So you're preparing for TOEFL?
When starting to prepare my new student for TOEFL, I realised that there are so many books to choose from, and that choosing the right one is essential for understanding the format of the exam; it's not just about speaking the language. I think most native speakers would struggle to get 100% as it's highly focussed on academic material; listenings about bone fractures and the solar system are two examples. The essays and speaking tasks are also very structure specific so following a frame will really improve your scores.
Here is my list of essential books to prepare for the TOEFL exam.
Here is my list of essential books to prepare for the TOEFL exam.
1. The Longman TOEFL Preparation Course iBT.
This book guides you simply through each section of the exam. Each section begins with a pre-test. You are then lead through each skill for the section such as simplify meanings and find factual information. Once completed you can do the post-test and see how much you have improved. For reading my student only completed 50% of the pre-test yet after completing the exercises she got up to 90% correct and answered the questions easily.
For speaking and writing this book is also really helpful as it has example speaking task answers and sample essays. This helps students find their structure for the test.
For speaking and writing this book is also really helpful as it has example speaking task answers and sample essays. This helps students find their structure for the test.
At the back of the book is some useful sections on advanced grammar. Ideas such as writing cohesively, sentence structure, passive voice and present perfect vs past simple vs past perfect.
2. Nova's 500 Words, Phrases, Idioms TOEFL IBT - Bruce Stirling
This book has been invaluable for learning the most advanced vocabulary needed to pass this test. Every week we take two units and learn the words using their unique method; recycling vocabulary.
It isn't just a list of words, it helps you learn them through definitions and then using them in a sentence. After each section there is a review. My current student is always surprised when she does the review in 30 seconds, and getting top marks because she actually has learnt the vocabulary. The only critique I can give this book is that many questions have multiple choice answers followed by d) all of the above. Students quickly learn that the answer is always d) all of the above and tend not to read the answers.
3. Nova's Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT - Bruce Stirling
This book is much thinner than the Longman Preparation Course but it defines a clear structure for completing the essay and speaking parts to a good level.
It then moves on to methods for making your answers advanced. My students want top marks so this is essential practice for them. It shows you how to construct an advanced introduction - with a hook, a question or a quote and to make an advanced conclusion.
I find it best for my students to choose one or two strategies which they like and to practise them over and over.
4. Advanced Grammar in Use 3rd Ed - Martin Hewings
This book is designed to be used for any problem with grammar that you or your students may have. It's not about going through chapter by chapter, as this could make even grammar nerds cry; it's a big book, but with really useful ideas and simple grammar with advanced meanings such as articles:
It then follows on with exercises to challenge advanced students, whereas I find other books are too simple.
|
|
|
|
|
This is my list of essential books for studying the TOEFL. I have worked with my students using these books and have seen significant progress. If you can recommend any other resources please comment below.
