If you are reading this article, you probably already know what the TOEFL is. But for those of you who may not be familiar to it, TOEFL stands for "Test of English as a Foreign Language." It is a test designed for people who aren’t native English speakers. Unlike many other tests, TOEFL isn't about passing or failing; instead, it's all about assessing your English proficiency in a university setting, which means how good you are at using English in different academic situations. Think of it as a way to measure your ability to use English in academic settings. According to the official TOEFL examination website, “more than 12,000 [educational] institutions in over 160 countries accept TOEFL scores,”¹ for this reason, it is important to do this exam if you would like to study in an English-speaking university. 

As stated, the exam strives to test your capacity to do well in a scholar setting. Therefore, you will be tested regarding your knowledge of the English language such as vocabulary and grammar; however, you will also be required to be able to critically interpret and discuss information. That being said, in this article, we want to share with you three essential skills that can help you perform well on the TOEFL exam. These skills are keys that can unlock your success in the test.

1. Critical Interpretation:

Let's dive into the first skill: critical interpretation. The TOEFL test has four sections — reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The reading and listening sections will challenge you to comprehend and interpret different types of texts and spoken material. The subjects vary, but they always revolve around academic-related topics. For instance, you might come across a conversation between a teacher and a student or a recording of a university lecture. In other words, the topics are more complex than everyday use of the language.

The key here is to learn how to critically interpret these texts and speeches. It means going beyond the surface and digging deeper to understand the hidden meanings. Why is this important? Well, the TOEFL test sometimes asks tricky questions that require you to infer information that wasn't directly stated. You need to read and listen carefully, decipher information, and make deductions. This skill is vital because it helps you not only to understand what you read and hear but also enables you to construct strong arguments and support your ideas related to the topic effectively.

2. The Skill of Summarization:

Let's move on to summarizing — our second key. This skill ties closely with critical interpretation. If you can't understand what you're reading or listening to, summarizing complex ideas becomes a tough task. TOEFL often asks questions that require the test taker to understand what are the main points of a text or speech and what are the arguments used to support such points. One of the classic questions on TOEFL is precisely to choose and list the main idea and the supporting arguments of a text.

Therefore, the test taker must be able to summarize a text or speech, establishing its main points and supporting arguments, in order to answer such questions. Summarization is all about extracting the main ideas and understanding their relevance to the overall theme of the text or conversation. Imagine it like creating a short, concise version of a longer story. This skill is essential to identify and communicate the most important points of complex texts and discussions.

3. The Art of Argumentation:

Last but not least, let's explore the skill of argumentation — our third key. This skill connects with the previous two because you first need to interpret and understand the material and then summarize the main points to then come up wit your own opinions relating the topic. Once you've done that, you can create your arguments to support your opinion or point of view. 

In the writing and speaking sections of the test, you'll be asked to make your own arguments to support a central idea or opinion. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to construct an argument, especially when dealing with complex subjects. You will have to connect your points logically and present them in a well-structured manner. If you can't defend your argument effectively, it could affect your performance in the exam.

To sum it up

We have discussed three essential skills that you need in order to perform well on the TOEFL exam: Critical Interpretation, Summarization, and Coherent Argumentation. Only knowing English vocabulary and grammar is NOT enough to ace the test. While a rich vocabulary is helpful, the TOEFL exam aims to assess how effectively you can use your language skills as a whole. Therefore, it is crucial to practice these three specific skills and engage with academic resources like articles and lectures in order to effectively prepare for the TOEFL test.

Are you feeling unsure about how to begin your TOEFL preparation? No need to stress! Unbounded Education provides tailored one-on-one sessions that cater to your unique requirements (check it out here).

Additionally, Unbounded Education will be introducing an online course in early December to assist you in getting ready for the TOEFL test. Stay tuned for updates! To stay in the loop, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

REFERENCES

1- ETS, TOEFL. “Why choose the TOEFL iBT Test?. https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about/why.html