vaidy_t

Yeah, I found UCLA set a min of 24 on the speaking section... For almost all top univs 24 is just ok...Thanks for the replies...

Yes man it is exactly 3 weeks (or 15 business days). I got it exactly after the same time (online).

Thanks for the kind reply.

Dear all, I Wrote TOEFL IBT on October 21st 2007 and I got my score today(November 10, 2007) - 110 / 120 (Reading 29 / 30; Writing 28 / 30; Listening 29 / 30 & Speaking 24 / 30). Is a 24 on the speaking section good enough for top-notch universities? Please comment... Regards, Vaidy

Got the answer from ETS. They said it is because of the time difference between US and India. So, it is not a problem to worry. I can book straight away.

I think it should be enough... donno for sure

Yeah thanks. So, you bought the ETS's TOEFL test . Ok, I got the point. I think writing/speaking sections will be evaluated by a human and you will get your scores in 5 business days. Independent Writing: Do you like to spend all your money in tourism and travel rather than saving for the future. I am not instantly able to recollect my speaking topics. Will let you know ASP. I haven't seen those ETS's topics. I practiced fully from Thomson's "Complete guide to TOEFL". I think it will definitely help. Just try writing 10 - 15 essays and that will do. Regards, Vaidy

Thanks a lot for replying. Ok, I'll call them as you suggested.

First of all, I am surprised to know that there is a software to evaluate your writing part of TOEFL IBT!!!!! If so, please do throw some light on it. I am interested in knowing it. I took TOEFL IBT on 21st october and I also found the reading part a little difficult. Adding to that, I didn't know that the first passage is separately timed for 20 mins. I thought we would get three passages for 1 hour without any time limits on individual passages (This is what Thomon's "Complete guide to TOEFL IBT" says). I also found the passages in the real IBT very dry as compared to that I found in the book. ok, This is what I would suggest. Just skim the reading passage (don't read it) and then on need basis read in depth. If you have done your GRE before, 2-3 vocab (synonym) questions will be a cake walk. Nevertheless, there are separate TOEFL wordlist available (900 - 1000 words) - you may go thro' if time permits. I feel the most difficult question of all is usually the last question in the reading section which usually is a Matching (chart) or summarise question. This requires you to understand the entire passage. Also, it carries usually 3 points. Independent writing - It is just about your perspective on a general topic. The essays are rated only globally and not locally. Meaning, they don't reduce marks for individual mistakes (like grammar, spelling etc) like what our primary teachers do. So, don't worry about this. Just go thro' the sample essays for different scores published by ETS. Well, it doesn't teach you anything. But it will definitely boost your confidence. Even top scoring essays look ordinary. So, it should not be a problem. The general rule is to state your stand explicitly in the opening para. Also, conclude appropriately. Give good examples to support your views. These examples can be real, hypothetical, historical whatever. If you can't get points then try to think in these lines : Social, Cultural, Economical, Political, Religion, Scientific etc;. For eg: if you have a topic on say "TV watching has more bad in it than good" Cultural view - You get to know the cultures of different countries thro' TV. So it is good. At the same time local culture might be jeopardized because of exposure to foreign culture and so it is bad etc... Hope you get the point. Just expatiate on 3 good points and write as long as possible. Longer the essays, the better. Integrated Writing - Tests your reading + listening + writing skills. As far as this is concerned, there will be 3 points in the passage and (most probably) 3 diametrically opposite points in the lecture. So, once you note this down, it is just a matter of explaining each of the points in separate paras. Don't forget to add an introduction and a conclusion. So, your passage will have 5 paras. In the introduction try to state what both the passage and the lecture says. Also, indicate the relationship between the same (which most usually is "lecture completely refutes the passage.."). Beware: Don't ever give your opinion in integrated essay. Try to mention this "The passage says that..."; "The lecturer/professor says that" explicitly so that it would be clear for the readers that you are not giving your opinion. General Notes: 1. Be sure to add words like "On the contrary", "However", "But", "Also", "Nevertheless", "Although" "In addition" etc; which will make your essays much more clearer. 2. Allocate at least 5 mins for proof reading 3. Check for punctuations and spelling mistakes only in the last 2 mins - least priority 4. Don't try to be monotonous. Use variety - like the words "The lecturer" need not be repeated - you could substitute it with "The speaker". Similarly for "passage" you could use "article" and so on. 5. Then write as many essays as possible and do self-correction. Also, use MS word’s spell check and grammar check (Caution: Use Notepad for writing the essay in the alloted time - then copy & paste in word to find out the misatakes). In addition, the wordprocessor helps you to find out fragmentation mistakes. Even though it is not fool proof, it does help. I wrote around 10-15 essays and I found out at least 40 – 50 mistakes using MS-word. Common mistakes like “atleast”; “reccommend", “Through out”; "one of my friend" etc can be avoided if you practice Hope it helps!!! Regards, Vaidy

