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TOEFL test prep should be comprehensive—and can even be fun. Proving a mastery of the English language is a crucial step in coming to the United States for college or graduate school—a goal that's becoming more pervasive and increasingly competitive. U.S. schools use the Test of English as a Foreign Language, known as the TOEFL, as a gauge of language proficiency. The standardized test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at testing centers in 165 countries. It is usually offered online (known as the iBT: Internet-based test), but sometimes still in paper form (PBT: paper-based test). Both versions of the exam test for skills in four areas—writing, listening, reading, and speaking—but have different point totals students can achieve. The TOEFL iBT has a test total of 120 points—30 points per section. The maximum PBT score is 677 points. At some schools, including Binghamton University and St. Louis University, a TOEFL score is accepted in lieu of an SAT or ACT score—though this is not a widespread exception. (Popular institutions for international students, including the University of Southern California and the Illinois Institute of Technology, report they have not adopted the practice.) Taking the TOEFL once costs between $160 and $250, according to ETS, and preparing for the test can cost much more. In today's competitive market for higher education, heavy preparation for the TOEFL is common, experts say. "It used to be, if you did it, you were ahead," says Donna Zilkha, director of college services at admissions consulting firm Aristotle Circle. "Now if you don't do it, you're behind, because everybody prepares for the test. The competition has gotten so tough."The good news, however, is that with diligent studying, many students are able to improve their language proficiency and meet score requirements, test experts say. Here are three tips to help you prepare. 1. Give yourself time: Since each portion of the TOEFL examination requires in-depth knowledge of the English language, effective test preparation should span several months, according to Kaplan Test Prep representatives.There are many preparatory courses, companies, and books to choose from, but no matter which route you select, make sure to take some timed practice tests over the course of your studies. Since the four-part test takes about three-and-a-half hours, mimicking the process before you take the real test can help boost your stamina, according to Kaplan Test Prep. 2. Make it fun: Preparing for the TOEFL doesn't have to only include class sessions and preparatory books. For Romania native Ana Barbu, English cartoons and movies were just as helpful—if not more so—than materials specifically geared to test prep.Tuning in to the Cartoon Network for shows like Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory while living in Romania helped Barbu prepare for the listening component of the TOEFL, she says. (College services director Zilkha recommends listening to radio news shows, too, which don't allow for students to become visually distracted.)If you have access to subtitled films, they can also help the study process, says Barbu, who recently completed a master's degree in journalism at Syracuse University and now works as the director of web communications at the College of Mount St. Vincent."Subtitles on movies helped me hone my understanding of English idioms, and how native speakers used the language, rather than just reading whatever English manual we had or listening to a professor," she says. 3. Give yourself a safety net: No matter how much you prepare, some things still may come as a surprise when you first take the TOEFL. Earphones, for instance, can vary between testing centers, Zilkha says, and it's hard to know how noisy your test room will be.If possible, Zilkha recommends that students consider scheduling multiple tests when they register for their first TOEFL exam. (There's no limit to how many times you can take the TOEFL, and students can wait to release their scores until they hit the minimum score requirement set by schools in which they're interested.)"A lot of people say to schedule two tests in a row, like a week apart," Zilkha says. "The first time you're going there, you don't know what the place is like, what the real test is like, how you feel under testing conditions. But the second time around, you're pretty familiar with it. Generally, one of the scores reaches the [student's] goal."

Here is a helpful list of ten practical last-minute things you need to do on the day of your TOEFL exam and in the evening preceding it. 1. At the ETS website, choose the universities you want to automatically receive your score report. This is to be done by 10:00 p.m. the night before your test, if you did not do so when you registered. Simply log in, click on “View Orders”, and select your recipients from the list provided. Verify your first selected recipient and select a department, if applicable. Here, you can choose to “add another recipient.” If you add institutions after the 10:00 p.m. deadline, there will be a $17 fee for each score report. 2. Print your registration confirmation. Note any last minute changes in the test site, like a change in time or building. You need to bring your registration confirmation with you to the testing site. You will need your registration number to be admitted. As ETS states clearly, “The test cannot be taken without it.” 3. Be absolutely clear on the location of the TOEFL testing center, and how to get there from your area. You do not want the stress that comes with hunting for the center while you risk being late for the exam. 4. Clear your schedule on test day. The TOEFL test causes stress, in case you didn’t know! Don’t plan any other important meetings or activities for the same day. Treat yourself to a nice lunch afterwards, or plan a relaxing day to unwind. You deserve it for all the hard work you’ve put in! 5. Get a solid eight hours of sleep before the test. Plan to get a full night’s rest the night before the TOEFL. For overly anxious people, this may require waking up very early the day before the TOEFL, to become very tired the night before the TOEFL, and thus get to sleep more easily. 6. Enjoy a light, healthy meal before the TOEFL. Make sure you have a simple breakfast beforehand that will give you lots of energy without weighing heavily on you, giving you gas or indigestion, or causing you to need the bathroom. 7. Take a bottle of water and a nutritious snack. During the 10-minute break, you’ll need something that is easy to eat that will give you energy for the remainder of the test. Bananas are ideal. Use the break to relax, drink some water, and eat the snack. Don’t plan on finding a vending machine or ordering coffee during the short break. You don’t want to spend your only few minutes standing in line or waiting for service. 8. Bring at least one valid form of photo ID, like your: Your country's National ID card Local or international driver’s license passport As ETS says clearly, “Without the required documents, you will not be permitted to test and your test fee will be forfeited.” 9. Go the bathroom before the test. Quite simply stated, you don’t want bathroom needs to arise during the test. While you will be allowed to use the bathroom during the test if needed, the time limits tick away while you are gone! 10. Get to the test center early. Planning to arrive 30 minutes early is a safe move. Traffic in some places can be a mess, so better safe than sorry. For more information on what to expect on the test day, watch this 7-minute video from ETS and check out this PDF.