MaxRum

I'm trying to register for the test for the closest date possible in New York City, USA. I've tried online and the best date I could get was march 25th 2006. Today is december 15th. It seems that I have to wait more than 3 month to take the test. I think this is rediculous. I've tried to register on phone - no luck. I've tried Philadelphia, New Jersey etc. Only March 25th is available. What is going on in ETS? Does anybody know?

I have PR 2001 Edition. Is it up to date? I've checked 2006 version in a book store but didn't noticed much difference. Should I buy a new one? Besides that I'm going to buy new editions of Kaplan and Kaplan800 guides. Also I have OG 10th edition. Would be PR 2001 edition fine just for worm-up start?

I haven't seen Barron's for iBT yet. There is 11th edition of Barron's Toefl which has some topics about new generation of Toefl, but mostly this book is about CBT Toefl. Kaplan Toefl iBT is the only book about new generation Toefl I've found so far. Looks fine, but I don't like Kaplan in general. Anyway, most likely I'm going to buy it, because there is no really choice. There is another preparation guide on Amazon - Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL® Test : Next Generation (iBT) with CD-ROM and Answer Key. It might be fine but the price of $50.60 is ridiculous. So there is no way I'm buying that. I'm going to take test by the end of October because I've just found out that my scores expired already.

I've just started prepearing for TOEFL essay. And I have a problem: it's very hard forme to write a good essay in 30 minutes. My vocabualary is poor, topic ideas don't come quickly. My TOEFL test will be in two months. What is better for me in this situation: to spend one-two hours on writing of an good essay or to write small (poor) essay in 30 minutes? Is it enough to write only one essay a day or should I write a couple essay every day?

The Barron's book is pretty good and it has a CD-ROM with the 8 model tests. I can't say that only this one book can help you to achive your goal in 250+ points. It depends of your English. If it's perfect you will need just to revise a few grammar rules and become comfortable with computer based test. In this case Barron's book is enough for your preparation. But if you are not comfortable with English much you will need several additional books. For example, I would say that you need another Barron's book - "How to prepare for the computer based TOEFL essay", because the Barron's general book about the TOEFL does't cover writing section well. If you have problems with listerning, you'd better buy several additional books and tapes about listerning part of the TOEFL. I'm think, that the better thing for you to do now is to try pass one of the free model tests and see your problems. After that you'll be able to find what you have to buy to improve your scores.

Yes, it's true. That information have already posted on the ETS website. On the other hand they added new fiture: Beginning July 2003, a CD-ROM containing POWERPREP® Software: Preparation for the Computer-based TOEFL Test will be automatically mailed to individuals upon registering to take the computer-based TOEFL test. As part of the continuing expansion of our online services, POWERPREP Software will also be downloadable from http://www.toefl.org at no charge beginning in July. In addition, the TOEFL Sampler, containing 67 computer-based TOEFL test questions and tutorials, will be available for downloading at no charge. So, as you can see, ETS just want to sell their TOEFL preparation software to everyone who will take the test. That is a main idea of chaging the fee.

On the cover of "TOEFL 2002-2003 information bulletin" we can see: "Policies in this Bulletin are an effect for test appointments from July, 1, 2002, to June, 30, 2003". Should I use that Bulletin if I'm going to take test in August 2003? What will be changed in the Bulletin after June, 30, 2003?