Common TOEFL iBT Mistakes You Should Avoid (Before and During the Test)

The key to a great TOEFL iBT® score is preparation. However, while students do their best to prepare, some make avoidable mistakes across all four sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing), ultimately bringing down their score.

Here are the most common mistakes and most importantly, how you can avoid them.

While having a strong understanding of the English language is crucial for success, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

Many students improve their English skills by watching movies, memorizing vocabulary lists and reading articles. Although these will help you build a strong foundation, you also need to understand the TOEFL iBT test.

The test has specific question types, timing rules, and scoring criteria. Being good at English doesn’t automatically mean you’re good at TOEFL.

To avoid this mistake, combine your general learning with TOEFL-style questions. TOEFL practice tests can help you understand common questions and each section, while timing your sessions will prepare you for real test conditions. 

During your studying, it’s important to time your test sessions. Once you understand the test structure, complete each section using a timer to simulate the actual test conditions.

This will prevent you from spending too much time on one question or section on test day, ensuring you have enough time to complete the test without rushing. This practice will also help you spot weaker sections, allowing you to tailor your revision. 

When under exam conditions, it’s easy to mis-read or misunderstand the Reading section. Before completing any answers, you want to read and re-read the question to ensure you understand what it’s asking.

The key to success starts with understanding what you’re being tested on.

During the listening section you’ll hear a lecture or conversation, which will be followed by questions about the topic discussed. While the audio is playing, it’s crucial that you give it 100% of your attention. If you miss the main idea, your answers could be based on guesswork.

Top tip: Practice active notetaking during your test prep. Focus on noting down keywords and topics you hear throughout the passage that you might use in your answers. The more you practice this skill, the easier it will be to take notes on test day. 

The speaking section of your TOEFL test is designed to help you show off your English skills. Using memorized templates or pre-written answers will decrease your ability to display your skills and could result in a score decrease when examiners detect memorized responses.

Instead of memorizing an exact template, prepare ideas that you could potentially use during your Speaking section. Here, you want to focus on clarity over advanced vocabulary. Fluency and structure are more important than sounding “smart.” 

The TOEFL test is designed to give you more than enough time to complete your speaking section. Avoid rushing through your answers or speaking so quietly that you lose clarity.

Poor pronunciation or pacing can reduce comprehension, which could cause a drop in your overall score. On test day, speak slightly slower than usual and pause naturally between your ideas.

As part of your preparation record yourself and ask if your speaking sounds natural. Remember, clarity will always beat speed in the Speaking section!

The TOEFL Writing section assesses your ability to create a coherent argument in response to a question. This requires organization. You want to avoid writing long paragraphs with no flow, and instead practice using a clear essay structure.

For example:

• Introduction
• 2 body paragraphs
• Conclusion

Make sure you stick to one main idea per paragraph and use connectives to link your response.

If you’re looking to achieve top scores, then you need to focus on the small details. While you won’t lose marks for an occasional error, consistent grammar mistakes can cause your score to drop during your Speaking and Writing sections.

To avoid this, identify your top grammar weaknesses during your revision and work on them before the test day. On the day itself, proofread your writing if you have the time.

The biggest TOEFL mistake is preparing blindly. High scorers don’t just study more; they study smarter. Use your TOEFL prep tests to identify weaknesses, refine your test-day strategy, and understand the test timing.

The goal isn’t perfection, but consistently strong answers throughout your test. Focus on clarity and structure while practicing under exam conditions to ensure you feel your best on test day.