Learn More and Explore: August 2013

How to Ace the TOEFL

The TOEFL is one of the more challenging international exam for English proficiency. Not only is it a very long exam – roughly 4 hours for all of the subtest – but its integrated format, question types, and skill requirements are quite demanding. However, nothing is impossible, and with the right kind of preparation a test-taker may be able to pass the TOELF with flying colors…which is the same as saying that he or she gets to transcend the score requirement of the institution requiring the TOEFL.

Here are some tips for acing the TOEFL:

1. Practice wisely, not blindly. A common mistake in test prep is practicing again and again without analyzing the test itself and the results of the practice. This will not help much, as all the test-taker is doing is prolonging the preparation process. When doing practice exams, remember that it is very important to analyze the techniques used to answer questions, as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses in relation to the TOEFL. This will give you a better grasp on what else you need to do to increase your score.

2. Use English properly every time. Those who do not need much preparation for international English exams are usually those who have been using English properly their whole lives. You see it in how they communicate – if they have to speak in English, they do so with an air of solemnity for Grammar and word usage. Even their posts on social media are grammatically accurate. How you use English in everyday life is a habit. This habit is what you take with you during the exam.

3. Learn the tips and tricks. English proficiency aside, we must remember that the TOEFL is first and foremost an exam, and just like any other exams, there are certain techniques that test-takers may use to their advantage. Knowing how to properly attack a question to satisfy the requirements of the test is important. You can scour the Internet for these tips, or better yet, go to an expert.

4. Stock up on stock knowledge. The common problem of test takers in the Writing and Speaking part of the test is that they lack ideas. The solution is simple: get more ideas. You can do this by reading, reading, and reading more. You can also do this by other means of gathering information like talking with other people and getting their opinion.

Acing the TOEFL is no mean feat, but if you are determined and you are willing to do the work, they you have a chance, for sure.

Good luck!

Why Choose the TOEFL

This is a mirror article to Options Part 1, which explores the pros of choosing the IELTS, if you are given the choice of which English proficiency exam to take. You may want to check that out as well.

For this article, we will be discussing the advantages of TOEFL over other international tests of English. There are four: the IELTS, the TOEIC, PTE Academic, and the TOEFL. The TOEFL and the IELTS are by far the most popular. Most likely either one of these two would be required. In some cases, a candidate may choose which test to take.

Despite testing only one thing – English communication skills – these two exams are quite different.

Here are some advantages the TOEFL has over other English tests.

1. The TOEFL is done through the computer. Those who do not like writing long hand, or do not have legible hand-writing or simply slow would most likely benefit from taking the TOEFL. The exam is done through the computer, and requires only the basic proficiencies such as typing. Those who can easily use the computer may find taking the TOEFL more comfortable than taking the other pen-and-paper exams.

2. Since the TOEFL is done through the computer, the speaking test is conducted through one as well. This is beneficial, especially to those who may find it difficult to speak with an interviewer. While it is true that the computer records the test-taker’s answers to be graded later, the absence of an actual examiner may put test-takers at ease. The performance would be better.

3. The TOEFL primarily uses American English. For Filipinos who have been exposed to American English since childhood, many of us would be more comfortable in listening and comprehending the recordings used for the exam. This is significant, because these skills will not just be utilized in the Listening section of the exam. Remember that the TOEFL is an integrated test – meaning the listening skill is also incorporated in the Speaking and Writing tests.

4. The TOEFL is specifically geared to academic English assessment. Students would find the TOEFL a very close approximation of the English requirements in the academe. Taking the TOEFL does not only serve as a precise assessment, it is also a sneak peak on the communication skills required in a university or college setting.

These are some of the reasons why you would want to choose TOEFL over other English test. If you find that these are applicable to you and your skill set and needs, then perhaps you will benefit from this exam.

Good luck!

Useful Expressions for TOEFL Writing and Speaking

The TOEFL test is a test of English proficiency which assesses a candidate based on the needs of the academe. This means that it does not only look into the accuracy Grammar and the use of words when expressing, the TOEFL also considers what we call coherence. These means that relationships between and among ideas are explicit. This can also mean that ideas flow smoothly into one another.

