Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Well-Structured Conclusion Parts in An Essay

 By: TOEFL consultant
Some writers may make mistakes by adding the conclusion in the essay with the new other ideas.

The concluding paragraph in the essay has to regard as the last paragraph. It restates or summarizes the main points in the body or paraphrase the thesis statement in the introductory part. Moreover, adding your final comment makes your essay livelier.

2 Big Techniques in Reading TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant
Lots of people who take the TOEFL test almost know that techniques in reading involve two ways that are skimming and scanning.

Writing The Body Part in An Essay

 By: TOEFL consultant
How to make an essay speak? The body part plays the important role. It supports the topic sentence containing general statements and thesis statements in an introductory part of the essay.

Do You Know How to Write The Good Introductory Part in An Essay?

 By: TOEFL consultant
Every essay must cover three points, namely introduction, body, and conclusion parts. Moreover, the introduction itself has to consist of both general statements and thesis statements.

Tricks in Writing on The TOEFL Test

 By: TOEFL consultant
Writing is a writer task. It is not an assignment to marketers, sales persons, or else. Thus, if you want to be the writer, here some tricks you can practice are:

1. Knowing lots of vocabulary lists is helpful. But, if you make paragraphs without concerning well-turned structures at the right time and in the right context, the ones will give nothing.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Meaning Question: Conquer Listening on the TOEFL iBT Test!

PBT TOEFL test serving listening here helps you master the question types and the answer. In general, the meaning structure asks an explanation, representation, result, and purpose.


First question

Man:
 
I've heard that the new Chemistry class is really difficult.


Woman:


Oh, I wouldn't say that. I took Chemistry 402 last quarter, and I think the course went very smoothly.

Narrator:

What does the woman mean?

A. The Chemistry class is very tough.
B. The Chemistry class is not teaching this quarter.
C. The Chemistry class is easier than the man thinks.
D. The Chemistry class should be avoided if possible.

“Oh, I wouldn't say that” means that the woman disagrees with the man. C is the answer.


Second question

Woman:

I’ve heard great things about that movie that just came out. You want to go see it tonight?


Man:

I’d love to, but I’ve got a history final in two days, and I think I’d better take a rain check this time.

Narrator:

What does the man mean?

a. He needs to take a break from his studying.
b. He loves the woman very much.
c. He doesn’t like going out in the rain.
d. He will not be able to accompany the woman.

The answer is D. The explanation of the meaning “take a rain check” shows that the man cannot do the activity.

Source: “Beat the TOEFL!” in Testwise.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

Everything Is Not OK. Did You Fail on the TOEFL Test?

Are you satisfied of what you got scores on the TOEFL Test? Although your score was in under minimum the test requires, do you have any spirit to take it again? Or do you want to give up? Here, some tips to wake the giant in you up are:

1. Failure is a common thing. Because no body perfects, learning the TOEFL is a process.

2. Collect some books or resources that discuss how to understand the test.

3. Get your spirit to take the test again and again. Pretest will help you to prepare yourself before you submit the real test.

4. Find lots of tricks and tips to beat the test.

5. Skilled friends, groups, or teachers can help you more.

Beautiful Secrets on the TOEFL Test

 By: TOEFL consultant
Three variables you have to master are knowledge, skills, and attitude because all of these variables influence you to succeed on the TOEFL test.

1. Listening section

If you practice the listening test at home, you have to make setting as well as the real listening test is. For example, if you take the real test by hearing it once, you should do.

Are There Any Differences Among TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, SAT, And GMAT?

 By: TOEFL consultant
Some students still can figure out the differences among TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, SAT, And GMAT tests. Here, the introduction of these definitions contains:

TOEFL known as Test of English as a Foreign Language prepares takers who want to study at universities in English-speaking countries like The United States, Australia, or England.

3 Difficulties in the TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant
For beginners, the difficulty they may meet is writing essays regarding as the first. And the point is how the thesis statement expands the topic precisely and clearly. Besides, cohesion and coherence of the paragraph are another important thing the essay shows.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Listening Tricks in the TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant
Here, some important tricks in listening will help you.