I believe in another 10 days i.e. by 5th Nov. I found this in this post http://www.www.urch.com/forums/toefl/78420-toefl-ibt.html

Hi, Yes I have read this fully. Buy only the new edition (Only this includes the DVD containing the listening/speaking portions). It is good, it has got lots of materials. I found it useful and interesting. Regards, Vaidy

I guess 3 weeks.

Hi, I just finished my TOEFL IBT on 21st october 2007 and I am awaiting results. I have a problem ordering additional TOEFL score reports online (using credit card). I did the following: a. I logged in (using my username and pass) - www.ets.org/toefl - log in option b. Clicked on register/order options c. Chose TOEFL services d. In Select Services page, I selected Additional score reports e. Then, was the problem - In select the test dates section - the date is displayed as 22nd october (and not 21st october), 2007. So, is it a bug or how should I go about. Shall I just ignore this and just go ahead ordering... I am afraid coz it is $15 per score card!!!! Please help ASP. Thanks in advance!!!! P.S: I already wrote to ets about this and as usual I got an automated reply saying that it will be addressed in 5 business days.

Yes I did yell and the administrator came for help. However, after opening the door, he yelled at me as the restroom was not supposed to be used. I did not see the "Don't use" board on the door. So It was partly my mistake. But, when I entered, the door was fully open and the board was by the side as a result I had no way to see it.

Dear all, I gave TOEFL on 21st october,2007. Guess what, it was a sheer horrifying experience. I got caught up in the restroom (during the 10 minute break between listening and speaking section) and after an agonizing 5 minute fight with the rusty latch, I came out. Besides, during the speaking section expect nothing less than a bedlam. It looked as though everyone was literally fighting with each other for a MS/PhD admission in US. If you are one of those nice guys with all the divine attributes like kindness, genuineness, politeness and so on, better give them up (temporarily) before you take up TOEFL. There is no other way out than to shout at your peak. Also there was a slight async i.e. when somebody was doing their speaking you might be doing your listening or even reading. So it can be quite distracting. One very disgusting thing that I noticed in the speaking section was that you don't really know as how well your voice gets recorded. Even though, you have a preliminary voice test to auto adjust the mike - the stupid ets software doesn't repeat your test phrase. Reading section was a little tougher. The first passage was somewhat dry. The strategy that I used for the first passage was to read the passage completely (for about 5 mins) and then move on to the questions. But, I believe you need to really skim thro' the passage and should only read on need basis. Hence, I didn't do well in the 1st passage. But subsequently I altered my strategy and did well in 2nd and 3rd passages. Oh boy, one thing is for sure. TOEFL test can be very exhausting. I was very tired after the test. My goodness, these listening sections goes on and on. Writing section was pretty straight forward. I think I did well in the listening section too. But, only my results will testify. According to ETS, you'll be getting your results after 2 business weeks. You can check your scores in your TOEFL login itself. My best wishes for you all to crack the TOEFL IBT. I used Thomson's "The Complete guide to the TOEFL test". It has got lots of material and with the new edition you get a DVD (with listening/speaking exercises) and a CD with 2 practice tests (Caution: buy only this new edition with the DVD). I think it is worth buying. I finished almost every chapter/exercise in this book and the 2 practice tests as well. I prepared only for 10 full days. I believe, even though a full fledged preparation (like that of a GRE) is not required, definitely some practice is a must to do well in TOEFL IBT. Well, my results will be out in another week's time. I only hope my voice has got recorded!! Regards, Vaidy