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Mbbs 26 Aug, 2024
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If you think that preparing for the TOEFL Listening section is intimidating, I can assure you this: Get a good prep resource and some strategies in hand, and you are all set to earn high scores. This section assesses your ability to understand spoken English in an academic context, which is very important to be successful in the UK or other English-speaking environments. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of TOEFL Listening practice resources and answer some frequently asked questions about it & give you actionable tips on how you can excel in the section.
TOEFL Listening measures your ability to understand spoken English as it is used in colleges and universities. You will hear several conversations and lectures, and then answer questions on them. Here, the main aim is your understanding of the key idea, details, and inferential reasoning in the audio section.
Conversations: This usually involves two speakers conversing about regular school or social experiences.
Lectures: These are more extended audio tracks where speakers, often a professor, will talk about some subject matter at length.
The Listening section includes 28 to 39 questions. They are distributed among 4 to 6 listening passages, each accompanied by several questions. The number of questions will change depending on how the test is being delivered, but knowing this range should help you budget your time during the exam.
The Listening part of the TOEFL only has one section. Now, the major thing here is you need to be well-prepared, as this section will be vast and tough. You should be practicing a lot to make yourself accustomed to the different accents, topics, and question types you will get during your actual exam.
ETS, the folks who make TOEFL, also have some good resources for listening practice. This guarantees that you only study with real exam-like content.
TOEFL iBT Official Prep Guide: Features real practice tests and listening exercises. After each practice test, you get a full answer key and explanations so that you can learn from your mistakes.
Online TOEFL Prep: Practice tests that mimic the test-day environment. Integrated TOEFL practice listening tests and practice questions & answers are established.
Pro Tip: Begin here with these highly recommended (and free) materials from ETS to understand how the test looks. This will not only make you comfortable with your test but also save you from having anxiety on the day of actually taking it.
There are many websites where you can get free or paid TOEFL Listening practice tests with answers. These resources are great to complement your preparation.
Magoosh: Magoosh is known for its high-quality test prep materials and provides TOEFL listening practice questions along with full-length past exams. In their explanations and answer keys, they shine at breaking down complex questions to help you understand what is essentially going on.
Testen: Provides TOEFL listening sample test questions, answers, and scoring with reading exercises. A perfect practice tool for self-analysis.
Pro Tip: Use these sites to simulate timed practice. It will allow you to adjust to the pressure of the real test and hone your time management.
You can learn TOEFL listening skills on the go with mobile apps. These apps commonly include practice questions, sound passages, and detailed feedback.
TOEFL Practice Test App: Available on both iOS and Android, this app provides different kinds of short question film fragments to practice listening in the form of a simulation test.
Magoosh TOEFL Prep: This app gives you many practice questions (including listening exercises), and it also offers detailed explanations to help guide your learning.
Pro Tip: Make these apps a part of your daily life. Even just a few minutes of practice every day can have a big impact on your listening ability.
Studying in online forums and study groups: Join forums to connect with other TOEFL test-takers for even more resources, as well as support.
Reddit: A subreddit such as r/TOEFL is a good place to join discussions about TOEFL prep and practice questions. In this place of candid sharing, users are always narrating their journeys and spreading good energy.
Facebook Groups: Many Facebook groups for TOEFL preparation are available. These groups tend to exchange proctored exams, strategies, and materials.
Pro Tip: Post a reply or ask a question on these forums. Interaction with other candidates: This would help get an insight into different viewpoints and increase motivation from hearing others like you in the same stage.
Thus, you must go for high-rated books intended to prepare students for TOEFL, which usually includes listening tricks so these could be a good source.
Barron's TOEFL iBT: This is an all-inclusive book that will walk you through a variety of practice questions, not just the best TOEFL listening questions. It also includes CDs for listening practice so that you can have some authentic audio material to work with.
Kaplan TOEFL iBT Prep Plus: Offers a wealth of tests and listening exercises, as well as clear step-by-step instructions on how to get ready.
Pro Tip: Utilize these books and get a structured plan for TOEFL preparation. Do the practice tests and check out their answer keys to see where you stand.
Listen more: This extends beyond simply listening for a few minutes per day and can include watching videos on YouTube channels or podcasts to expose you even further to different accents, speaking styles, etc.
YouTube Channels: Channels like TOEFL Resources also contain listening practices and advice. These channels usually contain TOEFL practice listening exams.
Podcasts: Listening to TOEFL-specific podcasts or general English learning podcasts, you can practice your listening skills by getting used to different speaking styles and vocabulary.
Pro Tip: Listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos once a week. This way, you get used to different accents and speeds of speaking.
To improve your TOEFL Listening score, you have to know the type of questions in TOEFL listening. Practice with sample test questions and listening passages.
The following are the official TOEFL practice materials to get started with. It helps you ensure that all of your studying is done by working with content similar to what appears in the real test. Official materials provide real-life practice.
Break it up with online tests, apps, and books. Practicing this way allows you to become familiar with various accents, subjects, and types of questions.
Consistency is key. Dedicate a few moments daily to practice listening to different types of passages and questions. Practicing regularly will give you confidence and enhance your skills.
Then, review your answers and learn why you failed certain questions. Understanding your mistakes will show you what to listen for and where to improve — and then not do it again next time.
Practice full-length tests in a timed mode so that you can feel the test settings. This way, you will prepare for the real exam both in terms of time management and test-taking endurance.
