Gearing up to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)? Here, online tutor Marcus S. rounds up the top books to help with your TOEFL preparation…
If you are studying for the TOEFL, it probably means you are moving to another country to attend a university or start a new career. With all of the other paperwork and planning you have to deal with, passing the TOEFL can feel like an impossible task. But with a professional tutor and the best study guides available, you’ll be able learn fast and effectively, and get an excellent score on the TOEFL.
1. McGraw-Hill Education 400 Must-Have Words for the TOEFL
Not knowing the definition of one of the words in a reading comprehension sentence or vocab question on the TOEFL can keep you from figuring out the correct answer to the question. That’s why the distinguished McGraw-Hill Education company has put together a book that features more than 400 of the most common high-level vocabulary words found on the test. 400 Must-Have Words for the TOEFL isn’t just a list of definitions — it also has 150 learning exercises, plus tips and example sentences, and it gives you free access to an interactive mobile phone app created by Language Labs for additional TOEFL preparation.
2. TOEFL Grammar Guide: 23 Grammar Rules You Must Know To Guarantee Your Success On The TOEFL Exam!
The basics of grammar for a native language are learned subconsciously by children from a young age. Learning the grammar of a different language as an adult is one of the hardest parts of mastering English. The TOEFL Grammar Guide makes the process simpler by teaching you 23 rules that will help you write clear, correct sentences on the exam.
3. Barron’s TOEFL iBT
It’s impossible to properly prepare for the TOEFL without hearing correctly spoken English as you practice. The Barron’s TOEFL iBT test prep book comes with audio CDs that let you listen to questions and directions spoken in English. It also give you seven full practice TOEFL tests, a review of skills needed for the exam, and a CD-ROM that features simulations of the online exam. Along with this, Barron’s test prep program includes tips for taking notes, summarizing long passages, and other skills that will not only help you do better on the TOEFL but become a better student in general.
4. Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT
The speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL are the most difficult for many students, and this book lets you focus on these challenging questions. Author Bruce Stirling teaches you how to approach speaking and writing answers with a strategy called “argument mapping.” This technique is designed to give you a step-by-step method of answering each question, so you can work quickly and efficiently. Different strategies are given for both basic and advanced test-takers, and the techniques can be used on any type of speaking or writing question on the TOEFL.
5. Official TOEFL iBT Tests with Audio
Once you’ve learned the skills and techniques needed to correctly answer TOEFL questions, it will be time to take real tests written by the ETS testing service. This book includes five practice tests that have each been used as official TOEFL exams, along with a CD to let you listen to the audio portions of the TOEFL.
Learning and perfecting a new language can be overwhelming. If you don’t know where to start and what path to follow, you can end up just jumping around from subject to subject and not improving much. These expert TOEFL preparation books will give you a map to learning the English you need to excel on the test in an organized and thoughtful way.
Marcus S. tutors online in a variety of subjects. He has been trained and certified to teach classes and give individual tutoring to students in the SAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for the Princeton Review. Learn more about Marcus here!
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Suzy S.