Hints and tips for the reading part please

[ski]

This particular thread is very important especially for test takers who find reading section quite challenging. So, let us continue to help one onother by posting strategies.

Here are some lists of additional techniques:

1. Extreme use of words on the sentence such as all, must, none, always, etc. are most of the time wrong answers. However, we do still need to read the passage carefully to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.
2. If possible work on the difficult question once done answering doable questions--vocabularies; referents/pronouns/nouns (it, them, those, that, etc.), ( I can't think other easy questions)
3. Read every question carefully. Decoding and repharasing questions are helpful as well.
4. On simplifying complex sentences; choices that only repeat or copy the parts of highlighted sentence are most of the time not the right answer.
5. Choosing choices/information that are not mentioned on the passage are generally not the right answer.
6. On summarizing the passage, pay atttention on the given topic and stick into it. Include major details that support the given topic and ignore minor details that not support the topic statement (mostly examples are not included.)
7. Paying attention on the final/last paragraph of the passage is important, because it serves as a conclusion.
8.Knowing the purpose of the passage and its structure helps test taker to follow on the flow of the details/information.

We can able to pass the toelf if we help one onother... Hope somebody can post strategies on listening, speaking and writing too...

[nipureddy]

Thank you ski very helpful post

nipu

[josh_ph]

Some people prefer to look at the questions first before reading the passage so they will just have to look for the answer. Others will tell you to do a quick scan before attacking the question. Which do you prefer and why? Hahaha

Nah seriously, scan first so you will know where in the passage will you find the answers. Also, this gives you a mental note on what the passage is about and allow you to adapt to its difficulty and style of writing. It will also help you in the summarization section where you'll have to drag and drop three boxes yada yada.

This is an exhausting section and whats worst, its the first section of the exam. Try to save your strength for the succeeding parts.

[toefl2008]

Hiiiiiii everybody....
please,please,please I need some advice to pass my TOEFL ibt with high score. I did very bad in my first exam one month ago and I have to do it again in May. My weakness are both reading and listening. I just registerd in this site to obtain some help if its possible.
Best luck for all.

[MarMora]

the key to the reading part is having good vocabulary ,you can enhance yours by:
1- studing books like ( 400 must have words for the TOEFL test ),even you find it difficult, trust me,its very helpful.
2-Also you can read newspapers, scientific magazines which have similar articles to what we find in the test. try to guess the meaning of the difficult words ,then grab your dictionary and see if you were right.
3-write the words you learned in its actual sentences in your notebook, because of course everyword may have more than 1 meaning,also it's more easier to study and memorize .

Originally Posted by toefl2008

Hiiiiiii everybody....
please,please,please I need some advice to pass my TOEFL ibt with high score. I did very bad in my first exam one month ago and I have to do it again in May. My weakness are both reading and listening. I just registerd in this site to obtain some help if its possible.
Best luck for all.

[toefl2008]

Hello everybody

Hello MarMora......
Thank you so much for the pretty helpful advice. I'll do my best by using your way. Thanks again.

Best wishes to all

[bodhach]

Here are some tips for reading,
1) Give some time in start (1 minute) to know what the author is talking about....(focus in the first paragraphs)
2) Scan how the author builds the rest of the passages
3) Read the coclusion carefully
4) Total time for step 1-2-3 should be not more than 5 minutes
5) Think for 30 sec and make a brief idea about the passage in yr mind
6) Look the questions now::
7) If it's just asking for a meaning answer it straightly don't go back to the passage
8) Question refering to the passage : better to go back to the paragraph and locate the answer....(it's not that difficult believe me)
9) The real challenge is with the infer question or the chronological order or the table question if you can save some time : Spend on these type of question
10) Give enough time to read in varieties of materials,, like newspaper, sport news,... and other related content
11) If you really think you messed up make a wise guess (don't be blind)
12) recongnize traps and extrapolation

13) if this doesnot help write to me at bodhach@yahoo.com

[toefl2008]

Thank you so much badhach for your tips.I'll try them this time. I hope it works this time.
Best luck

[Nocoolnameleft]

i think you guys got low score for the reading because you don't have enough vocabulary. of course there is always a tactic to sucess but the tactic works only when you have enough vocabulary.

[Faux Carnival]

My strategy is:

- I generally get done with the first passage in less than 20 minutes. I want to leave time for the last 2 passages, in case they are longer and more difficult. (They are most of the time)

- I spend 5 minutes reading the passage. I don't skim, I read the passage entirely. Do this if you can in 5 minutes.

- Then, I answer the questions. I skip a question, if I'm stuck on it for more than 45 seconds - 1 minute.