TOEFL PREPARATION : TESTING POINTS

To prepare for the TOEFL test, we must know about what is being tested. Each part of the test will have different testing points (problem areas).

PAPER BASED :

• Listening : 

          PART A : Short Conversations
          In this part you will hear two people speak and then a question afterward.
          Testing points: - vocabulary word                     - tone of voice
                                 - idioms/phrase                         - similar sounds
                                 - verb                                       - location
                                 - order / sequence                     - calculation
                                 - comparison
           PART B : Longer Conversations
           This part consists of longer conversations between two people. After each conversation you will hear
           three or four questions about what was said.
         
           PART C : Talks
           In this part you will hear a talk / a lecture given by an expert in the related field/topic being discussed.              After the talk you will hear a series of questions like part B.

           The common testing questions for Part B & C :
           - restatement
           - inferences
           - main idea
           - preceding / following topic
           - location

•  Structure

           Part A  (Sentence Completion)  & Part B (Error Identification)
           - verb / verb phrase               - comparison                - subject + verb
           - conjuction                           - superlative                 - adverbial phrase / clause
           - parallel construction             - pronoun                    - adjective phrase
           - preposition                          - noun phrase               - negative
           - infinitive / gerund                  - word order                - conditional
           - singular / plural                     - word form                 - reversed  word
           - mistaken word                     - unnecessary word      - omitted word
           - article

• Reading 

          Reading comprehension passages can be on any topic (many of them focus on some aspect of science). The common topics : science , American history, government or geography, art and literature, biographics of famous people, etc.
         
           Question :
           - main idea                            - author's attitude / opinion / purpose
           - inference                             - organization
           - referent                               - preceding / following topic
           - restatement                         - support
           - vocabulary                          - Analogy
           - negative question

For more information about the example of each testing point/problem area, read the next topic :
Sample  Questions in TOEFL