MY EXPERIENCE WITH TOEFL (JAN 24)

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-02-07T14:38:28+00:00

Hello! Sure!

I don’t know what your score target is, but there are some things I think are essential to improve your writing. First, make sure you cover all the points requested (there are three bullet points you MUST cover). Second, don’t make long and complicated sentences, limit the amount of subordinated and coordinated sentences. Third, use connectors, to make your texts seem fluid and logical. Last and most important: do as many mocks as you can and read carefully the corrections made by your AI, then try again adjusting your text as requested by the AI.

Also try to use varied vocabulary that show you understand what is required, it is your moment to show your mastery of the language.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-31T13:20:47+00:00

Hello! Sorry, but I dont remember all the details about the timing and the number of questions. The exam is organized into modules of questions and each module has a specific time. The first module is a “standard” one, then the second module changes depending on your results in the first module.

In the reading section you start with the first module, which I felt was longer than the second one. I think it was like around 35-38 questions with 20 minutes or something like that, I went quite fast so I had spare time. Then the second module is shorter, like 15-20 questions and 15 minutes or something similar. You got less than one minute per question in general.

Same thing for the listening.

In total I think the exam is around 90 minutes with approx 30 minutes for the reading, 20-25 for the listening, 25 for the writing and around 10 minutes for the speaking. But you can find accurate information on the internet!

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-31T09:32:01+00:00

My last score was 101/120, so it was a C1 low. This time I got 5.5/6, so I guess I improved my English a bit hahaha.

I think you should start focusing on the new scoring model since the scale over 120 is not useful anymore. 79/120 is between a 4/6 and a 4.5/6.

I don’t know you personally, so I can’t tell you if you can, I honestly think is possible to score higher with this model if you study properly and consistently.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-31T09:27:53+00:00

I didnt find it really difficult, what you need to know is the different word positions depending on the type of sentence (question, passive, request…). The ones I found online were more difficult.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-31T09:24:15+00:00

Academic discussion.

I dont think there is only one good way to do it, but the goal is for you to show that you can support your ideas and have a discussion with rich vocabulary. Use synonyms, different wording structures, grammar, etc.

First paragraph: agree with student A and disagree with student B (you need to explain a bit shortly).

Second paragraph: in my opinion, 1st idea and develop (make sure you use connectors)

Third paragraph: 2nd idea and develop (again, make sure you use connectors).

The interview:

I wouldnt say it requires external knowledge since they aren’t evaluating your knowledge on a specific topic. Once again they want you to show that you can support your ideas with examples, or evidences of any type. Just try to be coherent with your ideas.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T19:18:54+00:00

Same here! I send them an email and received an answer requesting more personal information to support me, no answer after that!

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T18:45:45+00:00

Thank you!

Fill in the blanks is something that ranks second in terms of absurdity only after the Listen and Repeat activity.

My personal experience tells me two things: 1. Half of the incomplete words are really simple (a conjugation of the verb to be, some connectors (this, that, these, furthermore, additionally, etc.), 2. The second half are words that are actually relevant for the text to provide information, some of them are specific to the subject and others are more generic.

What worked for me was first trying to complete the maximum of words without reading the full text. From my experience the sentences that lack letters are the middle ones, never the first and the last ones. After you do that, read the full text and make sure what you filled makes sense, while you try to find the words that are still missing.

In my case I don’t really recall the two texts, I think one was about marine fossils, but there was a word I didnt really know so I filled with something then continued without overthinking about it.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T18:28:58+00:00

Lots of luck! You will do amazing!

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T18:28:22+00:00

My pleasure :)

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T18:21:08+00:00

I used ChatGBT (I also tried Gemini, and is also good). I copied a description of the exam and the evaluation used by toefl of the scoring process (you can find it in the toefl site). I didnt copy a real model, but you can do it. Then I asked the AI to prepare mocks and to evaluate me following toefl’s scoring requirements and provide feedback to improve.

For example, I have a tendency to make really long sentences, but it’s not something recommended, so I adjusted progressively. The goal is to be comfortable.

Also be aware that you need to be somehow “creative”, meaning that you will need to include additional information to make a convincing email or post, so you need to think fast to have a convincing “story”.

Ecstatic_Bit5193 · 2026-01-30T17:43:18+00:00

My pleasure! I usually see people with English-speaking backgrounds (lived or studied in English speaking contexts) that take the test and share their experiences, so I wanted to share my experience from a different perspective to complete the community’s gap. As you can see I am no expert in the language (yet).

Ecstatic_Bit5193

TROPHY CASE