1. Don't listen what speakers talk word-by-word. Then you read the choices. It is the wrong method. The better way is that you read the multiple choices before the speakers start the conversation.

Tricks in Reading Sections

 By: TOEFL consultant
1. The first method is reading the questions.

2. You have to return to the paragraph the question means. Here, you must scan and skim where the answer is.

Practice! It Is One Big Tip in Reading, Speaking, and Writing in the TOEFL.

 By: TOEFL consultant
1. Don't translate your mother language into English.

2. Practice!

What’s Up with Tenses? Writing Skills in the TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant
Tenses are such the problems in the order of you-know-what, aren't they?

1. Using “by” + time, you can take a past perfect or future perfect tense.

By 2009, Mary graduated from school. (Incorrect)
By 2009, Mary had graduated from school. (Correct)

Where Is the Subject? Tips in Writing TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant
Subject-verb agreements and verb-object agreements will be discussed here.

1. Using simpler expressions is very useful.

I guess that it is very important for Marry to study hard everyday. (Not simple)
Daily studying is very important for Marry. (Simple)

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

3 Mistakes in TOEFL Essays

For the beginners, deciding the thesis statement and topic sentences sometimes is very difficult. Moreover, they can not focus the thesis or the topic ones on, so the ambiguity is the result. Here, some instances of the mistakes will be deserved:

1. I agree with you about the bad impacts of using computer everyday when people begin to work until the end. This problem is very important things discussed because of lots of reasons.

Analyses:
This introduction is not good because of no topic in explanation.

2. In my opinion, I disagree with you that computers have good and bad impacts.

Analyses:
This introduction is not excellent although several of the beginning phrases are interesting enough. It is true that the computer has two sides that are good and bad. However, the topic states ambiguity because of the explanation on which the speaker focuses.

3. In my view, I take the opposition of computer's bad impacts. Also, Internet has the bad impacts as well.

Analyses:
The thesis statement is good. But, the introduction also covers Internet regarding as the new thesis statement. Consequently, it brings two thesis statement that the ambiguity comes.

Tips to Reach Your Higher Listening Scores

 By: TOEFL consultant
Some students assume that the listening section is more difficult than other sections. Don't worry. Here, some important tips will help you.

1. Use sources available.
Listen to spoken English from movies to which English is applied, news or shows on TV using spoken English, and English song in radio.

5 Tips in Writing iBT

Lots of approaches students use can be applied. But, this tips can help you boosting your skills to succeed in writing tests.

1. A point of view question

It is not about your grammar skills or ideas that you have exercises in some months. But, it is about the question. If it asks you to give an opinion about a problem you have to solve, you must state the opinion according to your point of view instead of other people's opinions. On the contrary, if it asks you to answer a problem people encounter, you must write the solution about what people's opinions.


2. Grammar


Although structure tests in the TOEFL iBT is none, your ability in grammar will be tested in writing sections, so they must practice writing by making good grammar. It means that a few mistakes they write is must. And the excellent essays are without mistakes in grammar.


3. Essay structures

It is important for students to organize their essays by putting the beginning, the middle, and the end ideas because the clearly stated ideas help readers understand what the students are mainly about.

4. Punctuation


Be careful! Using the does commas, and other punctuations is very important. For example, John said, “I am hungry.” Here the dot takes place before the quotation mark (”).

5. Active structures

Applying active sentences in writing makes student's essays stronger.

Boost Your Skills! Big Tips in The TOEFL iBT

Do you want to beat the TOEFL test. Here the big tips are:

1. Listening

Movies, news, musics in English can help you to increase your listening ability.


2. Writing

Typing essays on computer or writing ideas on paper is important for you to accelerate your writing skills.

3. Reading

Reading English books or other English materials containing variety of subjects like arts, history, economics, social science, and others help you to enrich your vocabulary and exercise you understand ideas or information the materials are mainly about.


4. Speaking

Language learners practicing English as second language will get obstacles in speaking. It would be better for you to think as a native English speaker think and to speak as a native English speaker as not foreign-born as well. Also you have to avoid translating your mother language into English.