Cohesion can be achieved with the use of transition words and phrases. Here are common expressions used to create a smooth exposition for writing and speaking. They are grouped according to use.

1. Enumeration of Ideas

Example:

First, second, last Another Also

“There are several reasons for near-normal occurrence of flooding in Metro Manila. First, the drainage systems are blocked off by trash. Another reason is the ineffective flood control projects. Lastly, there is the questionable budget use when it comes to flood control programs.”

2. Chronology of events

Example:

After Before During While

Before the water rises, it would be prudent for the local government to suspend classes, especially for children. Suspending work after students and employees have gone to schools and workplaces would only expose them further to the dangers of heavy rains. During one of the worst flooding in 2009, the Ondoy, this was what happened. Government suspended classes and work while people were already in the middle of what they were doing. As a result, many people were stranded.

3. Cause and Effect

Because as a result so due to consequentially

“Because the storm intensified the monsoon, the metro experienced severe flooding.”

“There are problems in check and balance. As a result, it was quite easy for corrupt officials to steal the people’s money.”

4. Presenting contradicting ideas

Example:

Even though Although But Despite

“Even though there are measures to prevent flooding and address its effects, these measures will be useless if not funded properly.”

“The government has issued a mandatory evacuation order, but the people in flood-prone areas refused to leave their homes.”

5. Concluding ideas through summarization

In conclusion To summarize To wrap it all up

“In conclusion, there are three primary reasons for the improvement of disaster management: to deliver to the people the quality service their money funded, to prevent destruction of property, and to prevent the loss of lives.”

These transition words are very important in creating a smooth transition of ideas, which is a criteria in the writing and speaking part of the TOEFL. Use them well. There are a lot more words and phrases that you can use. Ask your teacher about them.

Good luck!

Be in the Know: IELTS Rating System

An important thing that test takers should know when taking any exam is how they are graded. The International English Language Test System is quite straight-forward – you get a mark per subtest, and then you average the four scores.

Here is a detailed description of how you are scored in the IELTS. All conversion tables are from http://www.examenglish.com.

1. Listening Subtest

The Listening exam for both Academic and General Training are the same. Essentially, you answer a 40-item test and whatever your raw score is will be transmuted to your band score.

Band Score	9	8.5	8	7.5	7	6.5	6	5.5	5	4.5	4	3.5	3	2.5
Score / 40	39-40	37-38	35-36	32-34	30-31	26-29	23-25	18-22	16-17	13-15	10-12	8-10	6-7	4-5

2. Reading Subtest

The Reading subtest can be in the academic or the general training module. Although content-wise GT Reading is easier, the band score conversion is different. Essentially, you need a higher raw score in GT reading than in academic reading.

GT Reading Band Score Conversion

Band Score	9	8.5	8	7.5	7	6.5	6	5.5	5	4.5	4	3.5	3	2.5
Score / 40	40	39	37-38	36	34-35	32-33	30-31	27-29	23-26	19-22	15-18	12-14	9-11	6-8

Academic Reading Band Score Conversion

Band Score	9	8.5	8	7.5	7	6.5	6	5.5	5	4.5	4	3.5	3	2.5
Score / 40	39-40	37-38	35-36	33-34	30-32	27-29	23-26	19-22	15-18	13-14	10-12	8-9	6-7	4-5

3. Writing Subtest

Examiners consider four components to grade your Writing band score. Each component contributes a fourth (1/4) of your score.

· Task Achievement or Task Response: This is all about how you answer the question given. The content of what you have written is examined.

· Coherence and Cohesion: This is about the organization of your article. Also, the flow of one idea to another and the relationship of those ideas count. That is why transition words are important.

· Lexical Resource: This is all about the use of words – whether it is varying and appropriate.

· Grammatical Range and Accuracy: This component looks into the variations of Grammatical structures used and the precision of use.

4. Speaking Subtest

Just like the Writing subtest, the Speaking exam considers four components for your score.

· Fluency and Coherence: This component looks into the flow of ideas as well as the speaker’s ability to speak continuously in English.

· Lexical Resource.

· Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

· Pronunciation. This is all about the clarity of the speech as well as the way words are produced.

Knowing the way the IELTS is graded is important for any test-taker prepping for the exam.

Good luck!

