rekha1982

I found this info below on the toefl official website- Review the Registration Form (PDF) before you call. Spell your name exactly as it appears on the identification you will bring on test day. Inside the United States, U.S. territories and Canada, call: 1-800-468-6335 or 1-443-751-4862. All other locations, call your Regional Registration Center (PDF). Pay with credit/debit card: American Express®, Discover®, JCB®, MasterCard® or VISA®; via a PayPal account; or use an electronic check (e-check) if you have a bank account in the United States or its territories. You can also pay with a TOEFL voucher by phone. Registration closes seven days before your test date (not including the day of the test). Late registration by phone closes at 5 p.m. local test center time on the business day before the test and has a late fee of US$35.

keep checking the website. If they have a phone number (usually toll free), you can call and inquire too. Maybe the new dates are not out yet.

sure, those are quite good. I used the same too. I live in palo alto..and hence used the public library to the fullest. If you have a library near you, do go there and ask for toefl books. You can find many and they are free too. The CDs and DVDs are great help. You can use them for speaking/listening.

I used barron and kaplan..also, palo alto library has good toefl practice tests online..for essays, i used www.urch.com and also typed the first line of the essay on google to find different answers..

Wow, 30 in reading is pretty awesome!! Congrats! Did you also take the GMAT? which school are you applying for?

I tried to improvise the essay and I hope you like it. The thought process is good but requires grammar check. Otherwise, you have concise information and a straight line of thought. Good one!

Yes, I think the sentences are not clear. There are several vague sentences (like those I highlighted above). The thought process is right but the sentences seem to have grammar errors. In between you speak of a comparison between BMW and Mercedes..that seems out of context. Instead, you could mention them as luxury cars and how people want to own them just because their peers own the same. Also, you can state examples of smartphones being a craze or how kids demand for expensive phones and playstations etc. just because their friends have them.

I would give it a 3.5..I prefer to rate harshly because it helps to improve. My dad used to rate my essays and he would give me very low scores. I guess that helped me in the actual test. It is important to have no grammar errors as you type. Re-check twice before you hit the submit button after your writing tasks. For speaking..well I used all the library books and cds..I listened them 5-8 times.

Sorry for being harsh but it seems to be a sort of vaguely written essay..the examples are fine but the essay requires some tuning..

Hi Verve, Wish you all the best. 90-100 is not tough in toefl. You can do it if you have the determination. For one thing, there is no math/analytical thinking etc. You just have to improve grammar. Try not to make simple errors in grammar. In my posts, I gave a list of books and sites that will help you. It is important to do practice tests daily. Also, hear the audios of actual students and how they speak during the tasks. If you are in USA, you can use the local public library for the reading/online resources. It is free. In India..the British Library and American Library have good material on this stuff. Read comprehension passages and solve qns. Read all essay topics and make your own templates for various essays. Listen to various topics and write/talk about your opinions. 6-8 weeks should be good.. (you can check my posts on my toefl result, I mentioned about book and sites that helped me)

Hi Verve, Wish you all the best. 90-100 is not tough in toefl. You can do it if you have the determination. For one thing, there is no math/analytical thinking etc. You just have to improve grammar. Try not to make simple errors in grammar. In my posts, I gave a list of books and sites that will help you. It is important to do practice tests daily. Also, hear the audios of actual students and how they speak during the tasks. If you are in USA, you can use the local public library for the reading/online resources. It is free. In India..the British Library and American Library have good material on this stuff. Read comprehension passages and solve qns. Read all essay topics and make your own templates for various essays. Listen to various topics and write/talk about your opinions. 6-8 weeks should be good..

Thanks a lot specialist1000!! I was surprised too!! I aimed at 25 for each section..but managed more..and 30 in 2 sections was really a good feeling. I was jumping with joy for a week..only later, I realized that the GMAT is still pending and am a fool in math.. :(

Wow, your essay is very good. Here are some changes- Instead of However I believe that one should not depend on the external appearance to judge a person. You can use - "I believe we should not judge a person solely by his or her external appearance. (I do not see much use of "however" here..the first few lines you talk of other factors to judge a person; hence, you need not use however. You use however to "contradict" a phrase, not for agreement). In first para-- it seems better to hear/ read if you say "Firstly" and then mention- "external appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Some people's professions require them to pretend, fake or act in ways completely different from their inherent personality." For instance, sales personnel, marketing professionals and public relations officers. Their profession requires them to smile despite of stress and tensions. In reality, they could be totally opposite. Likewise, you may encounter a fashionable and well-dressed person. He or she may seem to flaunt an expensive lifestyle. In reality, when you approach them for certain favor, they may or may not be charitable and giving. Thus, I hope you get my line of thought. I use your own words but make it somewhat different...However, during the exam time, it is important that you have a proper line of thought. I got 30 each in writing and speaking (first attempt in toefl). Here is what I did- Soon as i saw the topic for independent writing task..I made few points on the scratch paper. I put it as 1,2,3,4 and conclusion. Also, try and practice student related topics too..such as .importance of sports and studies..etc..you never know what topic you encounter. However, keep a few general points and intros ready.. Good luck!

Hi veenus, Your essay is good but I guess you can improve it. There are some tense issues and use of unwanted sentences like this way my life is all planned-----also performed group activity and enjoy the outside weather. (Never begin a sentence with also). In your essays, begin the first para by saying, "firstly"..and then the second para with "secondly" and a short third para and finish it with "Overall or in conclusion or "to summarize". Please work on Spring, provides mesmerizing beauty all over which encourage me...kind of sentences. They seem to be vague and uninteresting. Instead, you could say you like to live in a region with varying climatic conditions because variety is the spice of life. You like to perform different activities during different seasons. (then say firstly and begin the first para) Firstly, I feel that a pleasant climate allows us to accomplish more tasks through the day. I prefer warm sunny mornings and pleasant evenings....(I hope you understand what am trying to say). Then mention- I live in Utah,USA, a place with varying climate and vibratant flora and fauna...

