Preparation and studying strategies for
TOEFL & IELTS 2016
By Abdulhadi Jfri
Teaching assistant of Dermatology at KSAU-HS, Jeddah
Dermatology resident at McGill, Canada
وموفقٌن ألعلى الدرجات بإذن هللا،ال تنسونً من صالح دعائكم
@AbdulhadiJfriMD
Content
1. Registration and fees.
2. Test content.
3. Importance of the English language tests.
4. Score interpretation, validity and requested scores by
most Universities.
5. Studying resources.
6. My recommended plan from my own experience!
Section I: TOEFL (American) (Test Of English as a Foreign
Language)
1. Registration and Fees
Online registration (easiest way)
https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register
Go to Register online then New user sign up and
create a profile.
After creating a profile register for a test
TOEFL test choose a country and a city with a
time frame ( note: sometimes they open dates and
they change them, so check the website regularly to
find your desired date)
- Have a credit card ready to pay for the test fees.
- Important: Make sure you use ID and remember
it (Passport or national ID and bring the same
one you entered in your profile on the exam
date!!!
This file contains all the steps of online registration
step by step with displayed pictures:
https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/4677
_TOEFL_Reg_Guide.pdf
Fee: $ 235 around 881 SR
Test time: Test is 4 hours + 30 min Check-in
Test location: Depends on your city e.g. Schools,
English centers, academic institutions...etc.
Score release time: 2 weeks from your test date.
Usually day 10 or day 13. (You receive an email to the
email that you registered in your online profile. You
open your account and check score).
2. Test content
Reading, Listening = all multiple choices
1. Reading (3 or 4 passages, usually 3) around 14 questions for each
passage
Question style Example Note
Vocabulary The word “……” in the ٕ٘ب الصَ رسفظ اٌىٍّبد ِٓ وزبة، اٌىٍّبدٟٔأعئٍخ ِؼب
passage is closest in Barron’s essential words for TOEFL
meaning to َبق اٌىال١ ِٓ عٕٝي رخّٓ الشة ِؼٚ ِب ػشفذ اٌىٍّخ زبٌٛ
Details According to paragraph رشخغ رجسثٚ ش ثبٌضجظ٠ أٝجغ٠ اٛ٘ رؼشفٚ ايٛالصَ رمشا اٌغ
number x, Why/What ػٓ االخبثخ فبٌمطؼخ
Negative According to paragraph x, رشخغ رجسثٚ ش ثبٌضجظ٠ أٝجغ٠ اٛ٘ رؼشفٚ ايٛالصَ رمشا اٌغ
details all of the following are true ػٓ االخبثخ فبٌمطؼخ
about…EXCEPT:
Inference What can be inferred in رشخغ رجسثٚ ش ثبٌضجظ٠ أٝجغ٠ اٛ٘ رؼشفٚ ايٛالصَ رمشا اٌغ
paragraph x about …? ػٓ االخبثخ فبٌمطؼخ
What is implied in the …
mentioned in paragraph x
about the fact that ..?
Pronoun The word “…” in paragraph غبٌجب، أسخغ ٌٍمطؼخ، ِفشدٚ زذد ً٘ اٌىٍّخ خّغ أٟي شٚأ
x refers to: ٟ٘ خّغٚاء وبٔذ ِفشد أٛب عٙ رٕبعجٚ رغجك اٌىٍّخٌٟاٌدٍّخ ا
اإلخبثخ
Plug-in Look at the four squares (❒) ً أفض،بٙ ثٕبعجٌٟر ا١ اٌّىبْ اٌصسِٟسزبج رسظ اٌدٍّخ ف
that indicate where the ٓ٠ثؼذٚ ً فؼمٍه اٌدٍّخ فىً ِٓ اٌّشثؼبد االسثؼخ١مخ أٔه رزخ٠طش
following sentence could be ٗ١ْ فٛذ أْ اٌدٍّٗ رٕفغ رى١ ِشثغ زغٞف أٛرش
added to the passage.
Where would the sentence
best fit?
Paraphrase Which of the sentences زذد ايٚ ٍٍٗخ اٌدٍّخ اٌّض٠ألشا فبٌجذا
below best expresses the subject, verb, and object
essential information in the بعدٌن أقرا اإلجابات وشوف أي أجابة تحتوي على كل مكونات
highlighted sentence in the الجملة المضلله
passage? Incorrect choices
change the meaning in
important ways or leave out
essential information.