Why do Physical Therapists need to take TOEFL?

Before being able to take the National Physical Therapist Exam (NPTE) and earn their license as a physical therapist in the United States, you should first have the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is a 4-hour, internet-based examination of English proficiency which is required for eligibility to take the NPTE.

There are actually several other English examinations apart from the TOEFL – IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEIC – but the TOEFL is preferred for physical therapists because of certain qualities of the examination that addresses the communication needs of working in the United States.

Here are some reasons why the TOEFL is the preferred examination for the NPTE.

1. The TOEFL is patterned after academic communication. The TOEFL’s content and question types are based on academic analysis and communication. Given that the workplace communication requirements of a physical therapist are mostly academic, then the TOEFL is the ideal English proficiency test for them.

2. The TOEFL is based on American English. Unlike other English examinations that utilize international English, the TOEFL is United States-specific. It makes use of the American accent and American slang. As physical therapists will mostly deal with American clients and co-workers, then optimal assessment of communication skills is very important. The TOEFL gives that assessment more precisely than other English proficiency tests.

3. The TOEFL is an integrated examination. Communication is actually a combination of listening, reading, writing, and speaking – the four components tested in the TOEFL. Other English examinations test these components separately, but the TOEFL integrates these skills to simulate how communication is in real life. This is another reason why the TOEFL is preferred as an eligibility requirement to the NPTE – because a physical therapist must be able to integrate these four skills in order to communicate well with clients. This makes the TOEFL more challenging in some aspects.

Given these characteristic, it is not surprising that the NPTE is partial to the TOEFL. Physical therapists who wish to take the NPTE to be licensed to practice in the United States will not be allowed to take the exam if they fail to get the required TOEFL score.

The TOEFL is indeed an exam of opportunities, and is one of the first steps a PT who wants to practice in the United States must take. This is why ample preparation is important.

Good luck.

What is the NPTE?

The National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) is a licensing examination for physical therapist and PT assistance of the United States. The exam is provided by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) in order to ensure the competency of PTs who wish to practice in the United States. Safe practice is important and the NPTE gauges the ability of PTs to render safe care. Basic competencies are looked into, so that that only those PTs with sufficient skills and knowledge can render service. This protects public interest.

The NPTE is developed and written by the FSBPT’s examination committee. Writers of the exam come from a variety of backgrounds in order to ensure that the examination is comprehensive.

The NPTE is administered through the computer, by Prometric. Everything is done through the computer, even registration. You can visit the FSBPT website to do this. An easier method, though, is to ask your review center to help you with the registration.

When you are ready to make the appointment for the test, you will have to be in contact with Prometric. This is the company that provides the actual examination. You must be ready to provide them with the following information:

Name of the examination (Physical Therapist NPTE, Physical Therapist Assistant NPTE)

•Where and when you would like to test (location of Prometric Center and approved test date)

•Your name

•Social Security Number or Alternate Identification Number

•Daytime telephone number

•Type of payment: credit card or direct debit

Preparing for the NPTE is not easy. You should make sure to check out the content outline, which tells you what topics will be covered by the exam. This is available online. Here is the link:

www.fsbpt.org/ForCandidatesAndLicensees/NPTE/ExamDevelopment

Despite having an outline to guide your review, it is not enough to ensure that you pass the NPTE, especially if you are not trained and educated in the United States. Remember that standards of care in the Philippines may be different from that of the US. Familiarization with what they considered the norm in terms of knowledge and skills is also important. Review and prepare for the NPTE well.

The examination is multiple choice and computerized, so candidates must be the comfortable as well as knowledgeable in answering this question type.

Once you are done with the test, the FSBPT scores the examination and transmits the score to the licensing authority. Your final score is released by the FSBPT.

Good luck!

How to Pass to TOEFL in One Take

The TOEFL is an exam of English proficiency, required by academic and professional institutions and by licensing agencies from those who are non-native communicators of English. The TOEFL would really test your mettle when it comes to English. The examination is a four-hour long computer test of comprehension and expression. It has four subtests: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The TOEFL is not like other English test – it would require you to actually merge these four skills. For instance, in the Writing Test, you will have to read an article, listen to a lecture and then write about what you have read and heard. The same thing is true for the Speaking test.

