Tips for preparing for the TOEIC test

Done with your studies and are looking for a job? The TOEIC certificate will be a great addition to your CV. This exam combines reading comprehension skills and listening tests, and at times, this makes a lot of students nervous.

However, there is no need to be nervous. We are here to help the test takers get excellent marks by working hard!

What is TOEIC

TOEIC is the abbreviation for the Test of English for International Communication. Through the TOEIC exam, your ability to understand instructions, conversations, documents, etc. It is not a simple pass/fail test nor is the TOEIC speaking test. It is a multiple-choice reading test and it takes you 2.5 hours to complete it. You can get up to 990. The higher your TOEIC score report, the better for you.

10 Tips for Preparing for the TOEIC

1. Evaluate Yourself
If you keep practicing without evaluating yourself, all your effort would go in vain. Make sure that you take the free sample test and evaluate your TOEIC listening skills. As you practice, you will improve.

This is because you will be familiar with the TOEIC technique and know what to expect. To prepare yourself for the written portion, go to a website to write an essay, and take a look at the sample essays and passages available.

One of the TOEIC tips is to take the test several times so that you will be able to identify your weaknesses and will be able to focus on those areas specifically.

2. Make Studying Fun
This isn’t your typical history or math exam. You don’t have to cram a lot of stuff to get better at it. This is an English language test and you can study any way you want. From watching a TV show to reading your favorite detective novel, the ways to improve your English skills are endless.

We recommend that you listen to podcasts and audiobooks as this will simulate the conditions of the test better – there are no images, only audio in the TOEIC.

3.Keep an Eye Out for the Best Possible Answer
When it comes to the best TOEIC preparation, it is not about the right answer. Rather, it is about the best possible answer. Wondering what’s the difference between the two? Well, in the case of the right answer, you only have one correct option, and all the rest are wrong answers.

However, when it comes to the best possible answers, there can be several correct answer choices. You have to choose the best one depending on the exam material. You have to figure out the best answer, based on what you have read, seen, or heard.

You have to infer something from the conversation or the text passage, keeping its context in mind.

4. Don’t panic – Look for Clues
If you don’t know the answer, the best advice is don’t panic. Take a deep breath, and try to focus. There will be a few clues regarding the correct answer, and you have to keep your eyes open for them. You don’t have to understand everything that is written in the TOEIC test.

You need to know enough to understand the context. Use the information you have at hand to figure out the best possible answer.

5. Watch Out for Tricky Phrases
TOEIC is going to try and trick you. For instance, you will have to choose the grammatically right sentence from a list of choices. They will try to confuse you with options that sound the same or are spelled the same, such as affect and effect, etc.

Go through the list of similar-sounding words from the examinee handbook vocabulary during your test preparation so that this will not be a new thing during the test.

6. Don’t Overuse the Dictionary
TOEIC is a timed English language test. Even if the centers allow you to bring a dictionary, there will not be a lot of time for you to search each word and find out the meaning. It is better to practice focusing on the context and then use the information provided to figure things out.

Make a habit of not using the English language dictionary while practicing so that you will be able to do so in the actual test.

7. Listen to Spoken English
Again, since the test is timed, and there are no replays, you have to make sure that you are taking notes while listening to audios. Don’t write everything down – make sure that you jot down the keywords such as names, locations, dates, context, etc.

During your practice sessions, listen to conversations in varying accents and speeds. This will help you a lot in the actual TOEIC.

8. Go through the instructions at home
Before the listening test, they will give instructions regarding the group of sample questions that are going to be played. It is better to go through these instructions at your home so that you would not have to focus on them during the test.

You can spend the time you save on the actual test questions instead.

9. Prepare for Bad Sound
You should remember that the audio during the exam will not be as clear as the audio from your home speakers. You might have low volume, faulty audio, etc. Therefore, to be prepared for the worst, practice your questions while keeping your radio on in the background.

10. Relax before the paper
Right before the exam, you don’t have to overwhelm yourself with sample TOEIC tests. Take a breath, relax, and get a good night’s sleep. You have prepared enough from the practice tests. You will need to be fresh while taking the exam, folks!

Final Word

When you are preparing for a new exam, it is hard not to get nervous. However, when it comes to TOEIC, you can relax and let us help you with our helpful guidelines. We recommend that you listen to podcasts and audiobooks as this will simulate the conditions of the test better – there are no images, only audio in the TOEIC.

During your practice sessions, listen to conversations in varying accents and speeds. This will help you a lot in the actual TOEIC. Moreover, figure out the best answer, based on what you have read, seen, or heard. You have to infer something from the conversation or the text passage, keeping its context in mind.

Best Luck, Folks!