Purpose Why does the passage ٓ ِمذِخ ػٟ٘ خ وً لطؼخ٠خ ثذا١ّ٠مخ وزبثخ اٌّمبالد األوبد٠ طشٟف
mention in paragraph x the ٌٟي لطؼخ ِٓ ٔفظ اٌجشلشاف اٚي رمشأ اٚ زب،خ١غ١اٌفىشح اٌشئ
fact that..? فبٌغؤاي
Summary An introductory sentence خًّ رٍخص اٌمطؼخ غبٌجب6 ً خًّ ِٓ أص3 طٍت ِٕه رخزبس٠
for a brief summary of the ،أخش عؤاي ِٓ وً لطؼخ
passage is provided below. ب ثبألعزجؼبء١٘ مخ ٌسً اٌغؤاي٠أفضً طش
Complete the summary by ٓ٠دح فبٌمطؼخ ثؼذٛخِٛ ش١ِخ غٍٛ خٍّخ رزوش ِؼٞأعزجؼذ أ
selecting the THREE answer ْ ٍِخصٛب رىٙٔمخ ال رصٍر أ١ِخ دلٍٛ ِؼٟ خٍّخ رؼطٞأعزجؼذ أ
choices that express the ٌٍمطؼخ
most important ideas in the
passage.
2. Listening (usually the last part in the listening is for evaluation
and not scored)
After each part of listening you will have some questions
Question Note
What does the lecture mainly Main idea question ي عؤايٚفبٌؼبدح أ
ثؼذ وً ِسبضشح
discuss?
What is the main topic of the lecture?
What ……? َء ػبٟ شٞ أٚف ٘زٖ اٌفىشٖ أٞغأٌه ػٓ رؼش٠
What does the professor imply about ٚب اٌّذسط أٌٙٗ لب١رْٛ أشبسح صٛػبدرب رى
بٌٙ ٓ اٌجبطٕٝغأٌه ػٓ اٌّؼ٠ٚ اٌطبٌت
….?
What is the professor’s opinion ٚ ِؼبٖ أ،َع ثشىً ػبٛضٌّٛ اٌّذسط فبٞسأ
about..? ٖضذ
What is the professor’s attitude..?
Why does the professor mention..? ْاٛ١ زْٚ لبي اعُ ٔجبد أٛى٠ ِّىٓ اٌّذسط
ٚغبٔذ ثٗ ا٠ ِثبيٟؼط٠ ْفبٌّسبضشح ػشب
بٙ ششزٌٟخ ا٠ إٌظسٟٕف٠
Why does the professor say..?
BREAK 10 MINUTES
3. Speaking: 6 Questions
Question style Time Example for response
Q1 About your opinion: 15 sec prepare 45 sec In my my view,…. for few
What do you think about speak reasons. First …., for
X, Give specific reasons to example ….. Second, ….
support your answer? For example ….. That’s
why I see ….
Q2 What do you think is 15 sec prepare 45 sec I prefer A over B for few
better X or Y, Give specific speak reasons. First …., for
reasons to support your example ….. Second, ….
answer? For example ….. That’s
why I see A is better over B.
For Q1&2 watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K682Oune_YM
Q3 Read (45sec): Usually 30 sec prepare 60 sec The reading states that …..
school announcement for a speak The man’s/woman’s
change and give you 2 opinion is that …. She/he
reasons for it. provides 2 reasons. First,
….Second,… that’s why…
Then you will listen to a Note: The student in the
conversation, then you will listening can support or
be asked a Q about both oppose the change in the
(reading+listening) reading!!
For Q3 watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-n_nOBDLd4
Q4 Read (45sec), Listen to 30 sec prepare 60 sec The article is about
a lecture (120sec). speak …(Title). Which the
passage defines
as…(definition).. the
professor provides an
example of ,…. To illustrate
this. He/She states that …
and so, this example is
clearly illustrates (topic
title)
For Q4 watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUWevT3o8A
Q5 Listen (2 students talk 20 sec prepare 60 sec The student problem is that
about a problem) 2 speak … The students discuss two
solutions and each one has solutions. First …. And
+/- response second ….. If I were the
student I would choose
solution 1 or 2… (now use
the same response of Q2) I
prefer A over B for few
reasons. First …., for
example ….. Second, ….
For example ….. That’s
why I see A is better over B.
For Q5 watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2dU1JqlWS0
Q6 Listen to a lecture 20 sec prepare 60 sec The professor discuses
around 2 mins. speak (title) which he/she defines
as ….(definition).
The professor will talk He/she describes two
about a topic, defined it kinds/types
and talk about 2 subtopics First, ….(definition)
and give an example on The professor provides an
each one of them example of ….. to illustrate
this.
Second, ….(definition)
The professor uses an
example of ….. to
demonstrates this.
