Are you ready to tackle the TOEIC test and achieve your language goals? Studying for any test is a big task, but with the right mindset and a few helpful tips, you can get a good score. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective advice for the TOEIC test so you feel confident on test day.
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Learn about the TOEIC Test
The first thing you need to do in order to get a good score on the TOEIC test is to understand the format and its content.
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test is two hours long and divided into two parts: Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension. The test is designed to measure your ability to use English in the workplace. Nothing else! The content of this test is very professional.
If you’re interested in a test to check your overall level of English, I highly recommend the Duolingo English Test, which also checks your speaking and writing.
The TOEIC test is timed, which means you have to finish each part before the clock stops. You do not lose points for wrong answers, so it’s best to guess if you’re not sure, and it’s important to finish all the questions!
Listening part
The Listening Comprehension part of the exam is 45 minutes long, with 100 questions. This section includes questions about photographs, conversations, short talks, and responding to questions.
There are four types of tasks in this part. First, you will hear questions or phrases regarding photos. You’ll have to choose the question or phrase that best matches the photo.
The next part is similar but without the photo. You’ll hear questions or statements and then select the best response to what you heard.
Then, you will hear conversations between two to three people and answer three questions per conversation. There are 13 conversations with 3 questions each.
Last, you will hear 10 monologues and answer three questions per monologue. The questions are written, but the monologue is not.
Be careful: You can’t replay or pause the audio on the TOEIC test, so listen carefully!
Reading part
The Reading Comprehension part of the exam is 75 minutes long, with 100 questions. Most of the tasks in this section are filling in the blank or choosing the correct word or phrase. The tasks are related to business information, business correspondence like emails, and vocabulary.
You can learn more about the test and find answers to common questions about the TOEIC test in my other post.
What’s Your Level of English?
Next step is understanding your level of English. You need to know your level of English and, if possible, your strengths and weaknesses, so you can make an effective plan to prepare for the test.
Have you taken any other English language proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or DET? If so, how does your score relate to a TOEIC score? You can get a general idea on this website.
If you have never taken one of the major English language tests, you can try the TOEIC Test Level Projector. It takes about 15 minutes to do and gives you a general idea of your CEFR level (A1 to C1) and a description of your skills. It’s useful for getting started.
You can find how CEFR levels compare to TOEIC scores on this page.
Set a Goal
Now that you have a general idea of your level of English, we need to look at your goals. Most important is that your goal is achievable. Don’t expect to go from 0 to 990 (best score) in one month! Be realistic so you can stay motivated and you’re not disappointed when you get your test results back.
If you’re taking the test for a job, find out what score is required by the company or organization. This will give you a better idea of what you need to focus on as you prepare for the test.
We also have to understand your weak points. The TOEIC test covers a wide range of language skills, including listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and more.
You’ll want to spend a little extra time on points that are more difficult for you. Sometimes our weakness is not what we think it is, so refer to any past tests you’ve done or feedback from an English teacher.
You could also try this free test from Cambridge!
Make a Study Plan for TOEIC
Next, it’s time to make a study plan. A good study plan for TOEIC should include a mix of practice tests, grammar exercises, vocabulary-building activities, and listening practice. Consistency is key when it comes to preparing for the test, so set aside dedicated time for studying, whether it’s an hour or two every day or a few hours each week.
Official material
It’s worth checking out official TOEIC material. Why not use the Official TOEIC Guide (check your country’s official TOEIC website), which has full practice tests and an answer key, a vocabulary index, and grammar rules.
There’s also the Super Prepa for the TOEIC Test mobile app, which has 400 free questions, 600 paid questions, and two practice tests.
Or, find some basic information and a simple practice test on the international TOEIC page.
Unofficial material
The following books might be worth checking out!
- Longman Preparation Series for the TOEIC Test
- Cambridge Grammar and Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test
- Barron’s TOEIC Practice Exams
English all day, every day
Try immersing yourself in the language by listening to music, watching movies and TV shows in English, and trying to understand as much as possible. Follow some English language accounts on social media, like my Facebook and Twitter pages! Read your news in English with the easy news stories on this site. You’ll see business vocabulary, useful idioms, and natural language.
