When You Read the First Question on a Test and Know You're Going to Fail

Want to get a job where you'll use your English skills?

Well, then, I've got another important question for you:

Are y'all signed up to take the TOEIC yet?

A TOEIC Listening & Reading Test certificate can be a great addition to your resume.

The exam combines both reading and listening comprehension tests, which could make you nervous, only don't worry!

Want to know how to become a great score? Then it's slap-up that yous're here right now!

These tips and communication will help yous achieve your goal.

Even better, in this post we'll practise together. Considering, folks, the best training for the TOEIC is practicing, practicing and practicing some more.

Why? Uh, that's how you get improve at anything.

Oh and, past the mode, practicing is key. Practicing.

That'south it, end of the post. Thanks for reading me.

Just kidding! Did you lot really call back I was going to leave you high and dry?

Don't know what the idiom "loftier and dry" ways? You lot don't need to await it upward in a dictionary. In tip 5, we'll try to understand the meaning together, and we'll enquire Joey and Chandler, from the '90s Goggle box evidence "Friends" to help us with that.

(Hint: It has nix to do with the conditions or heights.)

But first, allow's start by making sure everyone knows what the TOEIC is.

Download: This blog mail is available every bit a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to go a copy. (Download)

What's the TOEIC?

TOEIC stands for the Examination of English for International Advice. It tests your ability to understandpiece of work-related writings, instructions and conversations, in spoken and written English language.

Think that the TOEIC Listening & Reading Test does not have a speaking part — so that'due south one less thing to call up almost. Plus, it's non a laissez passer or fail examination. This means that only taking the test will make you stand out (exist noticed) amid candidates (applicants) who haven't taken it.

Format: Multiple choice, pencil and paper
At that place are two sections: listening section (100 questions) and reading section (100 questions).

Length: two.five hours
The listening section is 45 minutes, the reading section is 75 minutes and so there are xxx minutes to respond not-scored questions most yourself.

Score:10 – 990
A higher score is a better score. In the reading and listening parts you can earn 5 – 495 points each, and then the two scores are added together for your final score. A score to a higher place 785 is very skilful, but sometimes employers aren't necessarily looking for a score that high, depending on the tasks of the job. Granted, you're going to want to aim to score above 550.

Here's a table that shows how unlike TOEIC scores align with the European CEFR levels (A1-C1), plus a description of each level. And here'south an even more detailed description of the score levels.

Cost: $75 – $85 USD
The cost of the exam depends on your country. Contact a local test center to discover out your fee.

How to sign up: Teaching Testing Service (ETS)
The organization that makes the test is the ETS. Contact your local test center for sign-up details. Nosotros recommend downloading their Examinee handbook (for free) and looking at the other resources available on their website (practice tests, for example).

TOEIC Listening and Reading Format: What It Ways for Y'all

Permit'due south take a closer look at the format of the TOEIC Listening and Reading exam:

Role one. Listening comprehension — 100 questions (45 minutes)
– Photographs
– Question-response
– Conversations
– Curt talks

Part 2. Reading comprehension — 100 questions (75 minutes)
– Incomplete sentences
– Error recognition or text completion
– Reading comprehension

Run into the problem here? In that location'southward more than time for the reading part, which ways that yous'll demand to be very focused during the listening test, because there aren't any replays. It'due south fast, which is why exam takers usually written report and practice more for the listening part.

Merely y'all'll still need to do for the reading section, too. While there are no essays to write, some questions will test your grammar and vocabulary.

Also, some reading questions will apply many different business advice methods (e-mails, newsletters, etc.) that are continued together. This will exam your ability to notice, get together and empathise information from different sources.

Then, unless you find out that you're meliorate at listening than reading, information technology would be all-time to focus on listening when you study.

What will help yous go improve at listening and theother skills needed for success on the TOEIC?

Here are 10 tips that will bear witness you how to be best prepared for the TOEIC.

10 Tips for Successful TOEIC Listening and Reading Preparation

ane. Evaluate Your Level for Free

The best way to start is to download the TOEIC Examinee Handbook and try to read it up to page vii. Then stop! (Otherwise you lot'll accidentally read printed transcripts of the audio questions of the online sample test provided by ETS).

So, take the sample exam from the ETS site to evaluate both your listening and reading skills. Then, accept a rest.