And that’s how the
professor describes (title)
For Q6 watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bow59J2HU4
4. Writing: 2 tasks
Q1: Read for 3 min. passage of 4 paragraphs the listen to a lecture then start
writing
- Draw a table in your paper and write these blue sentences
- أوزتٚ يٚب فبألخزجبس ثغشػٗ أسعُ خذ١٘ ٔهٛؼط٠ ٌٟسلٗ اٌٛ فب:مخ ِدشثخ٠مخ أفضً طش٠ اٌطشٞ٘ز
ٕٚبلض أ٠ سٛاٌذوزٚ لذ ِب رغّغ اٌّسبضشحٚ ْي ِٓ اٌمطؼٗ ػشبٚدٖ فبٌدذٛخِٛ ٌٟٗ إٌمبط ا١ف
بِٙ دػّٗ اِبٚذػُ وً ٔمطٗ ِٓ اٌمطؼٗ رىزت ِٕبلضزٗ أ٠
Write from the reading Write from the listening
Author’s opinion: last sentence of the 1st paragraph A B
Reason 1 (R1): First sentence of paragraph 1 (O1)
Reason 2 (R2): First sentence of paragraph 2 (O2)
Reason 3 (R3): First sentence of paragraph 3 (O3)
Then you write: ثشٔذٍٛب ثّٙ اعٞ رسذ ثبٌضجظ ٘زٌٟ اّٞب خبره لطؼٗ فبألخزجبس رىزت صِٙ
The article states that …(A)… and provides three reasons of support. However, the
professor explains that…(B).. and refutes each of the author’s reasons.
First, the reading claims that …(R1) …. The professor refutes this point by saying
that …(O1)….he states that…
Second, the article posits that …(R2)… However, the professor says that
….(O2)…According to the professor …..
Third, The reading says that …(R3). The professor opposes this point by explaining
that …(O3)…. We also learn that
Advices :
رالزظ ِٓ اٌمطؼخ اٌغبثمخٌٛ ٞذ ػالِزه ص٠ع فبٌّشادفبد ػشبْ رضٕٛي رٚزب
Article = passage = reading, Says, explains,. Refutes, opposes. Claims, posits
225- 150 ِٓ ٗثٍٛ ػذد اٌىٍّبد اٌّطword counts for Writing task one
وً ِب وثشد وٍّبره وً ِب صادد اٌذسخخ، وٍّخ300 ّب رىزت٠ي داٚزب
Watch this video for writing task1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytubzmj_j94
Q2: Writing task 2 (Opinion about a topic = essay) for 30 min. Word count: 300-
320
ْٛه ػشبْ رى١د٠ عٛضِٛ ٞ أٟب فٙ١ٍ ػٟرّشٚ بٙه رسغظ١ ثشٔذ خبصٗ فٍٛ ثٞٛرغٚ رٕظُ خطٗ فجبٌهٟأُ٘ ش
لطؼزه ِشرجٗ فبإلخزجبس
First write 4 paragraphs
1. Introduction
Defined the topic, paraphrase the question, write your opinion
with two reasons.
2. Body 1
Start by talking about your reason 1 , defined it, give example and
summarize it
3. Body 2
Start by talking about your reason , defined it, give example and
summarize it
4. Conclusion
In Sum/In conclusion, talk about the topic and summarize your
reasons.
ٟ ثشٔذ فٍْٛ ػٕذن ثٛى٠ٚ خ١ّ٠ أعظ اٌىزبثخ األوبدٍٝ ػٟ رّشٟ ثظ أُ٘ شًٜ رشٙخذا ع
بٙ١ٍ ػٍٟزه رّش١ِخ
Watch these videos for writing task2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul2OTUqMGqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y8cm8k2vzU
Section II: IELTS (Birtish) (International English Language
Testing System)
1. Registration and fees
Go to https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/
Choose the country, city and the month
General: usually for immigration
ْ ِٓ خشائذٛلطؼخ اٌمشاءح رىٚ دشحٌٍٙ ِٕٗ ذفٌٙغبٌجب اٚ ًٙ٘زا أع
خ أثذا١ّ٠غذ أوبد١ٌٚ ػبِخ خذاٚ صسفٚ
Academic: This is the one you need!
