TOEFL READING SECTION - COMMENTS # 2

HULLO!

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READING QUESTIONS FORMATS ON THE TOEFL

TOEFL is a test for speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL).

There are four distinct formats for the questions in the Reading Section of the TOEFL IBT:

• Multiple Choice with four choices and one correct answer. The choices are preceded by empty ovals; the answer you choose must be marked with a click.
• Questions with four choices and one correct answer that asks the candidate to “insert a sentence” in its most logical position within a given passage. The answer choices are marked with squares.
• Summary. This question type provides six answer choices. The test taker must select 3 of these and “drag and drop” each one next to some bullets that are provided for this. The three bullet points, when correctly filled, represent a summary of the related reading passage. This type of question is worth more than one point, and the amount of points will be stated on the question.
• Category Chart. This question type will present five to seven choices and two categories with some bullet points in each. The test taker must recognize which choices belong in each category, and “drag and drop” the correct choices into their respective categories. There will be more answer choices than the required amount of bullet points, so some choices will not be used. These questions are worth more than one point. The amount of points will be indicated on the question.

SOME COMMENTS.

The Multiple Choice questions – the first type – generally include basic comprehension questions about the reading topic.

They will also include:

• Choosing a synonym for some specific word in one of the paragraphs;
• Choosing the correct paraphrasing for a specific sentence taken from a paragraph;
• Relating some pronoun or phrase to its referent or referents (more about this later on, in another post);
• Deducing some specific inference derived from the reading passage;
• Identifying the definition of a new or technical expression that was presented in the reading passage.

NOTE: these points will not be too clear through reading this particular post – Comments # 2 - I am basically just setting the scene and will provide more detailed information and practical examples as the posts on this topic start rolling out.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

In the post about the TOEFL Reading Section – Comments # 1, I have already stressed the importance of reading extensively when preparing for this test. 

This is really vital for a good score!

In addition, here are more recommendations:

• Increase your academic vocabulary.
• Try to understand difficult words by considering the whole context presented in the sentence that contains the word.
• Read the passage even if you know about the topic. It is always possible that the writer will present a focus that is unfamiliar to you! So do not presume you know the content.
• Be familiar with the question formats and the instructions before you take the test. This saves time when you are answering!
• Finish with one topic before continuing to the next reading passage, otherwise you will have to refocus and probably reread the passage.
• Use your time wisely, there is no intermediate time signal for each passage, just one extended period for all the reading, so YOU need to distribute the time for each passage.
• Answer all the questions, even if it means guessing – there is no penalty for wrong answers.
• Always start by eliminating the choices that you know are incorrect. Then study the remaining choices and select the best. This also gives you a better chance of guessing correctly.

ABOUT VOCABULARY.

All the graduate entry tests expect you to be familiar with a large number of words that do not correspond to everyday use.

For this reason I am working with the GRE recommended list, and there is a section on this Blog specifically for collections of words.

You will find them under the heading WORDS CAN BE INTERESTING; there is an index there with links to specific posts. So far I’m on # 14.

Please use these posts, as that is what they are there for.

I am continually adding to the present list.

See you on the next post!

© 2013  joanveronica  (Joan Robertson)

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