After 1-2 days, take a 2nd test of 45 TOEIC grooming questions that's online for free.

Compare the results betwixt these two tests. Did you lot practice better the second time?

Congratulations! Nosotros'll see how that's even possible in tip #2.

If you didn't amend betwixt the practices, don't worry — we take ways (tips #3 and #4) to help anybody get better.

In whatever case, make sure you cheque all commented answers that show up once you finish the 45 TOEIC grooming questions examination. These comments will explain why wrong answers were wrong, and why correct answers were correct. This is very useful information to accept.

While the ETS sample test doesn't come up with commented answers, the ETS site links to official, ETS-approved butpaid online preparations that do.

It'southward your decision whether or non you want to pay for that.

I other swell — and free — source of information is the TOEIC Facebook folio. Every week, they publish a tip on preparing for the examination, together with sample questions and comments.

2. Apply "Practice Effects" to Your Reward

"Practise Effects" are real and scientifically proven: the second fourth dimension you lot do something, you become meliorate at information technology. Take a test once, and and so take a like i quondam afterward. Chances are very good that you'll improve only because yous're now familiar with the technique of test-taking, even if you lot don't exercise anything else to prepare for the 2d test.

The weird thing is that this works for almost any skill. It works for throwing a ball, playing the violin, driving a car and even kissing. (My mom would add that information technology works for doing the dishes likewise, but I say this has yet to be proven true…)

The dandy thing virtually the TOEIC is that you can take it as many times equally you like. Your previous score(s) won't affect the most recent one. Even so, it does toll time and money. So, the best program is to practice taking the exam.

A good report method is to utilise a lot of written and audio questions that take commented answers (answers with comments explaining why other answers are right/incorrect).

You demand to be doing as many exercise questions as yous can. That extra piece of work you'll put in volition change everything.

Now that we've seen how practice can work like magic, permit's run across what we can do to make it more fun.

3. Put Some Fun into Your Do

The more you practice, the better you'll get.

The better yous practice, the easier it all gets. You'll exercise ameliorate when things are more than interesting for you!

Information technology's okay to spend fourth dimension studying without the practice tests.

This is especially truthful if this studying fourth dimension involves watching a Telly evidence in English language and trying to understand what'south happening.

It's best to watch a prove that you've already seen, and exist certain to selection a bear witness that has work-related scenes.

"The Office" and "House of Cards" constantly feature business conversations, and have actors who speak very clearly. Kevin Spacey'southward emphasis in "House of Cards" is very shut to the American male voices you'll hear on the test.

Y'all could also lookout this former Tex Avery cartoon chosen "Symphony in Slang," in which a cartoon character tells the story of his life — just using only idioms, which are literally put into animated images. So when the graphic symbol says he put his foot in his mouth, you see him literally (really) put his pes into his mouth. But yous too understand from the blitheness what the expression truly ways (in this example, that the character had said something wrong, silly or embarrassing).

Once you get comfortable, and tin can understand conversations on your favorite U.S. TV shows without subtitles, you can motion on to listening to an English radio station. This will bring yous closer to the existent conditions of the listening exam (no images, just audio).

four. Wait for the Best Possible Answer, Non the Right Answer

So what's the departure betwixt a "right respond" and the "best possible answer?"

A correct answer commonly means that in that location'southward simply ane right answer and all the other choices are wrong.

Simply when you lot need to find thebest possible answer, there could be many correct answers. The best answer is supported past facts establish in the exam textile. Your task is to observe out which reply is all-time, based on what you've heard, read or seen. We'll call that the context.

So how does it work?

Often, the test volition inquire you to infer something from a conversation or chain of documents.

"To infer" ways to deduce, to derive, to draw conclusions based on facts and reasoning" (not opinions). Inferring is not guessing, though, because you must have facts and reasons to back up your answer.

So when the TOEIC asks you what you can infer from a conversation, information technology wants you to find at least two valid clues in the text or in the chat that support your conclusion.

Let'southward look at this extreme case:

You hear a conversation between two coworkers. They discuss their schedule, complain well-nigh long hours and say they want to quit their electric current jobs and find better ones.

