If the first language you learned as a child was
something other than English, taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language,
or TOEFL, will be an unavoidable step in the process of getting into a U.S. college or university. Thanks to its goofy acronym, the test may
sound harmless, but don't be fooled – it's a demanding four-and-a-half hour
exam to gauge your English proficiency that ultimately could make the
difference between admission and rejection from your dream school.
I ended up taking it twice – first to get into college and later to transfer to another
school. Someone learn English from early on and I scored fairly well on my
first try, but could easily have done much better with just a little bit of
preparation. Here are some ways students can improve their chances of a good
TOEFL score. (1) Don't try to cram: You may be able to memorize the entire periodic table
of the elements in one night, but a language cannot be mastered in that same
time frame. (2) Remember that learning is doing: Since you can't cram, start
preparing well in advance. (3) Get
familiar with the exam, and (4) get some rest: Finally, make sure to stay in and get some
rest the night before.
Good Luck!
:)
