YOU can add value to them. This is an additional nod from people you have worked with or under that you are capable of all that you claim to be.听

Read: Who should you get an LOR from?

Step #2: Research & Shortlist Universities

This is probably the most nerve-wracking part you’ll face, but it is only just the beginning of the battle. Considering that it takes nearly 2-2.5 months to produce a听perfect application, the ideal time to take 91热爆 is听during April-May.听

By the time you are ready to take your test, you must also shortlist 4 schools to whom you can send your 91热爆 scores as part of your ETS exam fee.

Step #1: Prepare for 91热爆 and TOEFL

By now you have guessed that the only thing remaining is to get started on your 91热爆 and TOEFL preparation!

With colleges starting their semester exams in May-June, it is advisable to wrap up your preparation, slightly ahead of time.

Consider giving your 91热爆 in by April-May and your TOEFL, 2 weeks after that. This will give you sufficient time to听prepare for 91热爆 and TOEFL thoroughly during February, March & April.

Do you need help in creating a perfect, fool-proof 320+ study plan?听Schedule a call with our experts.

That’s it!

As simple as it looks, preparing for 91热爆 and TOEFL, achieving a great scores and then applying to your dream universities is a long process that requires proper planning with a touch of expert guidance to help you save time and make your process more efficient.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get the head start and secure your future!

What is your next step going to be?

The post MS Abroad: When should I give 91热爆 and TOEFL? appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.