My TOEFL Experience – Study Resources, Test Day Tips & Score Report

1. My TOEFL Exam Overview

• Exam Date: September 1

• Score Report Received: Following Tuesday

• Preparation Duration: 2 weeks

• Final Score: (Check my screenshot for proof! 😆)

2. Study Resources Used

Books & Official Materials

• ETS Official Guide to the TOEFL Test (5th Edition)

• ETS Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1 (3rd Edition)

• ETS Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 2 (2nd Edition)

Flashcards for Vocabulary

• Magoosh TOEFL Vocabulary Flashcards

• Prepscholar TOEFL Flashcards (327 words)

Recommended YouTube Channels

• TOEFL Resources

• LinguaMarina

• Yash Mittra

3. Practice Tests Taken

From the Official Guide to the TOEFL Test:

• Practice Test 2: 28R / 27L

• Practice Test 3: 29R / 30L

• Practice Test 4: 27R / 26L

From Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 1:

• All 5 practice tests completed

Speaking & Writing Practice

• Practiced all Speaking Questions (Tasks 2,3,4,6) from Official TOEFL iBT Tests Volume 2

• Completed two full Writing sections (4 tasks total) from Official Guide to the TOEFL Test

• Reviewed independent essay topics from other practice tests

4. Section-Wise Study Tips

Reading

• Take brief notes while reading, focusing on keywords and main ideas.

• Summarize each paragraph in one or two lines—this helps with summary questions.

Listening

• Keep notes short and focus on speaker tone and opinions rather than just facts.

• Most questions test your understanding of the conversation’s nature, so listen actively.

Speaking

• Prepare basic templates for different question types to stay organized.

• Used templates from TOEFL Resources for structure.

Writing

Integrated Task:

• Take brief notes on key details from the passage.

• Write down how the audio contradicts or supports the reading.

Independent Task:

• Pick a strong stance and use two body paragraphs:

  1. One with a personal example

  2. One with a general example

5. Things to Know About the Testing Center

• Required Documents: Passport, additional valid ID, test confirmation printout.

• Confidentiality Agreement: Signed before entering the testing area.

• Snacks & Water: Allowed, but must be kept outside the testing room (accessible during the 10-minute break).

• Scratch Paper & Pencils: Provided, and most centers will give extra if needed.

• Score Report Option: After the test, you can choose to ‘Report’ or ‘Cancel’ your scores.

• Score Recipients: Unlike GRE, TOEFL requires you to select your 4 free score recipients before test day (by 10 p.m. the night before).

6. Test Day Experience

• Lucky Break: I was the first person to start, which meant fewer distractions during the speaking section.

• Speaking Section Chaos: Expect overlapping voices—it’s unavoidable. Try to practice in a noisy setting to prepare.

• Reading Section: Had 4 passages (one was experimental) and finished with 8 minutes to spare.

• Listening Section: Found it straightforward.

• Writing Section: Felt comfortable with my responses.

7. Final Thoughts

• My TOEFL experience was smooth, and I was really happy with my results!

• Hope my study plan and test-day tips help you in your preparation.

• Good luck, everyone! Let me know if you have any questions. 😊

Shared by r/ToeflAdvice/metallicmay