Some people like changing their cell phone settings to English, or even playing their video games in English. Every little bit helps!
Study time
Make a plan for the days and hours you will spend studying English and try to avoid distractions. Choose what you’re going to practice before your study time starts, so you don’t waste time.
Try dedicating some time to listening, reading, vocabulary, practice tests, and … more reading! You should also do some practice with time limits. I highly recommend timing yourself when reading a text or setting an alarm when you do your practice tests. It’s good to simulate the pressure of the real test!
While watching movies or shows in English, turn off the subtitles! Even if you can’t understand. There are no subtitles or transcripts on the TOEIC test, so get used to listening. Check out my other posts for more listening practice ideas and reading practice ideas.
Remember to spend less time practicing the section you enjoy the most. Sorry!
Vocabulary
Building a strong vocabulary is crucial for success on the TOEIC test. Make a dictionary or flashcards and write down new words you learn, then use them in sentences and practice them whenever possible.
There are some great flashcard apps for your phone. I personally use Ankidroid which is free for Android phones, but a little expensive for iPhones. Your lunch break or commute is a great time to review vocabulary!
While you’re studying, try using an English dictionary instead of translating new or unfamiliar words. If you really need help, refer to wordreference.com which gives lots of examples of translations, so you can choose the correct word.
TOEIC teacher
When it comes to studying, don’t wait until the last minute to start. Decide if you want to teach yourself or take a class, and make sure you like the teacher and feel comfortable.
You can find a lot of great teachers on iTalki at affordable prices. You can also read their reviews and watch introduction videos before booking!
Booking lessons with a teacher is a great way to stay motivated, too. You’ll feel pressure to attend the lesson because you paid for it!
That’s All the Study Advice for TOEIC?
No, there’s more! Manage stress by balancing study time, reminding yourself to do your best, and taking deep breaths whenever you feel overwhelmed.
Don’t cram the night or week before the TOEIC test, but review and practice what you’ve learned. Get enough sleep before the test, eat well, and relax. Plan a reward for after the test!
Most important is to try to make studying fun. If you can’t make studying fun, try to make it not boring. If it’s boring, frustrating, or interrupting other essential things in your life, you won’t focus and you’re wasting your time.
Remember your goal, find enjoyable ways to practice, and keep going. Consistency is key!
Tips for During the TOEIC Test
Be confident. This is just a test and if you practice well and enough, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident. The more you practice, the better your score will be.
Trust your instincts: Sometimes you will know the answer right away. If you have studied well, trust your gut feeling. Usually, your first guess is the right guess!
Don’t translate: Translating vocabulary and sentences takes too much time. Look at the context of the sentence and the surrounding words. You won’t be able to use a dictionary during the test!
Guess if necessary: If you don’t know the answer, don’t leave it blank. You have a 25% chance of getting the right answer. If you can eliminate answers you know are wrong, your chances of getting the question right increase!
Listen quickly: Don’t get into the habit of rewinding the tape when you’re studying. On test day, you won’t be able to control the speed of the listening section. Listen carefully and take your best guess if you don’t know the answer. Keep up with the questions and don’t look back.
Be mindful of similar words on the TOEIC test, e.g., hole/whole, steal/steel, wear/ware, affect/effect, and more. These are called homophones. Practice with a list of similar words before the test and use context to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. Double-check spelling, especially in the listening section.
And last, be prepared for poor sound and temperature changes during the TOEIC test. The sound quality may not be as clear as it is on your home computer speakers. To prepare for that situation, practice listening to audio at a lower volume.
Keep in mind that the room could be too hot or too cold, so bring an extra sweater just in case!
Before the Test:
- Understand your level of English
- Figure out your strengths and weaknesses
- Familiarize yourself with the TOEIC format and instructions
- Plan your studying time
- Practice listening and reading comprehension
- Learn lots of vocabulary for this test – My simple news stories have lots of great business vocabulary
- Take practice tests
During the Test:
- Make sure you’re comfortable
- Keep track of time
- Stay focused
- Breathe
- Try to answer all questions
- Eliminate wrong answers
- Trust your gut and move on
