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machinegy · 05-03-2008, 09:05 PM

I just came back from the test center and I am extremely frustrated because I did terribly on the test. It was my first time and I was terribly nervous.

My strongest areas were reading and listening, but those are the parts I did the worst....I know it's an excuse, but when I started reading, late comers made noises asking question to the proctors and some actually read the passage with their own voices...wow..and I sat right next to the proctor who was constantly humming and I got so distracted...

The first minute I'm reading the passage, I was reading it, but nothing registered in my brain....I was just reading same thing over and over without understanding it...does this happen usually for the first timers or just me?
i even missed a question without answering it because time was up...jeez....

my question is...when i registered for the test, i had the report to be sent only to me..not to any school..if i do better next time and decide to send the report to a school, would the school find out about the previous test result, too? (which I just blew today)or are they only be able to see the good test score i want them to see?
anyways...i'll write down whatever I remember from the test hoping this may help.

speaking

independent
1. Describe an event that you recently experienced. Reason and Detail.
2. who influence you more? family or friends?

writing
1. Contrasting the benefit of hydrogen-based fuel-cell engine in the reading and disadvantage of it in the lecture.
2. Has technology prevented children from developing creativity? Agree or Not.

love29 · 05-03-2008, 09:28 PM

as long as you didn't send a copy to the school, they will never find out what your score on that test.

dejavee · 05-04-2008, 04:21 AM

Funny how I have the same feeling about TOEFL today. I was also sure of reading and listening section a I think I did the worst in them. I also like you have no clue what was 2nd question ... blank, blank...

I hope your score will be good anyway.

LadyJane · 05-05-2008, 02:36 AM

I also took the test may 3, Test should have started at 10, but it's started at 10.30 I had 5 reading passages

and finished the last from the group (there were 4 people in my room and all of them left before me) I came out at 3 pm exhausted

I don't think I passed because I need to have 27 in speaking but the next time I'd better go and try IELTS - I have this option

Ok, let's hope for the best

good luck to all of us

when are we going to have the results?

machinegy · 05-05-2008, 02:41 AM

Heard the result will be available in 15 biz days..

rubiagirl · 05-05-2008, 03:55 PM

Hello Machinegy,

Regarding the report to a school, I've heard that it will take into account the latest report. I'm going to take the TOEFL exam in June or July (I hope so), but I'm not going to choose any school for the moment, because I'm not sure if I get the desirous result.

Based on your experience, I see that TOEFL is not just an exam which evaluates your proficiency in English, and also evaluates your ability to concentrate and to detach yourself from the environment.

My concern is how can we do that? I've heard that some of the test takers use earplug. Is it permissible? Is it allowable to read in a loud voice?

I think it is better to find a way not to read the entire passage at the first time, and to summerize it. You will lose your concentration if you have noises around you.

What about the listening section. Did you have problems with your headset? Which location did you choose? I'm going to schedule the exam in NY, Manhattan.

Thanks and good luck everybody!

LadyJane · 05-05-2008, 04:49 PM

Yes, it't also a test of endurance. You can use ear plags if you want, or you can keep a headset at all the time, of you can use both. About reading aloud - it is not practical as texts are quite bid and you'd better skim throgh them quickly.
As I had 5 readings to do it took me soooo long. Other people where doing a listening section, then having a break, then doing a speaking section and I was continuing to read, read, read. By the forth text I was already tired and wanted to go to the bathroom, and was feeling my mind was drifting somewere from that readings. So I went outside, run to the room where my bag was, get a chocolate bar, shoveled a half of it into my mouth, ran to the bathroom and return to the class. I lost cople of minutes of my reading time but it was worth it because I need my concentration for the rest of the reading and also for the listening and I simply can not do it without some energy bust.
I didn't have problms with a headset but I was bothered when I was reading and people were speaking aloud while doing their speaking part.

rubiagirl · 05-05-2008, 06:17 PM

Thank you LadyJane for sharing you experience with us!
Regarding the "bathroom", it is understandable in these kind of moments. I had the same experience years ago.

Which location did you choose? Does anyone know which location I can choose in Manhattan?

Good luck!

machinegy · 05-05-2008, 09:34 PM

YES, definitely take ear plugs with you! My friend recommended it, but I didn't listen and I regret it badly. Next time I'll use the plugs together with headset on. You need concentration. When reading section began, I was very distracted by everything around me. So, just keep your mind in the passage. And never look around. No problems with headset. I was tested in San Diego, CA. Equipment was real good. But not sure about NYC....It's easy to lose your concentration during listening section. Always focus!

rameses28 · 05-06-2008, 12:25 AM

I also took TOEFL the first time last May 3.

I did very bad, not even up to par. Not even what I expected out of myself.

Reading and Listening were very tough for me... tougher than I expected anyways.

Speaking was horrible. I need to score 26 for my profession and I do think I need to take the test again because of my poor performance.

I did decent on the first 4 speaking questions. I had some lapses and minor grammatical errors, which maybe acceptable.

But my greatest screw up happened on the fifth question.... The situation was the female speaker had the problem and the male speaker provided some suggestions.... When I summarized the conversation, I said that it was the male who had the problem and the female gave him solutions..... I screwed up big time..... It was too late to realize it, so instead of correcting myself, I just went on to finish my answer.

And so, I was not able to concentrate on question 6...... I was not able to speak for at least 5 seconds?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE MY CHANCES OF SCORING 26? pretty slim ain't it? I do think it is IMPOSSIBLE

I expect this to be a total failure......

Well, I can just try again.... Those things that don't kill us will only make us stronger....

I will just wait and see how far off I am from getting 26.