Long story short: the TOEFL is not easy.

For candidates to not waste time and money on the TOEFL, candidates should not simply prepare haphazardly, but prepare smartly. Here are some tips test takers may want to consider.

1. Introduce yourself to the basics of the test. This means being familiar with the test format, the test question types, and the method of answering the exam (through the computer). Having knowledge of what test is inside out would give you the advantage of knowing which strategies to use.

2. Verify what you need. You must have a baseline score that you need to aim for. This would vary depending on what you need the TOEFL for, so make sure you consult with whomever or whatever is requiring you to sit the test.

3. Be smart about investing. Whether we like it or not, preparation for anything would entail time and money. Of course, when you do invest time and money, one thing we need to make sure is that it is worth it. This means investing smartly. If you plan on reviewing (whether at home or in a review center), how much time per week can you commit solely for studying? Will you be able to sustain this number of hours? If you plan on going into a review center, which review center will you go to? Is the program good? Does it address your needs? What is their program’s track record?

4. Test yourself. Do practice examinations to determine your improvement. When you have consistently scored what is required in at least three full practice test , consider yourself ready to take the exam.

5. Aim higher. It does not hurt to aim for a higher score. This makes you over prepare which is almost always better than being underprepared.

6. Get help. There are people who are experts in this. If you plan to prepare wisely and willing to invest smartly, one of the best thing you can do is to get someone who knows the TOEFL inside out to walk you through it, to assist you in improving, and to give you an honest and accurate analysis of your preparedness.

Good luck!

Why Do Immigrants Need to Take the IELTS?

The IELTS, or the International English Language Test System, is a common requirement for those who wish to leave their native, non-English communicating country and live in a foreign, English communicating nation. In the Philippines, despite having English as an official language and using it in institutions such as the government and the academe, Filipinos who wish to migrate are still required to take the IELTS, specifically the General Training module.

Many people question the importance of IELTS in their application to live abroad. However, having international accreditation on English proficiency is beneficial not just to the migrant-to-be but also to the nation these people want to penetrate.

1. It adds to the “points” a hopeful migrant need to complete. Ask any consultancy agency and they will tell you that in order to earn the chance to live in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, you need to reach a certain point. The point system criteria include age, educational background, work background, and English proficiency. The higher the IELTS band score is, the higher the points you get. The more points you get, the higher the chances that your immigration papers will be approved.

2. It boosts the probability of couple migration. If you and the love of your life want to create a new life overseas, you can both take the examination. In cases like this, the band score requirement of your partner may be much lower than what you need, or both of your score requirements would be lowered. Your partner might be just asked to get a 5 or even a 4. Apart from this, your partner’s IELTS can boost the points that you already have. This has been the case in many partner-migration instances.

3. It assures the country to wish to migrate to that you will not be a liability because you can survive the communication barrier. At the end of the day, the IELTS is a test of survival. The host country needs to make sure that you can survive in an environment wherein the main mode of communication is English.

4. It gives you additional credentials. Once you have used your IELTS and gotten into the country of your dreams, the IELTS can be of use as additional credentials. Some work places may ask for proof of English abilities and the IELTS is an internationally-accepted document that gives an objective assessment of your communication skills.

What else are you waiting for? Prepare and review hard for your IELTS and take the test that gives you international opportunities!

Good luck!

Simplifying English: 4 Basic Sentence Structures

The creation of sentences is vital in the international English proficiency exams such as the IELTS and the TOEFL, particularly in the Writing and Speaking component of the exams. It is thus important to familiarize yourself with the basic sentence structures in English. From there, you can prove your grammatical range and accuracy by playing around with the structures and incorporating them to how you express. The trick here is not to stick with just one pattern but to utilize all structures.

1. Simple Sentence. A simple sentence is made up of an independent clause. This means that the sentence contains a subject, a predicate, and it makes sense.

Example:

Alicia sleeps.

The bed is warm and soft.

The man in the white room kept hearing voices of those who were no longer there.

2. Compound sentence. A compound sentence contains two independent clauses that are usually put together by conjunctions.

Example:

The rest of the world sleeps but Jessica is awake.

Ana told her story and the group listened to her silently.

Joey is going to Malaysia this week so his friends bought him a present.