Speaking on separate day
Listening, reading then writing on a separate day
(Paper not computer like TOEFL Ibt)
The total test time is: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Fees: 1000 SR
2. Test content
Listening (30 minutes)
Reading (60 minutes)
Writing (60 minutes)
Speaking (11–14 minutes)
Check this website to see the samples of the questions
https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-
questions
Exam day:
ٗٔ٘ب فبٌخشٛسط٠ٚ االدٛا اٌدٚبخز٠ٚ ُ أِبوٕىٍٝوُ ػٛصػٛ٠ َ اإلخزجبسٛ٠
ْٟ غبٌجب فٛى٠ ِثال فدذح،ٗ ٔفظ اٌمبػٟغ اٌطالة ف١ّ خ،بٌٙ ن وشدٛؼط٠ٚ
ه١فٕجِٛ فٕذق
They will give you a book (that will be discard after the
exam) and answer sheet
ٖ ثؼذ اإلخزجبسِٛش٠ سلخ اإلخبثخ الْ اٌىزبةٚ ْٟ فٛاإلخبثبد الصَ رى
1st Listening:
اٛرغّؼٚ ساق أخبثبدِٚؼبوُ أٚ زذحٚ لبػخٟي خضء ِٓ اإلخزجبس اٌىً فٚأ
غّغ٠ غ١ّا أْ اٌدٚزأوذ٠ ْد ػشبٛا اٌصٛدشث٠ خ ساذ٠ فبٌجذا،ً١رغد
ذٛضٛث
Important: In IELTS you write down the answer while you
listen at the same time. Whereas in TOEFL, the question
comes after the record.
The listening questions start VERY easy and gets harder with
time
Some questions are multiple choices, MOST of them you have
to write the answer. Important: If you mis-spelled one letter
they will consider it wrong answer
ِبرغٍظٚ ٍٕح الْ ِؼظُ االعزّبع رسزبج رىزت االخبثخ١ اٌغجْٟ ِّزبص فٕٛ٘ب رسزبج رى
فسشف
ٗ االسلُ إٌبلصٟ فشاغبد لذاِه رؼجٟفٚ ايٛازذ سلُ خٚ ًٕم٠ ازذٚ ٓخ ِّى٠ اٌجذاٟف
َعشػخ اٌىالٚ ثخ رضدادٛٓ اٌصؼ٠ً خذا) ثؼذٙ(ع
ِغ ثؼض صفسخ ثصفسخٟب رّشٍٙ اٌمبػخ وٍٟخ٠ ٕ٘ب اٌّشالت ساذ
2nd Reading: ازذحٚ اٌىً عبػخٟؼط٠ ٕ٘ب اٌّشالت
Not like the TOEFL they tell you number of the paragraph in
the question!! You need to go back and quickly skim the topic
for the keywords
3rd part is writing: (2 tasks)
Task 1(150 words): graphs (bar, line)/chart (pie, flow) /table
and you explain it in writing
ٟ وزبثٌٟ أٟب١ي اٌشعُ اٌجٛأزب رسٚ ٟٔب١ه سعُ ث١ؼط٠
Write:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
This bar graph/pie chart shows / demonstrates / illustrates /
represents (topic) between (date-date) / over …. Period
This table lists ..(topic)
There was a (noun)….. in …….between ……and ……
Simple past verbs: (increased/ climbed / went up / rose /
jumped)
Noun: increase, rise
For (declined, decreased, went down, dropped, plummeted
ي زبدٚٔض, slumped)
Noun: Decline, decrease
Adjective to add before increase or decrease: significant,
steady, dramatic, sudden
Adjective to add after increase or decrease: significantly,
suddenly, dramatically
For (remains steady, remains stable, plateau)
Check this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1E2wLW9pn8
!ب دسخبدٙ١ٍع فبٌىٍّبد ػٕٛي رٚزب
Task 2(250 words) is essay like the 2nd task in TOEFL
Check this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y8cm8k2vzU
Speaking:
ٟغأٌه أعأٌخ ف٠ٚ ًْ لذاِٗ ِغدٛى٠ٚ ش١ِٕا ِغ اوضاٚزذٌٛ َٛ٠ ٟرخزجش ف
غخ١غذ ثبٌص١ٌٚ خ١ّ٠غخ أوبد١ْ ثصٛي دائّب إخبثبره رىٚ زب،ٓ١ع ِؼٛضِٛ
ش فبٌذسخخ١فشق وث٠ٚ ُ خذاِٙ خ١ِاٌؼب
5. Importance of the exams TOEFL/IELTS
The English proficiency test either IELTS or
TOEFL are very important for many reasons:
1. For medical students applying for elective or observer-
ship in Canada/US, they are asking to send a dean’s
letter states that their English is proficient and the
teaching language in that school is in English. You can
replace that letter with your Test certificate.
2. Some Universities they ask for a certain score to be
eligible to enroll in an observer-ship, elective or even
residency program.