The test asks what you can infer from the conversation. Information technology tell you to selection the best summary (brusk clarification) and gives you some options. Here's ane:

1. Long hours may touch (take influence over) your overall work productivity (how well you work)."

At start this looks okay. In that location's nada wrong with that statement. Information technology's probably true in most cases. The verb "to affect" is even used correctly (as we'll verify in #six). It looks similar an answer that could be right.

Merely the chat summary doesn't mention the co-workers' productivity — how much they go done at work. Then the choice, while a true statement, isn't the all-time possible respond based on the context of the situation.

This is why the safest method is to bank check the text (or for the listening part, your notes), to see if they back up your reply.

A great style to practice doing this is to ask yourself why each of the other answers is not as expert as the best one. Nosotros'll do that with Joey and Chandler in the adjacent tip.

v. When You're Unsure, Don't Panic, Look for Clues

So remember how I said I'd never go out you high and dry? Let's detect out what I meant by that.

In "Friends" episode 6 (flavor 2) "The One Where Joey Moves Out," Joey and Chandler (who've been roommates for years) have a fight. Joey, who now has plenty money to alive alone in a bigger flat, tells Chandler he'due south going to rent another place. Chandler doesn't seem as well happy near it.

Joey notices that Chandler isn't very happy. Joey's worried that moving out will leave Chandler without a roommate. Hither's the dialogue (the chat) between them:

Joey: Hey, are you lot cool with this? I mean, I don't want to leave you lot high and dry.

Chandler: No, I've never been lower or wetter. I'll be fine. I'll just plough your sleeping accommodation into a game room.

When Chandler answers, "I've never been lower or wetter," he'southward making a play on words by proverb the opposite of "high" (low → lower) and "dry out" (moisture → wetter). This is similar what Tex Avery did with idioms in the drawing we mentioned in #3. But that'due south not what the expression "high and dry" truly means.

To effigy out what information technology ways, let'southward expect at what we can infer (conclude) from what we know. And so which of the following can be safely inferred from the text and the dialogue above?

1. Chandler is agape he will experience high variation in temperature.
2. Joey is concerned because he is leaving Chandler without a roommate.
3. Joey is really slow at packing his stuff.
4. Chandler is about to look for another roommate.
5. Joey is going to go more dates.

And so (1) isn't a good option because nosotros know that we're looking at an idiom, and not the actual significant of the words.

(3) isn't good either because there's nothing in the text or dialogue that says Joey is packing.

(4) may get true in the next episodes, but if you only await at what we know, in that location'southward nothing that says Chandler is already thinking near looking for another roommate. In fact, Chandler said he'll turn Joey'southward room into a game room.

(5) Although living lone in a bigger apartment can help improve your love life, that would just be a guess. The text never mentions Joey'south dating life. Tin can you see why this pick is a "imitation" good answer? Joey's e'er going to get more dates, but this isn't the best possible answer, using what we know from the conversation.

So our best possible respond is (2) — Joey is concerned because he is leaving Chandler without a roommate. Why?

The text says that Joey is worried, which is a synonym of "concerned." Plus, in the dialogue, Joey asks Chandler if he's okay (absurd) with Joey moving out.

So from this case, we tin can infer — and not gauge — three things:

• What matters is what'southward really written or said in the exam material.

• You lot don't need to know all the words and idioms to understand a conversation if y'all're given the context. Sincethe TOEIC will e'er give you lot context, if yous see a give-and-take or expression that y'all don't understand, don't panic! Don't try to guess, but instead look for clues (hints). They're in that location.

• To "be left high and dry" means to be left helpless, without options or in a difficult position. Joey's worried he'll be doing this to Chandler when he moves out, considering Chandler will exist in a hard situation. Who'll help pay rent? Where will Chandler find a new roommate?

Remember, employ only the information in the exam. That'southward where you tin can look for helpful clues.

6. Scout Out for Words That Sound or Are Spelled Virtually the Same

The TOEIC will effort to flim-flam (fool) you.

Information technology may ask you to choose a grammatically correct judgement from a list of possible options.

Consider this potential answer: "Long hours may effect your overall piece of work productivity."

Don't choose this answer. It sounds alright simply it's not grammatically correct. In that location'south a similar sounding verb, to affect, that should be used in that sentence instead. Take a look:

• To Touch on is a verb that ways "to have influence on/over," equally in, "Long hours affect my mood."

