TOEFL listening | Ace your exam with these tips!

The TOEFL listening section is one of the four sections listed in the exam paper. You are provided roughly 60 minutes to attempt all the questions. Increasing your knowledge about what to expect in the exam paper is essential. Besides, you must attempt as many practice tests as possible.

The internet offers many helpful TOEFL listening practice tips. However, we get your secrets straight from the horse’s mouth. We have compiled a list of top secrets published by none other than TOEFL. 

The ultimate study guide to getting your TOEFL scores up

Below given are the top study tips to improve your TOEFL listening scores. These tips have been published themselves, and there is no one better to guide us than the creators of TOEFL. So, be sure to grasp these study tips well –

Study tip #1 Practice listening to something every day

To prepare well for your TOEFL listening test, the best thing to do is to listen to something in English daily. It may seem like a tedious task at first, but we encourage you to start by listening to something in English for five minutes a day if needed. Then, gradually, increase the time you spend listening to something in English. There are quite a few things you need to make a mental note of while listening to English audio. 

Be sure to make a note of the following –

• Don’t limit yourself to any type of material. Make sure the material you listen to is varied. For example – watch a documentary, listen to a conversation through an interview, etc.
• Try to mentally answer questions like the subject, where the conversation is taking place, the purpose, etc. while listening to the audio clip. 
• Work on your active and passive listening skills. You should be alert enough to remember all the ideas being spoken about yet have a vague overall clue as to what the conversation pertains to.
• Create a log of all the audio clips you have been listening to. When you get the time, revisit these to jog your memory. 
• After listening to the audio, write a summary of everything you remember. 
• Make notes of any new words you have heard. If you don’t understand the meaning of those strange words, use a dictionary and stock up on your vocabulary library. 

Study tip #2 Seek community resources to improve your listening skills 

Another recommended study tip by TOEFL is seeking community resources to support your journey to improving your listening skills. Here are some places you can look at while attempting to enhance your English language listening skills –

• Get in touch and connect with places that offer you the opportunity to improve your English listening skills. You can look at enrolling in English classes. Consider visiting libraries that store English books, visiting museums where you can take a guided tour in English, and much more. 
• Improve your TOEFL listening specifically by indulging in real-life situations. For instance, you can call up a hotel of interest and have a conversation with the general manager about the rates of a particular room. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to improve your TOEFL listening skills. 
• Many students commonly improve their listening skills by listening to interviews or podcasts in English. General knowledge-driven channels such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and BBC top the list. You should watch one programme every day. 
• Instead of reading books in English, start listening to audiobooks. 

Study tip #3 Start imagining yourself in academic situations

What you need to remember is the purpose of the TOEFL exams. They want to test your English language skills against the academic environment that the countries you have applied to offer. In other words, your knowledge of English language skills should be top-notch when referring to academic concepts and terms. 

Here are some quick ways you can familiarize yourself with the English academic environment –

• Start attending academic classes that are carried out in English. 
• If you don’t have the opportunity to attend classes in English, record lectures and presentations so that you may replay them as time allows you. One handy tip while watching recorded sessions is to pause the video halfway and predict what will follow next. 
• Learn more about your desired academic structure in terms of lectures, the main ideas discussed, etc. 

Tip #4 Make notes of expressions and vocabulary 

Make a mental note of the signals that your desired organization follows. Signals will occur when two individuals are trying to make connections between ideas and their significance. Here are some ways you can figure out the signals –

• Carefully listen in for any new expressions or new words being introduced. Also handy to make a note of any words that are being repeated. Especially if you don’t know these words. 
• Clarify specific ideas in your idea, including when someone mentions an opinion, a theory, or introduces a negative. 
• Keep a close eye on the body language of the speaker. When changes occur due to stress, there will be specific changes in intonation. 

Key takeaways 

• The TOEFL listening section is one of the four sections listed in the exam paper. You are provided roughly 60 minutes to attempt all the questions. Traditionally the question paper includes approximately 40 questions.
• Refer to tips published by TOEFL, and there is no one better to guide us than the creators of TOEFL themselves. 
• What you need to remember is the purpose of the TOEFL exams. They want to test your English language skills against the academic environment that the countries you have applied to offer. Prepare accordingly. 

Was this blog informative? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments below. Click here to reach out to us for more information on the TOEFL listening test. We would be happy to assist you with your queries! 

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FAQs

Q1. How much time do I have to attempt the listening section of TOEFL?

Answer – You will have approximately 60 minutes to attempt 40 questions related to the listening section of TOEFL. 

Q2. Where can I get the official study guide for the TOEFL listening test?

Answer – You can refer to the official guide to the TOEFL listening test here – https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/resources/improve-skills/listening/

Q3. What is the purpose of the TOEFL English language test?

Answer – They want to test your English language skills against the academic environment that the countries you have applied to offer.