The Advantages of Taking a TOEFL Practice Test

Even though the TOEFL exam may not be a required part of your college application, it may help you compete with native English speakers.  The majority of students that want to study overseas take this exam in order to demonstrate that they can speak English fluently enough to succeed in a university environment.  Since a good score on the exam is important, it's to your advantage to take a practice exam before sitting for the real one.

Adapting to the TOEFL test environment

For the most part, you'll find that the testing area is quiet and free of distractions – just like any other standardized testing environment you may have been in before.  However, it's still important to familiarize yourself with the specific atmosphere of the TOEFL test.  Therefore, it's best to try to take at least one practice exam in the actual test setting before you sign up for the actual exam.  You'll feel more comfortable going into the real exam if you know what to expect.

TOEFL Practice test taking skills

Unfortunately, if you have test-taking anxiety, all of your careful preparation and rehearsed strategies might be forgotten as soon as you're faced with the actual exam.  By taking a practice test first, you'll be able to gauge how much this will factor into your test-taking experience.  At the very least, find out if you can memorize a set of test question strategies and write them down on scrap paper as soon as you're seated for the exam.  This may help you calm down before the exam begins, helping you feel more confident and relaxed.

Experience with study questions

In any standardized test, there's a limit to the kinds of questions that can be asked.  As a result, if you study up on the logic behind various types of exam questions, you may be better able to answer them.  Taking a TOEFL practice exam will help you to become more familiar with the type of questions you're likely to encounter, and will give you the chance test out any test-taking strategies you've developed.

Practicing verbal comprehension

Even though English is not spoken as rapidly as other languages, you may have some difficulty hearing and distinguishing certain sounds and words.  This problem may be compounded if you're working with a speaker that has an accent you aren't accustomed to.  Therefore, sitting for a practice TOEFL exam will help you gauge how much this could influence your results.  If possible, try to listen to as many sample accents as possible so that you'll be better prepared on exam day.

The TOEFL exam gives foreign students an opportunity to attend some of the best universities in the world.  If you want to pursue a career in a core science, or want to enter a competitive field like medicine or law, chances are you'll need to take the TOEFL in order to compete with native English speaking students.  While you're studying for this exam, it is to your advantage to sit for at least one practice exam.  Even if you are on a limited budget, you may be able to find a free practice TOEFL test that will help prepare you for the real thing.