• Effectis a noun that means "result," or "event," as in, "This post will have a practiced eastffect on my TOEIC score."

There are ii things yous can do to brand certain yous don't go tricked:

(1) Get used to similar sounding words before the examination. Yous tin can get-go with a written list of similar sounding words, and so motion on to a list of business terms that comes with a recording of the pronunciation for each give-and-take.

The TOEIC is easier to take when yous're familiar with many work-related words. If you don't have much time, y'all can focus on words that announced the about times in the test. This document has a listing of words that show upward often on the TOEIC (folio 169).

(2) Rely on words that you lot know for certain. Employ them to figure out the overall meaning of the sentence. Then. infer from the context what the other, less familiar words could mean.

For instance, if the dialogue takes place at a eating house, the waiter volition ask if anyone wants to have apple pie fordessert — not desert (dry sand). (Retrieve: It's better to have more for dessert. The dry and hot, sandy desert just has one "s" because the other died of thirst.)

seven. Don't Apply Your Dictionary Besides Much and Do Listening

The TOEIC is timed. Even if you were allowed to bring a dictionary, there merely wouldn't exist enough fourth dimension for you to wait up every word you're not sure virtually.

Instead, you lot'll demand to exist able to decide (figure out) the meaning of an unknown word or idiom using context.

Use the words and information provided, and trust your gut (instincts / initial reaction).

We recollect information technology's all-time to use a lexicon as little equally you tin can. Use a dictionary less and less as you get closer to your test engagement.

In the listening section, since at that place's no body language or visual information to help you, you'll need to focus on two elements: the tone and the verb tenses. The tone is non the same as the accent.

An accent is the way people talk from a certain place. Remember, the "I" in TOEIC stands for "International," which means the listening part will have voices with balmy American, Australian, British and Canadian accents. The accents vary, but ETS makes certain there are no existent extremes.

Tone, on the other hand, is the modify in pitch (college or lower) when someone is speaking. Information technology's used to express questions, affirmations and negations. Identifying the tone requires practice, but the TOEIC audio won't endeavour to trick you with tone.

Another hint can exist constitute in verb tenses or changes in tenses. These bear witness that something has happened or is going to happen, and the testers desire to make sure you discover it. And then, you demand to write down anything you hear about the time. For instance: yesterday, final week, within a month, tomorrow, in a couple of days, before long, shortly, it won't be long, etc.

8. Practice Listening to English Spoken at Conversational Speed

Because the test is timed, and considering there are no replays of the sound parts, you'll have to take notes while listening to the audio.

Don't endeavour to write down everything y'all hear! It can't be done, even by native speakers. Instead, write downward equally many key words every bit you understand. Try to figure out the location, the context, the time and dates, the names and the verb tenses (or changes in tenses).

This takes fourth dimension. Nosotros need to exist patient and practice listening to conversations in English language with different accents.

To start getting used to unlike accents at a normal pace, you can check out this website, Transcribeme! Information technology provides audio samples of different English accents. The visitor has a number of audio transcription tests aimed at checking a person'south power to transcribe (blazon what you hear). Yous tin can take these tests just for fun (and for free), if you wish.

It'due south non exactly like the real exam, since y'all can play the conversation or speech equally many times as you want. Nevertheless, it'southward not bad listening practice for your ears, and it'll help you get used to different accents.

Another swell way to practice listening is the Bloomberg live radio. At that place are a few good benefits to using this as a study tool:

• The hosts usually speak very clearly.
• The same advertisements are played over and over over again, and they usually contain business concern-related words.
• They ofttimes announce the time during the radio show, proverb "it'due south 58 past the hour, now." Check the time on your computer as you hear this, to see if you heard correctly.

If yous're a scrap lost in the beginning, start with videos that yous can replay, such as interviews. Don't be afraid to open the transcript (written text of everything spoken in the video), whose link is below the replay.

9. Know the Spoken Instructions Earlier the Test

On the listening test, you'll hear instructions before a group of questions is played. Knowing these instructions before the actual test means y'all won't need to focus on them so much during the exam. You tin then use that extra scrap of time to await at the written questions for the audio part.