05-03-2008, 09:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
machinegy Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	May 3rd Test. I did so bad....1st time taking... I just came back from the test center and I am extremely frustrated because I did terribly on the test. It was my first time and I was terribly nervous. My strongest areas were reading and listening, but those are the parts I did the worst....I know it's an excuse, but when I started reading, late comers made noises asking question to the proctors and some actually read the passage with their own voices...wow..and I sat right next to the proctor who was constantly humming and I got so distracted... The first minute I'm reading the passage, I was reading it, but nothing registered in my brain....I was just reading same thing over and over without understanding it...does this happen usually for the first timers or just me? i even missed a question without answering it because time was up...jeez.... my question is...when i registered for the test, i had the report to be sent only to me..not to any school..if i do better next time and decide to send the report to a school, would the school find out about the previous test result, too? (which I just blew today)or are they only be able to see the good test score i want them to see? anyways...i'll write down whatever I remember from the test hoping this may help. speaking independent 1. Describe an event that you recently experienced. Reason and Detail. 2. who influence you more? family or friends? writing 1. Contrasting the benefit of hydrogen-based fuel-cell engine in the reading and disadvantage of it in the lecture. 2. Has technology prevented children from developing creativity? Agree or Not. Last edited by machinegy : 05-04-2008 at 07:44 AM.

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05-03-2008, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
love29 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	as long as you didn't send a copy to the school, they will never find out what your score on that test.

05-04-2008, 04:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
dejavee Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4	Funny how I have the same feeling about TOEFL today. I was also sure of reading and listening section a I think I did the worst in them. I also like you have no clue what was 2nd question ... blank, blank... I hope your score will be good anyway.

05-05-2008, 02:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
LadyJane Eager! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 59	I also took the test may 3, Test should have started at 10, but it's started at 10.30 I had 5 reading passages and finished the last from the group (there were 4 people in my room and all of them left before me) I came out at 3 pm exhausted I don't think I passed because I need to have 27 in speaking but the next time I'd better go and try IELTS - I have this option Ok, let's hope for the best good luck to all of us when are we going to have the results?

05-05-2008, 02:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
machinegy Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	Heard the result will be available in 15 biz days..

05-05-2008, 03:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
rubiagirl Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10	Hello Machinegy, Regarding the report to a school, I've heard that it will take into account the latest report. I'm going to take the TOEFL exam in June or July (I hope so), but I'm not going to choose any school for the moment, because I'm not sure if I get the desirous result. Based on your experience, I see that TOEFL is not just an exam which evaluates your proficiency in English, and also evaluates your ability to concentrate and to detach yourself from the environment. My concern is how can we do that? I've heard that some of the test takers use earplug. Is it permissible? Is it allowable to read in a loud voice? I think it is better to find a way not to read the entire passage at the first time, and to summerize it. You will lose your concentration if you have noises around you. What about the listening section. Did you have problems with your headset? Which location did you choose? I'm going to schedule the exam in NY, Manhattan. Thanks and good luck everybody!

05-05-2008, 04:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
LadyJane Eager! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 59	Yes, it't also a test of endurance. You can use ear plags if you want, or you can keep a headset at all the time, of you can use both. About reading aloud - it is not practical as texts are quite bid and you'd better skim throgh them quickly. As I had 5 readings to do it took me soooo long. Other people where doing a listening section, then having a break, then doing a speaking section and I was continuing to read, read, read. By the forth text I was already tired and wanted to go to the bathroom, and was feeling my mind was drifting somewere from that readings. So I went outside, run to the room where my bag was, get a chocolate bar, shoveled a half of it into my mouth, ran to the bathroom and return to the class. I lost cople of minutes of my reading time but it was worth it because I need my concentration for the rest of the reading and also for the listening and I simply can not do it without some energy bust. I didn't have problms with a headset but I was bothered when I was reading and people were speaking aloud while doing their speaking part.

05-05-2008, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
rubiagirl Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10	Thank you LadyJane for sharing you experience with us! Regarding the "bathroom", it is understandable in these kind of moments. I had the same experience years ago. Which location did you choose? Does anyone know which location I can choose in Manhattan? Good luck!

05-05-2008, 09:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
machinegy Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	YES, definitely take ear plugs with you! My friend recommended it, but I didn't listen and I regret it badly. Next time I'll use the plugs together with headset on. You need concentration. When reading section began, I was very distracted by everything around me. So, just keep your mind in the passage. And never look around. No problems with headset. I was tested in San Diego, CA. Equipment was real good. But not sure about NYC....It's easy to lose your concentration during listening section. Always focus!

05-06-2008, 12:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
rameses28 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 27	I also took TOEFL the first time last May 3. I did very bad, not even up to par. Not even what I expected out of myself. Reading and Listening were very tough for me... tougher than I expected anyways. Speaking was horrible. I need to score 26 for my profession and I do think I need to take the test again because of my poor performance. I did decent on the first 4 speaking questions. I had some lapses and minor grammatical errors, which maybe acceptable. But my greatest screw up happened on the fifth question.... The situation was the female speaker had the problem and the male speaker provided some suggestions.... When I summarized the conversation, I said that it was the male who had the problem and the female gave him solutions..... I screwed up big time..... It was too late to realize it, so instead of correcting myself, I just went on to finish my answer. And so, I was not able to concentrate on question 6...... I was not able to speak for at least 5 seconds? WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE MY CHANCES OF SCORING 26? pretty slim ain't it? I do think it is IMPOSSIBLE I expect this to be a total failure...... Well, I can just try again.... Those things that don't kill us will only make us stronger.... I will just wait and see how far off I am from getting 26.

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