TOEFL

salam

TOEFL basically stands for Test Of English as a Foreign Language
as oppose to SAT, TOEFL is internet-based (they have paper based, bt ppl rarely use that)
TOEFL comprises 4 sections :
1) reading
2) listening
3) speaking
4) writing
*for more technical mumbo-jumbo, wait for ur lecturer's instructions*

what ur lecturer might not tell you
1) it's super important. compared to SAT, TOEFL is REAL. you will come across a list containing all the universities with their SAT and TOEFL requirements. if you refer to my earlier post, i have told you about how the SAT requirements are not so real after all. for TOEFL, it's a whole different story. u HAVE to meet the TOEFL requirement for ur university before applying to it.

2) it's hard. seriously. getting a high score in TOEFL takes a lot of focus and knowledge (i didnt use practice). basically the hardest part of it is that it is timed and you have to follow strict timing. sometimes you will be given EXTRA passages and you'll be bored to death during the test. for me, the hardest part of the whole test is trying to stay awake while reading the passages.

3) your english matters. the thing about TOEFL speaking section is, it is graded by Americans. if they couldnt understand you, well you're out. as an Asian raised in a british system, i know how hard it is to get Americans to understand you. not to boast, but i have been a national ranked debater, and even been the president of toastmasters and I STILL get the "sorry i couldnt understand a word you're saying" on the phone. sometimes, you need that American accent to get them to actually understand you. my advice, talk slowly, and make sure class is pronounced as (kles) and not (klas).

4) the fact that there are a number people who actually took this test for multiple times and still couldnt pass the 79 mark should worry you. it's not THAT easy. and please try not to waste money on taking TOEFL so many times.

peace out
=D