3. Complex sentence. A complex sentence contains both an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate but does not make sense.

Two other sentence structures can come under this one: the IC + DC pattern and the DC,IC pattern.

Example:

When the man ran into the café, the people already knew that the dam had burst. (DC,IC)

The people already knew that the dam had burst when the man ran into the café. (IC+DC)

The little girl still slept with her mother’s old doll even though Jenna told her that it was full off bugs. (IC+DC)

Even though Jenna told her that it was full of bugs, the little girl still slept with her mother’s old doll.

4. Compound-complex sentence. This structure contains two or more independent clause and at least a dependent clause.

Example:

When the man burst into the bar, the surprised waitress dropped the steaming pot of coffee and the resounding crash startled the customers.

Despite their father’s disapproval, Kent flew to the United States to take his Masters degree in business and Lisa married her high school sweetheart.

Knowing these sentence structures correctly and applying them to your IELTS or TOEFL speaking and writing are enough to show that you are versatile in the use of the language. It earns you more points. Remember: the trick is to mix these four up.

Good luck!

Simplifying English: 4 Basic Sentence Structures

1. Simple Sentence. A simple sentence is made up of an independent clause. This means that the sentence contains a subject, a predicate, and it makes sense.

Example:

Alicia sleeps.

The bed is warm and soft.

The man in the white room kept hearing voices of those who were no longer there.

2. Compound sentence. A compound sentence contains two independent clauses that are usually put together by conjunctions.

Example:

The rest of the world sleeps but Jessica is awake.

Ana told her story and the group listened to her silently.

Joey is going to Malaysia this week so his friends bought him a present.

Two other sentence structures can come under this one: the IC + DC pattern and the DC,IC pattern.

Example:

When the man ran into the café, the people already knew that the dam had burst. (DC,IC)

The people already knew that the dam had burst when the man ran into the café. (IC+DC)

The little girl still slept with her mother’s old doll even though Jenna told her that it was full off bugs. (IC+DC)

Even though Jenna told her that it was full of bugs, the little girl still slept with her mother’s old doll.

4. Compound-complex sentence. This structure contains two or more independent clause and at least a dependent clause.

Example:

When the man burst into the bar, the surprised waitress dropped the steaming pot of coffee and the resounding crash startled the customers.

Despite their father’s disapproval, Kent flew to the United States to take his Masters degree in business and Lisa married her high school sweetheart.

Good luck!

How to Improve Your Score in the IELTS Reading Exam

Difficult.

That is the adjective commonly used for the IELTS Reading Exam, because the hardships many experience just to raise their band scores. I, however, beg to disagree, as the Reading Examination can actually be the easiest part of the test – after all the answers are all in the text.

The real problem with the reading examination is that it its tricky. I am sure that your review center can teach you a thing or two about the proper attack for the Reading exam, but here are some more tip to up your Reading Band Score that you may also find useful.

1. Read, read, and when you get fed up with is, read some more. A constant reader is a faster reader compared to someone who reads less. If you want to improve your speed and comprehension, best to make reading a habit.

2. Answer IELTS Reading practice tests strategically. This will help you in several ways: it will give you an idea of the format of the exam; it will let you experience the different question types of the IELTS reading test; and you may be able to develop your own set of techniques in attacking the IELTS examination questions, particularly the confusing ones. Also, try and answer with a time limit.

3. Read the questions first. ALL of the answers are already in the text – all you need to do is to find it. But how do you find something if you don’t know what to look for? This is the importance of looking through the questions first. It tells you exactly what you need from the text.

4. Work within the time limit. You have an hour to do 3 sections of the Reading test. That means you have 60 minutes to read the question, dissect 3 articles that are a total of 1,000 to 1,200 words, and answer the question. That is a lot to do in only 60 minutes. Pacing yourself is important. Basically, you have 20 minutes per section. Work within that time limit.

5. If you only need a Band 6 (or a Band 5, if you are doing General Training Reading), focus on the first two sections. The Reading Exam is of increasing difficulty, so the first 2 sections are the easiest. The first two sections will give you roughly 27 points, which is enough for you to get a Band 6.

The Reading Examination is definitely challenging, but there is no way around it – you either pass it or you don’t.

Good luck!