3. The residency in US/Canada is getting competitive, so
you need to expand your chance by achieving the
requested score by those Universities otherwise, the
Saudi cultural bureau will not send your application file
to the postgraduate office of that University if you
do not have that requested score.
4. For other students, doing master degree and they are
from a non-English speaking country like Saudi Arabia
they need a proof of English proficiency.
5. It is also important to show that you’re English is good
in your CV by including your test date and score as
those tests are standardized and well recognized
worldwide
5. Score TOEFL/IELTS
The TOEFL IBT score is 0-120
Reading 30, Listening 30, Speaking 30, Writing 30
IELTS score is 1-9
It varies depends on the University (Elective
requests lower score than the residency usually) or
the specialty you’re applying to.
In Canada:
University of Albert, British Columbia and Calgary
they request either 24 ( in all the four sections of the
iBT TOEFL or 7 in all sections of IELTS)
Queens University total of 93 with 24 on speaking and
listening
In US:
For TOEFL: Check this website and also the desired
University website as well.
http://www.americanexamservices.com/about-the-
toefl/toefl-scores-usa-universities
In general:
Most of Universities ask for,
TOEFL Ibt: 80-90
For IELTS: 6-7
The TOEFL IBT & IELTS score is valid for 2 years.
*Plan your exam date well to be able to use the
mark for longer time and don’t have to repeat the
test again because your score had expired.
Note: the scores change from time to time so tracking
their websites for updates.
6. Studying resources
For TOEFL:
1. Books ( many books but most commonly used)
- The official guide to the TOEFL test by ETS
- Barron’s TOEFL Ibt
- Barron’s essential words for TOEFL
- Kaplan TOEFL
2. Websites
- ETS website practice test
- www.notefull.com
- www.magoosh.com
3. English Center or private English teacher
For IELTS:
1. Books (Many but commonly used)
- Cambridge
- Barron’s IELTS (3 books) 1 about the exam in
general, 2 exercises, 3 vocabulary
2. Websites:
- www.magoosh.com
3. English center or private English teacher
7. My (suggested) plan
For TOEFL (In order of importance)
1ST Memorize the vocabulary from this book:
Barron’s essential words for TOEFL (very
important, they bring words that we don’t
usually use in daily life and so academic and
this book is super helpful)
2ND This website is a must www.notefull.com
get (Complete TOEFL mastery) Study the
answer strategies very well and watch their
videos on YouTube. If you register and pay
once you can access the website for lifelong.
You can send your writing or your record of
speaking to them to evaluate them and send
you back a report about your performance
and tell you what to you need to improve.
3rd You can use TOEFL ETS book as it is from
the same company that makes the test and do
exercises ( the book also shows examples of
some identical answers from previous students
who score high)
4th Before the exam try to do one practice test
from ETS website to get familiar with the real
exam and skip the orientation on the exam
date.
For IELTS
Use Cambridge book, Barron’s 3 books and
exercise a lot since the format of the exam is
usually the same.
ٔصبئر ػبِخ:
شٛف ٔمبط لٛره ً٘ :أٔذ عش٠غ ف ٟاٌىزبثخ ػٍ ٝاٌىِٛجٛ١رش اٌ ٟساذ رٛاخٙب
فبٌزٛفً أ ٚثبٌ١ذ ص ٞاالٍ٠زظ ،و١ف خطه ٚاضر ِٚبػٕذن أغالط إِالئ١خ؟
ً٘ رفضً رخزجش فٚ َٛ١ازذ 4عبػبد أِبَ اٌىِٛج١زش؟ ص ٞاٌزٛفً أ ٚرخزجش ػٍٝ
خضئ٠ٚ ٓ١خزجشن شخص ِسبدثخ ٚاٌدضء اٌثبٔ ٟرىٍِ ْٛزضَ ِغ اٌِ ٟؼبن فٟ
اٌمبػخ ِب رخشج ِٓ اٌمبػخ إٌ ٓ١اٌىً ٠خشج؟ ص ٞاالٍ٠زظ
زذد ٚشٛف أ٠ش ِٕبعت ٌمذساره ِٚب ّٕ٠غ أٔه ردشة األثٕ! ٓ١
*ِٛفم ٓ١ثئرْ اٌشزّٓ ألػٍ ٝاٌذسخبد*
ِالزظخِ :سز٘ ٜٛزا اٌٍّف إخزٙبد شخص ِٓ ٟأخٛوُ ػجذاٌٙبد ٞاٌدفشِٓ ٞ
ٚالغ ردشثزِ ٟغ اإلخزجبسٚ ٓ٠ال رؼُّ ٌىٓ زج١ذ أشبسوُ ٌإلعزفبدح فمظ،