Is It True That in The TOEFL iBT, Structures Sections Are None?

 By: TOEFL consultant
            It is interesting that structures test on the TOEFL iBT is none, whereas the one on the TOEFL is. The next question is whether the grammar or structures skills are unnecessary.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Verb Cases in Structures Sections


Each sentence requires two components, namely the subject and its predicate. Verbs containing main verbs or linking verbs occupy the predicate position. Here some verb problems are:

1.      A subordinate clause attaches to incomplete main clauses.
The sentence “The man sitting on the door ( ) is ungrammatical because of the lack of verb phrases in the main clause.

Do You Know How to Identify Problems in Listening

 By: TOEFL consultant

Three points students must know before their take listening test on the TOEF iBT consist details, yes-no, and connections problems.

1.      Details problems
You have to answer a question about specific points the speakers are mainly about. In general, it includes some characteristics of the models or the topics discussed. And, they have to choose two or three points among five choices of the answers given.

3 Problems in Reading Section in The TOEFL iBT

Three important problems students must recognize involve the insertion, classification, and summary types.

1.      Insert problems
One of the question’s features is to insert a sentence marked with a square.

Synthesizing Methods: Say “No” to Plagiarism

 By: TOEFL consultant

One of types to avoid plagiarizing is synthesizing. This does not only present all information and main ideas but also combine several important sources related to produce a new thing. Moreover, it also needs taking notes skills to sharpen ways of your thinking.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Some Subject-Verb Inversion Rules

Verbs must apply interrogative structures because of some expressions appearing in the initial position in sentences. For example, negative conjunctions like not only, neither, no sooner, etc., adverbials of negation or semi-negation such as in no case, never, rarely, hardly, and adverbial expressions with the word “only” and “so” needs the interrogative ones.

1.      The inversion between subjects and its verb does not happen.

The structure “Rarely he (has) written such nonsense ideas like this one” is ungrammatical. Otherwise, the expression must employ the inversion “Rarely has he written such nonsense ideas like this one.

2.      Inversion is grammaticality but not in correct interrogative structures.

The inversion “No sooner (went) he to school, than she came” is satisfied due to the fact that it needs to be “did.”  Consequently, the plausible structure is “No sooner did he go to school, than she came.

3.      Expressions given are not of the inversion types. But, it takes place the conditional sentence.

The sentence “If does it rain after January, I will go home” is not ungrammaticality. Otherwise, the structure “Does it rain after January, I will go home” is grammatical because the one is similar in meaning with “If it rains after January, I will go home.”





 References
Baker, C., L. 1989. English Syntax. London: The MIT Press.
 

Two important expressions

There are two phrases applying to the formal language. And, they are, not surprisingly, the anticipatory “it” and the expletive “there.” Moreover, the word “it” anticipates the real subject occurring in the predicate. On the other hand, the word “there” which is used as an expletive construction takes place by applying the linking verb to be.
The characteristic of the anticipatory word “it” is possible to move the subject up to the initial position to replace “it.”
The war began in August.
(It) was in August that the war began.
Here, it is clear that both the sentences have the same meaning although they have different constructions.
On the contrary, the expletive expression “there” usually takes place before the subject plus prepositional phrases or adjective modifiers.
(There) is a tree behind the old building.
(There) are a few flowers blooming in this garden.
It seems obvious that the first sentence corresponds to the sentence “A tree is behind the old building.” And the second one is similar with the sentence “A few flowers are blooming in this garden.” Here, the linking verb “is” or “are” agrees with the real subjects that is “a tree” and “a few flowers.”




 References
Baker, C., L. 1989. English Syntax. London: The MIT Press.
 


Summarizing Skills: The Easy Way to Avoid Plagiarizing

 By: TOEFL consultant

Students can employ one of types of how to avoid plagiarizing. This is called summarizing which expresses an idea that the original covers. As a result, the point is the main idea instead of all the information it states. Besides, it has to be a shorter form than the original because students must figure the only main idea out. 
Students usually make some mistakes in applying the disregarded points below.

