Do's and Don'ts Before and On the TOEFL Test Day

If you are like most students preparing for the TOEFL, there are a lot of things you will want to do before the big day. However, there are also many things you won’t want to do! We will give you a list of things you should do as well as a list of things you should avoid before, during, and after the TOEFL.

The do's before and on the TOEFL test day

• Do preparation

Every day, read for 30 minutes. Find other English learners and native speakers in your area and strike up a conversation in English with them. Continue to ask yourself questions and respond to them as if you were answering the examiners. Go through the best TOEFL preparation books. It is also recommended that you hire a tutor who can teach you how to pass the TOEFL exam.

• Do Strategize

Just like any other exam, the central of effective preparation for TOEFL consists of a good strategy.  Your initial focus should be on familiarising yourself with the TOEFL exam structure: how reading, writing, listening, and speaking are linked, the question types, how much time is allotted for each section, and so on. Once you've mastered the fundamentals, you can work on developing effective test-taking strategies. Concentrate on taking better notes while listening, scanning passages for keywords, and saving time while maintaining proper spacing.

• Do Seek Out Every Opportunity to Practice

When possible, include English language work in your daily life. For example watching television shows spoken aloud in English, switching the interfaces of websites to English, listening to podcasts, and practicing your conversation skills with friends or strangers. Get creative and find small ways to include the English language into your daily life to help you with the Exam.

• Do you have a target score?

Know your goal and try to predict your score ahead of time. This allows you to identify your strong and weak points and adjust how and what you study. Having a key strong point is essential, but it is critical not to rely solely on it. Balance it out with your weak points. The test contains more multiple-choice questions than any other test, so you are less likely to run out of time.

• Do get enough sleep the day before.

It is critical to get enough sleep and rest before the exam. You wouldn't want to arrive at the exam tired and then fall asleep during the listening section, would you?

The don’ts before and on the TOEFL test day

• Don’t use fancy words or difficult grammar​​​​​​​

Candidates must work on their grammar and vocabulary in preparation for the TOEFL exam. However, many test takers use unfamiliar words or complex grammar structures that make no sense during the test. Examiners evaluate a candidate's clarity of thought as well as their ability to communicate clearly and fluently. 

As a result, use words and grammar that you are familiar with. You should be able to express your thoughts and ideas as easily as a native speaker. Spend time structuring your content rather than using fancy words and grammar.

• Don’t lose motivation during the test

Do not give up if you make a mistake in one section. Begin the next section with zeal. Be aware of the mistakes you made in the previous section and avoid making them again in further sections.

• Don’t be late on On Test Day

Do not be late for your TOEFL exam. Know your test's exact time, date, and day. Find the location of your testing center and plan your route so you know what time to leave to arrive on time. 

Arrive at your test center at least 30 minutes before it begins. This will give you enough time to become acquainted with your test room and seat. If you get lost on the day of your exam or arrive late for your test, you may feel nervous, anxious, and stressed, which can affect your performance.

• Don’t hesitate to speak​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Try not to hesitate while speaking. Speaking in front of experts is difficult, but you must practice speaking in a continuous flow. If you go blank while speaking, take a few seconds off and then resume speaking.

TOEFL preparation does not have to be stressful, but it should be thorough and deliberate... Make sure you are aware of the rules below before you take your test.  With these tips, we hope that you feel more comfortable going into the TOEFL. Keep all the points of DO’S and DON’TS in your mind and crack the TOEFL exam well so that you can achieve admission to international institutions.

Best of luck to you..!!