iBT TOEFL Reading Tips

Top TOEFL Reading Tips

It's time to start your preparations for the Reading Section of the iBT exam. After all, careful preparation is
an essential part of a successful TOEFL reading strategy. Here, we are going to look at some general tips
that can help you do better in the iBT Reading Section.

Tip #1: Read...a lot

This might sound a little obvious, but one of the best ways to prepare for the Reading test is to read!

As you prepare for the exam, the most effective TOEFL Reading tip is to devote time daily to actively read
similar types of texts to those you might see on the test day (mostly academic).

As you read, take note of the vocabulary and expressions that are unfamiliar to you, and make sure that
you have a clear understanding of the main points. By reading a little every day, you will soon begin to see
improvements in how quickly and effectively you can process texts in English.

Another great way to practice for the test is paraphrasing and summarizing the passages you read. Every
time you finish reading a text, set aside some time to summarize the passage and check your
understanding of the main points. You don’t want to write too many details in your summary but want to
retain the gist of the passage. This activity will help you retain the main points and their connection to each
other and the whole passage. 

Moreover, when you read a passage and try to paraphrase it by using your own words, you won’t be fooled
by the test items that use keywords from the passage but are not related to the question.

Tip #2: Manage Your Time

One of the key skills required to pass the Reading section is good time management. For this one, one
TOEFL Reading tip is to dedicate about five minutes to each passage in the section, with one minute for
each question.

You can work on your time management by reading more frequently to increase the amount of information
you can process in one sitting. Additionally, there’s no better training than practice tests themselves.
Schedule a few mock Reading tests into your preparation schedule and track how your pace increases. It is
a good idea to keep track of your reading speed across all your practices and aim for your speed to
increase.

Tip #3: Skim and Scan the Passage

Skimming and scanning are two effective reading strategies that you can use not only in iBT but in almost
every context that involves reading. Skimming is reading rapidly to obtain a general overview of the
material. You are looking for main points which are often in key sentences such as a paragraph’s first/topic
sentence. You come away from skimming by being able to say what the passage is about. Think of buying a
book at a bookstore: you look at the title, the author, a description of what the book is about, and some
general information to help you decide if you want to buy it or not. Scanning is reading rapidly to locate
specific information quickly. It is done by moving your eyes quickly down the page and searching for the
particular bit that you are looking for which may be a name, a date or other number, or specific words and
phrases. Be clear what you are seeking. Are you looking for a number?  A several-word phrase?  A proper
noun that will be capitalized? Even though you are not reading every word as you scan, since you have
clarified the kind of information you are looking for, you are more likely to find that material rapidly.
Learning to expand your peripheral vision can help with this approach.

Tip #4: Vocabulary Counts

A great way of improving your reading comprehension skills is by building your vocabulary. As you read in
preparation for the test, note down the words you don’t know and make your personal vocabulary list.

TOEFL Reading passages tend to use similar language from one test to another. This means that by
practicing with sample tests, you will build your TOEFL vocabulary and reduce the possibility that you will
encounter unfamiliar language on test day. As a way of remembering new terms, group the vocabulary you
encounter according to their meaning or category of use and make a note of relevant synonyms and
antonyms.

For tips and strategies on vocabulary learning, you can go back to Course 1, Module 4 and review the
vocabulary learning tips we studied. For a great list of academic vocabulary, follow the link below. It
includes more than 300 useful words that can help you understand academic tests more effectively.
Ultimate TOEFL Vocabulary List: The 327 Best Words to Know • PrepScholar TOEFL

Tip #5: Use Your Understanding of Essay Organization

We explored the Writing Section of iBT in Course 2, Modules 3 and 4. We learned that your essays need to
start with the thesis statement and include topic sentences along with supporting sentences and details.
This is true for the organization of most standard texts, as well. You can use this knowledge to understand
reading passages as an organized and meaningful message and not as a series of sentences with no
pattern. When you read, remember to use the following strategies:

 Read the entire passage from its start to its finish.

 Identify the passage’s main ideas.
 What are the supporting details?
 What is the relationship between these two items? 
 Identify common organizational patterns you know from articles.
 Connecting words are often a clue to organizational patterns.  Pay attention to these.
 Write a text summary after reading, making sure that it incorporates the same pattern of
organization as the reading.
 Note that certain connecting words and transitions reflect specific relationships between ideas.
 Steps in or order of a process — first, second, next, finally
 Reasons — since, because
 Consequences— as a result, so, therefore
 Examples — for example, such as
 Relationships— in contrast, on the other hand
  Restating information — in other words, that is
 Conclusions — in conclusion, in summary
 When a text presents two opinions, be sure to mention both opinions in your summary and reflect
the correct relationship between them. 
 Analyze the relationship between the opinions.
 Focus on how the end of one sentence is related to the beginning of the next. 
 State the ideas in a single sentence choosing transition words that best capture the relationship
between ideas.
To summarize, in order to be prepared for the Reading section of iBT, you need to devote time to read and
improve your speed of reading and vocabulary. As you read, make sure you practice techniques that help
you understand the passage effectively and efficiently. Practice skimming, scanning, summarizing, and
paraphrasing each time you read.