3 Problems about Subject Positions

It is important that a subject either in complete sentences or in dependent clauses is obligatory. There are three forms that the subject position is occupied by.
1.      Noun phrases as a subject
a.      The repeated subject happens
The weather (it) is cold.
Here, the word “it” occupying the subject position refers to and repeats the common noun “weather.”

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Paraphrasing: The Good Choice to Avoid Plagiarizing

 By: TOEFL consultant

To avoid plagiarizing, students have to use some useful approaches, and paraphrasing is one of them. The paraphrasing is a method carrying the same meaning as the original, but using different words. The point is that all the information is same with the original. Moreover, the good example helping them prevent it is by using synonym for words or phrases.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Listening Techniques in the TOEFL

Do any of you get a problem in the listening section? This is common. Truly, this section tests your ability to understand spoken English, so do not be scared!

Give Up! Would You Delete The Verb?

 By: TOEFL consultant

Taking the TOEFL test, you should be a successful person. But, not all submitting the test succeeded, and some of them failed. If you are the one, will you give up?

Some of students probably try fifth times or more, and then they give up because of lots of their failures. But, I believe that you are not the one. Because life is a process, learning the TOEFL seems to be part of the process. As a human, sometimes despair comes. But, as a man, the failure is not an obstacle and block you to achieve the higher level in your life and joint with others succeeding on the test. Here some steps to be a successful man are:

Is It Important for You to Know Reading Strategies on the TOEFL?

 By: TOEFL consultant

Every section on the TOEFL needs lots of strategies students have to master. Four steps here may help you.

1.Preview

You should read the reading as quickly as possible. Focusing on an impression of the topic instead of specific information is important. Three points you really have to consider are to read the title and headings, the first sentence of the passage, and the last sentence of the passage.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

13 Problems of Reading Section in The TOEFL iBT

 By: TOEFL consultant

Do you know how to identify problems in reading section? The Answer “yes” is right. Here they are:
1.      Inference problems
Revealed information in the passage you truly have to figure out can help you to enter into the conclusion from four possibilities.
2.      Terms problems
These problems ask you to choose a specific word from four definitions being stated.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Do You Know The TOEFL iBT Is?


 By: TOEFL consultant

The Internet-Based TOEFL was launched on September 24, 2005 in the United States, and then is introduced in the world during 2006. It is usually called the next generation TOEFL. Consequently, the computer-based TOEFL (CBT) and the paper-based TOEFL (PBT) will be discontinued.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Do You Know the TOEFL Is?

 By: TOEFL consultant

The TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It defines the test used by scholarship selection committees of governments, universities, and agencies as a standard measure of the English proficiency of their candidates that they need.

Three language skills are tested on the TOEFL. All of all, the computer-based TOEFL (CBT) contains four sections like listening, structure, reading, and writing. Second, the paper-based TOEFL (PBT) includes listening, structure, reading, and test of written English. The last, the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) comprises of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Steps to Success in the TOEFL

 By: TOEFL consultant

There are some interesting steps to be a successful student before taking the TOEFL Test.

1.      Find more information about the test.
You can buy the book discussing Frequently Asked Questions about the Internet Based TOEFL (FAQs). Moreover, it is helpful for you to visit the TOEFL web site at www.ets.org/toefl to download a copy of the TOEFL Information and Registration Bulletin. In other words, the students can know what their expectations are.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Do You Know The TOEFL iBT Score Works?

 By: TOEFL consultant

Each of the speaking responses has a number 0-4. But, the writing section has a number 0-5 for its essay and assignment. The two sections are scored by trained raters. In addition, scores for each section contain 0-30, so the total score for four ones is 0-120.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Do You Have The Rights to Be Successful?

 By: TOEFL consultant
Lots of people usually want to succeed in their life. But there are a few ones try to make their dreams come true. Now, it is up to you to join with them fighting to be winners or be losers.

Every one knows that it is not easy to be a winner. However, if you choose it, you will not regret in the future. Moreover, you have to create a habit in order to make a pattern of behavior reached through repetition. And it is about twenty-one days that you need.