TOEFL® PBT Tips

Practice more on skills that need improvement. The more you practice, the easier it gets.

• Use the Language Every Day
  Set aside time each day to communicate only in English. Listen, read and write in English every chance you get.
• Write
  Send e-mails, make notes for yourself and write down daily reminders, using new words and common expressions. This helps with sentence structure and vocabulary.
• Listen
  Listen to music, online broadcasts, radio, television and movies in English. The more you listen, the more you will understand vocabulary and expressions. Music helps you acquire the rhythm and stress patterns of spoken English. Listen closely to the words.
• Read
  Reading is the best way to improve your vocabulary. English-language reading materials — newspapers, magazines, books and websites — are always available. Choose your favorites! Try some academic reading material to prepare for communicating in college in English.
• Keep a Journal
  Write down things you are doing to prepare for college and other events in your daily life. This is a great way to organize your thoughts and practice writing in English. You can track your own progress. Read it to yourself and read it out loud.

Tips for Success on Test Day

• Carefully follow directions to avoid wasting time.
• Do not panic. Concentrate on the task. Do not think about your other answers.
• Do not spend too much time on one question. Select the best choice if you don't know the answer.
• Pace yourself to answer every question and to avoid rushing at the end.

How to Mark Your Answers on the Answer Sheet

• Use a medium-soft (No. 2 or HB) black lead pencil.
• Mark only one answer to each question.
• Mark your answer in the row with the same number as the question you are answering.
• Fill in the oval space that corresponds to the answer. If you change your mind, erase your old answer and mark your new one.
• Erase any unnecessary or stray marks.

You cannot make corrections after time is called.

Examples of Marking Answers

The TOEFL answer sheet for the TOEFL paper-based Test (PBT) can be either horizontal or vertical. The examples below show you the correct way and wrong ways to mark each version of the answer sheet.

Examples of Practice Answer Sheets