Hi Lillygre, I agree, I had some issue with the reading comprehension. Time really seems to run out soon and passages seem to be really lengthy. There is no time to read through the whole passage. So, what I did was - I directly went to the qns and tackled it. I read the related passage in the qn and answered. It may not work for all..but that is how I did it. The passages are long and there is no way you can finish the test if you slowly read the passage and understand and then go for the questions..at the end of the test, I knew I would have 3-4 mistakes..hence, I tried to cover it up in other sections. I aimed for a high score in essay and was glad to have it.

Rk2012, I was worried about the speaking tasks too. I heard several cds and responses. Then, I also found some conversations actually spoken by the TOEFL test takers (or candidates). Then, I realized that there is no need to have an American accent. You need to be clear and accurate in the response. That's all. Hence, I suggest that you hear various responses of candidates and how they tackle the question. Then, you try to talk about the same thing and record your response. You do have to finish the talking in 45 seconds. It is simple if you have a mental format. Usually, the talking thing is integrated and independent. In the integrated, make a quick note of what you read (the one para that flashes on the screen). Write the one or 2 impt points in that passage. Next, the listening (or speech) will be about the same. Hence, keep you pencil ready and listen to what the student or professor says. It will be 2 examples for a given problem. You need to mention it. Then, you say 1 para of what seems good solution for you and why. Here is an example- the para is about a circular or notice regarding a development project on campus. (make a note of what it is and why it is being done) the speech will be about a person talking about the problem due to that development project. He or she will give 2 reasons why it is good or bad. (make a note of those 2 reasons). Now, when u need to talk, you say- "the notice mentions of a development project. The student seems to disagree with it and states two reasons..reason 1 and reason2. I think I agree with reason (1 or 2..agree with any one only)..because it is ....(give ur reason). That's it..Remember, throughout TOEFL, they just want to see if you grasp the points. You should be able to mention what you hear. This shows that you will be able to grasp what you hear during your lecture. Speaking skills show that you are able to talk and give a feedback or respond to the professor or students' queries..

Hi rk2012, There is no limit to the essay word count. It depends on your speed and time. I do type fast(am a freelance content writer). In integrated task, I used all details from the passage. I was careful when listening to the lecture and made my notes. I read the passage and skimmed for important points- those which seemed likely to be refuted(contrasted) in the listening part. It is important to hear well in the integrated task and make your notes. The passage will be there when you are writing the essay. Hence, you can go through it while you write the essay. So, carefully make a note while you hear the lecture. Then, as you write, you can easily begin with the intro and talk of what the passage says and what the lecture intends to contradict. Then, mention," Firstly" in the first para and begin with what the first para of passage says and how the lecture refutes or agrees to it. (sometimes u can get a lecture that agrees with the passage). After the first para, go to the next and say "secondly" the passage mentions so and so but the lecture contradicts the statement with the following points..and so on. In conclusion, the passage emphasizes so and so but the lecture refutes it with several examples. That's it..your are done..it isn't so tough..

Thanks a lot MissisB!!

Hi All, Thanks a lot for the wishes and appreciation. I will be glad to help and share info regarding my TOEFL iBT prep! I did not buy any books for the test. Instead, I used Palo Alto Public library for the books. I solved all practice questions from Pearson's and every other TOEFL book in the Palo Alto Library. I also used the library's online TOEFL tests. I took many practice tests online, especially for verbal- speaking and listening sections. I also read every essay topic mentioned in the TOEFL essay list. I used the essay samples here and from below links - ESL Study Guide - Sample EssaysTestMagic Test Prep Though the actual essay topic in the exam differs from the given list..the concept is the same..hence, if you make your own sample formats, you can breeze through the essay. I wrote 525 words for both essays on exam day. It took me 10 to 12 minutes to write each one..and I spent 4-5 minutes to proofread for spelling and grammar errors. The comprehension passage was where I knew I made a few mistakes..that section seems to take more time..Hence, it will be good if you practice it a lot. Read various passages online. Read magazines online and frame your own questions to solve.. For speaking section again, use the TOEFL book and CDs..listen to how other students talk and speak. It is ok if you do not sound like a native speaker. Just be clear and speak to the point. If the topic is about a problem, mention the problem, the 2 solutions; which one you prefer and why..you can easily say it all in 45 seconds..practice various problems and formats.. Overall, I studied and prepared for less than 8 eight weeks before the test. A day before the test, go through the essay topics, do a few verbal practice tests and read a few comprehension passages. Keep at least 2 ID's for the exam (incl. passport if you are from outside US). You will get a 10 minute break but it hardly gives you time to snack. Hence, eat a good breakfast and you can easily sit through the 4 hours. I finished my test 10 minutes early..because I finished the essays earlier.. Let me know if you need any more info.. thanks, Rekha

Hi Friends, Am new here. I did use the Urch forums for TOEFL preparation. In fact, I read essays here right the day before the exam i.e., July 5, 2012. Took the test on July 6,2012. Got the TOEFL results today at 8am in the morning. (I live in California, native is Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh). Guess what, I got a 113 out of 120 in TOEFL iBT!!!! I couldn't believe what I saw. Here is the score breakdown- Reading- 26 Listening- 27 Speaking- 30 Writing- 30 Wow!! I saw other posts in forums here and in gmatclub that it is possible to get a good score. However, I never expected to do it! thanks to you all for the essays and other tips! Regards, Rekha GOOD LUCK to all TOEFL Aspirants..!! You can do it!