Here are the spoken instructions for the listening office:

"You will hear 10 short talks given by a single speaker. For each short talk, read the three questions and the four respond choices that follow each question. Select the near appropriate respond. Marking your answer by circumvoluted (A), (B), (C), or (D). You volition hear each short talk only one time."

And so:

"Questions 71 through 73 refer to the following report/talk/chat."

Finally the chat or speech begins. The speaker won't be the same person who told the instructions.This change of speaker means that yous need to get-go taking notes.

At that place'southward ever going to be a general question, merely the other questions are more than specific. This means y'all need to accept good notes, especially when y'all hear dates, numbers, places, locations, names or professions.

It's not easy, I know, only with time and practice you'll get there.

x. Set for Poor Sound and Farthermost Temperatures

Exist aware that the audio during the test may not be as clear every bit the sound from your home computer speakers, every bit the ETS Examinee handbook does continue to refer to audio-cassettes (page ii).

You could exist unlucky and have depression volume or non the best audio. So, simply in example, you lot might want to decline (lower) the sound of the practise questions and of your favorite radio station. That way, if the sound is low on the bodily test, you tin survive because you'll be prepared.

I didn't exit you high and dry, merely the ETS center might go out yous lower and wetter, depending on where and when you take the test. The room could exist also hot or too cold, so wear layers of clothes that you lot tin can put on or have off.

I took the TOEFL in the heart of a cold Parisian wintertime. The boiler (heater) was out of service and information technology was snowing outside, and then we all wore our coats, gloves and scarfs during the exam. Be prepared for the worst!

So, folks, nosotros're near the end of this post. Almost. I'll close with 5 of import facts to remember about the TOEIC, and so list some vocabulary from this post that you'll see on the examination.

five Facts to Remember About the TOEIC

1. The examination scores are for employers. The TOEIC shows employers how well you empathise work-related English — spoken and written — expressed in various accents (British, American, Australian, Canadian).
2. Use context clues. The TOEIC will ever give y'all context, clues and hints that support the best answer. You'll only need to find them.
3. Fix for various test conditions. The TOEIC test conditions, such as timing, temperature and poor audio quality matter a lot. It's best to exist prepared for anything.
4. Hold onto your score written report. Official exam centers don't have to keep your test results for more than two years, nor tin can they give you some other copy of your results at the end of that time menstruum. This is meant to encourage regular evaluation of your English language level, but not all employers require such frequent testing. And so, brand sure yous keep your score report, because it's much improve than non having one at all.
5. You get better every time yous practice. TOEIC is used by some companies as a learning tool, pregnant companies know that merely taking the test makes their employees improve their English. You should employ that fact to your advantage and know that each practice session you take is an improvement in itself.

TOEIC Vocabulary Words for Flashcards

Y'all've seen these words throughout this postal service, and then hither they are once again for your reference:

To infer: to derive by reasoning, to deduce

A desert:a dry out, sandy expanse

A dessert: a sweetness course or dish at the end of a meal

An effect (noun): consequence, outcome, result

To affect (verb): to have influence over

Business concern: worry

Now get out there and practice, practice, practice! Skilful luck!

Download: This blog post is available every bit a convenient and portable PDF that you can have anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

And One More than Thing…

If yous're looking for great cloth to practice for the TOEIC, try FluentU.

It's a really useful study tool, merely it's also a lot of fun.

FluentU lets you larn real English. It teaches you with popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials.

If you lot want to watch information technology, FluentU's probably got information technology.

FluentU makes information technology simple to watch native English videos. It has interactive captions. Tap on whatsoever word to see an prototype, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

Tap on the word "brought", and y'all would see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look upwards any word.

Videos become English language lessons. With FluentU's questions, you can ever see more examples for the word y'all're learning. This way, you lot're not just practicing listening. You're besides learning the grammer and vocabulary in the videos. The questions will besides assist prepare you for taking tests similar the TOEIC.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The most interesting part? FluentU knows the vocabulary that you're learning. It recommends yous examples and videos based on those words. You have a 100% personalized experience. This means y'all know exactly what y'all need to work on, and can report more efficiently.

Start using FluentU on the website with your figurer or tablet or, improve nonetheless, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or from the Google Play store to access material on your Android and iOS devices.

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Source: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/toeic/toeic-listening-reading-preparation-tips/

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