5 Mistakes to Avoid in TOEFL

A TOEFL competitive score is the international student’s business card in the various MBA and LL.M. programs around the world. A balanced and consistent score tells the admissions committee that you are ready for course readings as well as engaging in class discussions and being part of the academic community.

Today we separate 5 mistakes you can not do if you want to have an excellent score on the exam. Want to know which ones? Keep reading!

1 – REPEAT MANY WORDS

Be it in writing, or in speaking. Ideally, you can demonstrate proficiency in vocabulary. This does not happen if you repeat the same words every time. You need to choose synonyms and you need to increase your word repertoire as you prepare.

 

2 – SLANG AND COLLOQUIALISMS

There is nothing wrong with informal language, but ideally, when in professional or academic settings, more formal language is adopted. Therefore, control the use of slang and extreme colloquialisms. Remember that contractions of the verb to be (I’m, You’re, They’re, etc.) are exceptions to the rule.

3 – PAUSES IN YOUR SPEECH

You need to keep in mind that during the TOEFL, you will record your audio in a predetermined time and will not have any extra time. So you need to eliminate from your speech those pauses that are not there for good reason. A good tactic for this is to record yourself, listen and try to work your speech pace consciously.

4 – EXIT THE TOPIC     

When answering the TOEFL questions you should stay on topic at all costs. Of course you need to demonstrate that you have understood what was presented, and eventually this may require examples that are not included in the stimulus. However, the relationship between the stimulus and the example you provided should be clear. Avoid digressions.

5 – RELYING ON THE WRONG TIPS

In the proof texts, or even in the passages you will hear, it is important that you identify the main information. Often candidates get confused and are stuck with supplementary or secondary information that is not the focus of the question.

It may sound silly, but these tips can help you achieve an excellent score on the race. What are you waiting for to begin your preparation?