Habit #1:
Channel passion, persistence, motivation and discipline for the score you need.
Combine your passion, persistence, and discipline for the motivation you need to do well on the exam.
"Motivation is what gets your started. Habit is what keeps you going," says Jim Rohn, a noted motivational speaker.
At the core, your passion, persistence, motivation, and self-discipline are the most important ingredients to form good habits.
These repetitive actions will translate your test preparation into success on the exam.
Now, let’s examine each of these drivers of a winning attitude not only during your test preparation but on test day!
Passion – You have studied English for many years and as a serious candidate, you are now ready to show the world on the TOEFL exam just how strong your skills are.
Clarify your goals and harness the enthusiasm you have for achieving your goals.
Persistence – “Persistence is having the same goal over and over.” – Seth Godin
Persistence is the key to successful TOEFL preparation.
Major success seldom comes easily or without a great deal of effort and concentration.
Consistency is certainly a habit that can be learned and practiced over time.
Those individuals who reach their goals often find or develop the ability to keep going long after others have just simply quit.
For example, the habits described in this book require a daily exercise of a specific set of study actions need to be carried out in order to obtain a high score on the exam.
The successful constantly outline specific, attainable goals.
Ex: I will score a 100 on the TOEFL iBT test the first time.
Adjust your study habits to reach this objective with persistence.
Motivation – You want to study at the best university. You need a high score for scholarship money. You deserve a promotion at the office. And you will have it!
Feel energetic and alive by visualizing already that you have received your score results.
You nabbed the score you needed!
Focus on the score you need and channel your energy into achieving it.
That makes easier and more natural the needed action to succeed.
Self-discipline – Successful people are self-disciplined. Pain-staking practice for the TOEFL will yield a high score. I have seen the drive and determination of my own students.
Fortunately, self-discipline is something that you can learn by continuous practice, over and over, until you master it.
While preparing for the TOEFL, keep your attention focused on the most important task in front of you every day.
Conclusion
You are engaged in training for a marathon – the big test day.
Your attitude and sound mental perspective are essential to be ready for being relaxed and prepared for victory.
Use passion, persistence, and motivation to build the self-discipline you need to attain your desirable score on the exam!
Habit #2:
Execute your study plan flawlessly.
"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin.
What is your plan to nab the highest score possible on the TOEFL iBT® exam?
First, what is your test date?
I tell my students to begin at least three (3) months prior to the big exam day.
Gear your test preparations to be ready at that time.
Second, how much time do you have free every day?
Yes, every day.
Remember, you’re in training for a marathon.
Athletes plan for their contest with their available time.
Sports stars learn to balance a successful life outside of sport with a busy training schedule. You should also in your test preparation.
It’s important to take every opportunity to study for the exam. Don’t wait.
If that means getting up early on a weekend, make sure you take advantage of opportunities to squeeze in extra time!
Third, certain skills beyond the four (4) English language skills are essential to have success on the exam.
Necessary Skills for TOEFL
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
Vocabulary
Grammar
Supplementary (Hidden)
Time Management
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these skills and how you can plan to study for them.
TOEFL Study Plan – Listening Section
First, learn about the Listening Section of the exam: the directions, the types of listening exercises, and the time limits.
Do an assessment of how your current skills match up with the test requirements.
Remember, each section of the exam is scored from 0 to 30.
Second, know how to listen and write notes at the same time like you would in a typical classroom.
Listen to TED lectures on YouTube and practice taking notes. Are you able to capture the main ideas? What conclusion (inferences) can you draw? Are they valid?
You will listen to lectures and conversations – only once.
Thus, you will need to forever record the main ideas and opinions expressed to be able to effectively answer test questions.
No prior knowledge is needed about the academic topics that are discussed on the exam.
Above all, be familiar with the setup of the Listening Section.
Know the directions for the section ahead of time to save time!
Check the Extra Resources File for links to suggested listening practice.
TOEFL Study Plan – Reading Section
First, how fast do you read in English?
In Habit #11, you get precise information to help you pick up your speed.
Second, make sure you read every day. Read widely, too.
A good newspaper, a veritable one-stop shop, is usatoday.com.
You can read a variety of news article from business to travel in one location.
While the English writing is not a high register like The New York Times or The Washington Post, expansive reading on will help you read faster and build vocabulary.
The three reading passages are on academic topics.
So, ETS, the creator of the TOEFL exam, suggest the nytimes.com and sciencetimes.com. Make reading these sites a priority as well.
If you unaware of any terms during your reading, list the new words and look them up in a dictionary. Study and remember them for the exam.
Indeed, a stronger vocabulary will help you read better and faster.
Finally, be able to understand the way an article is structured. Use clues (headlines, sub sections, pictures, etc.) that help you quickly learn the meaning of the passages.
Download the Extra Resources File for links to suggested reading practice.
TOEFL Study Plan – Speaking Section
First, know the speaking criteria. Just how will you be graded?
Like in the writing section...