¿Qué estrategias se pueden usar para obtener la máxima puntuación posible en la sección de Reading del examen TOEFL®?
En este artículo se describen 10 estrategias a usar como preparación al examen y otras 4 estrategias que se pueden implementar durante el examen.
Here are a number of strategies that you can implement to prepare for the Reading Section of the TOEFL iBT®.
Preparation / Practice Strategies
- Read regularly
Spend a lot of time reading, and do it consistently. Choose academic texts from university textbooks, journals, and scholarly publications (online or in libraries). TOEFL® reading passages are usually this type. Make sure they are at least five or six paragraphs long. - Vary your topics
Don’t just read what interests you. Include subjects like science, social science, business, arts, geography, history, and economics. - Identify the purpose of the passage
This is usually found in the introductory paragraph. Common purposes include:- Provide explanations: Mostly factual content.
- Propose solutions: Discussion of problems and possible answers.
- Convince: Persuasive arguments backed by evidence.
- Build your vocabulary
While reading different subjects, keep a glossary of unfamiliar words, organized by topic. Make flashcards with the word on one side and the definition + example on the other. Use new words in writing and speaking. - Take notes
Note-taking is allowed during the test and essential for success. It’s hard to remember every detail, so write down important facts while reading. This will help you find information quickly later.
(See the blog’s note-taking post for more tips.) - Skim the text
Skimming means reading quickly for the main idea. Practice identifying key points while skimming, and write them down. - Read again carefully
After skimming, re-read the passage more carefully. Remember that time is limited—be efficient and take notes. - Guess word meanings from context
This saves time and avoids interrupting your understanding of the passage. - Make general inferences
Practice drawing conclusions based on implied information in the text. - Visualize the data
Use tables or charts to organize information. You can also create categories to sort key ideas from the passage.
Strategies to Use During the Exam
- Relax — you don’t need background knowledge
The texts are designed to be understandable for everyone. Glossaries are provided for complex terms (highlighted and underlined). - Work quickly — but stay focused
Don’t obsess over the time. Concentrate on reading and understanding what the questions ask for. - Guess if needed
There’s no penalty for wrong answers. If you’re out of time, guess all remaining questions. A random guess still gives you a 25% chance of getting it right. - Move on after the section ends
Don’t dwell on your performance. Focus on the next section (Listening). All parts of the TOEFL iBT® have equal weight in the final score.
