TOEFL iBT Preparation Tips

I have been thinking of doing this post for quite a while now since a lot of people have asked me for helpful tips and links to resources on the web for preparation of the TOEFL iBT (a revamped version of the TOEFL CBT). For starters, iBT stands for Internet-Based Testing as opposed to CBT which stood for Computer-Based Testing. From what I've learnt by giving the old Paper-based TOEFL and CBT, the new iBT is considerably 'harder' and a lot more challenging, especially with the addition of a brand new Speaking section.

You can complete information on TOEFL from the ETS website located at: http://www.ets.org/toefl. TOEFL tests are held 2-3 times a week at two test centers in Karachi (one in Gulistan-e-Jouhar and the other in P.E.C.H.S). As for the format, the new iBT consists of four sections each of 30 marks namely Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Anything above 85 constitutes a good score on the iBT, although I've seen a requirement as high as 100 in the case of some top-notch universities in the US and elsewhere in the world.

Anyway, moving on to some helpful resources on the web which I found extremely useful during my prep.

Free Practice iBT Test
http://www.free-english.com/TOEFL-iBT-practice-test.aspx

Excellent Blog with Speaking Examples
http://www.teachers-international.com/wordpress/?cat=10

Sample Questions
http://www.fulbright.cz/download/toefl-ibt-sample-questions-2006.pdf

iBT Tips
http://www.transint.boun.edu.tr/toefl/belgeler/tips.pdf

Score Comparison Tables
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/TOEFL_iBT_Score_Comparison_Tables.pdf

Make sure you also download all the TOEFL material from the ETS website, including the Official Bulletin, Test Center Locations etc. Registering for the iBT also gives you access to TOEFL-Access, a portal for students with a lot of helpful material on it. Plus, you can always Google for more TOEFL resources on the web.

The only downside with the new iBT is it's length in my opinion. The test lasts around 4 hours with only a 10-minute break between the Listening and Speaking sections. Nevertheless, the test (although revamped and much more challenging than before) is still not overly difficult as it is sometimes made out to be. With good practice, you can score great too ! All the best !