How to deal with TOEFL iBT Reading Questions

There are 10 question types. The following chart summarizes the categories and types of TOEFL iBT Reading questions.

TOEFL READING QUESTION TYPES

 (12 to 14 questions per set)

1. Factual Information questions (3 to 6 questions per set)
2. Negative Factual Information questions(0 to 2 questions per set)
3. Inference questions(0 to 2 questions per set)
4. Rhetorical Purpose questions (0 to 2 questions per set)
5. Vocabulary questions (3 to 5 questions  per set)
6. Reference questions(0 to 2 questions per set)
7. Sentence Simplification questions (0 to 1 questions per set)
8. Insert Text question (0-1 questions per set)

Reading to Learn questions (1 per set)

9. Prose Summary
10. Fill in a Table

Type 1:  Factual Information Questions

There questions ask you to identify factual information that is explicitly stated in the passage. They ask you to identify specific information that is typically mentioned only in part of the passage. They generally do not ask about general themes that the passage as a whole discusses. Often the relevant information is in one or two sentences.

How to Recognize Factual Information Questions

Factual information questions are often phrased in one of these ways:

• According to the paragraph, which of the following is true of X?
• The author’s description of X mentions which of the following?
• According to the paragraph, X occurred because…
• According to the paragraph, X did Y because…
• According to the paragraph, why did X do Y?
• The author’s description of mentions which of the following?

Tips for Factual Information Questions

• Refer back to the passage in order to know what exactly is said about the subject of the questions.
• Eliminate choices that present information that is contradicted in the passage.
• Do not select an answer just because it is mentioned in the passage. Your choice should answer the specific question that was asked.

Type 2: Negative Factual Information Questions

These questions ask you to verify what information is true and what information is NOT true or not included in the passage based on information that is explicitly stated in the passage. To answer this kind of question, first locate the relevant information in the passage. Then verify what three of the four answer choices are true and that the remaining choice is false. Remember, for this type of question, the correct answer is the one that is NOT true.

How to Recognize Negative Factual Information Questions

You can recognize negative fact items because either the word “NOT” or “EXCEPT” appears in the question in capital letters.

• According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of X?
• The author’s description of X mentions all of the following EXCEPT

Tips for Negative Factual Information Questions

• Usually a Negative Factual Information question requires you to check more of the passage than a Factual Information question. The three choices that are mentioned in the passage may be spread across a paragraph or several paragraphs.
• In Negative Factual Information Questions, the correct answer either directly contradicts one or more statements in the passage or is not mentioned in the passage at all.
• After you finish a Negative Factual Information Questions, check your answer to make sure you have accurately understood the task.

Type 3: Inference Questions

These questions measure your ability to comprehend an argument or an idea that is strongly implied but not explicitly stated in the text. For example, if an effect is cited in the passage, an Inference question might ask about its cause. If a comparison is made, an Inference question might ask for the basis of the comparison. You should think about not only the explicit meaning of the author’s words, but the logical implication of those words.

How to Recognize Inference Questions

Inference questions will usually include the word infer, suggest, or imply.

• Which of the following can be inferred about X?
• The author of the passage implies that X..
• Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about X?

Tips for Inference Questions

• Make sure your answer does not contradict the main idea of the passage.

• Don’t choose an answer just because it seems important or true. The correct answer must be inferable from the passage.
• You should be able to defend your choice by pointing to explicitly stated information in the passage that leads to the inference you have selected.

Type 4: Rhetorical Purpose Questions

Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing effectively. In Rhetorical Purpose questions you are asked why the author has presented a particular piece of information in a particular place of manner. Rhetorical Purpose questions ask you to show that you understand the rhetorical function of a statement or paragraph as it relates to the rest of the passage.

How to Recognize Rhetorical Purpose Questions

These are examples of the way Rhetorical Purpose questions are typically worded:

• The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to…
• Why does the author mention X?
• The author uses X as an example of …

Tips for Rhetorical Purpose Questions

• Know the definitions of these words or phrases, which are often used to describe different kinds of rhetorical purposes: “definition,” “example,” “to illustrate,” “to explain” “to contrast,” “to refute,” “to note,” “to criticize,” “functions of ”
• Rhetorical Purpose questions usually do not ask about the overall organization of the reading passage. Instead, they typically focus on the logical links between sentences and paragraphs

.

Type 5: Vocabulary Questions

These questions ask you to identify the meanings of individual words and phrases as they are used in the reading passage (a word might have more than one meaning, but in the reading passage, only one of those meanings is relevant.) Vocabulary is chosen as it actually occurs in the passage.

How to Recognize Vocabulary Questions

Vocabulary questions are usually easy to identify. You will see one word or phrase highlighted in the passage. You are then asked a question like this:

• The word X in the passage is closest in meaning to

In the case of a phrase, the question might be:

• In stating X, the author means that

Tips for Vocabulary questions

• Remember that the question is not just asking the meaning of a word; it is asking for the meaning as it is used in passage. Do not just choose an answer just because it can be a correct meaning of the word; understand which meaning the author is using in the passage.
• Reread the sentence in the passage, substituting the word or phrase you have chosen. Confirm that the sentence still makes sense in the context of the whole passage.

Type 6: Reference Questions

These questions ask you to identify referential relationships between the words in the passage. Often, the relationship is between a pronoun and its antecedent (the word to which the pronoun refers).  Sometimes other kinds of grammatical reference are tested (like which or this).

How to Recognize Reference Questions

Reference questions look similar to vocabulary questions. In the passage, one word or phrase is highlighted. Usually the word is a pronoun. Then you are asked

• The word X in the passage refers to

The four answer choices will be words or phrases from the passage. Only one choice is the word to which the highlighted word refers.

Tips for Reference Questions

• If the reference question is about a pronoun, make sure your answer is the same number (singular to plural) and case (first person, second person, third person) as the highlighted pronoun.
• Substitute your choice for the highlighted word or words in the sentence. Does it violate any grammar rules? Does it make sense?

Type 7: Sentence Simplification Questions

In this type of question you are asked to choose a sentence that has the same essential meaning as a sentence that occurs in the passage. Not every reading set includes a Sentence Simplification question. There is never more than one in a set.

How to Recognize Sentence Simplification Questions

Sentence Simplification questions always look the same. A single sentence in the passage is highlighted. You are then asked.

Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

Tips for Sentence Simplification Questions

• Make sure you understand both ways a choice can be incorrect:
• It contradicts something in the highlighted sentence.
• It leaves out something important from the highlighted sentence.
• Make sure your answer does not contradict the main argument of the paragraph in which the sentence occurs, or the passage as a whole.

Type 8: Insert Test Questions

In this type of question, you are given a new sentence and are asked where in the passage it would best fit. You need to understand the logic of the passage, as well as the grammatical connections (like pronoun reference) between sentences. Not every set includes an Insert Text question. There is never more than one in a set.

How to Recognize Insert Text Questions

In the passage you will see four black squares. The squares are located at the beginnings or ends of sentences. Sometimes all four squares appear in one paragraph. Sometimes they are spread across the end of one paragraph and the beginning of another:

You are then asked this question:

Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

[You will see a sentence in bold.]

Where would the sentence best fit?

Your job is to click on one of the squares and insert the sentence in the text.

Tips for Insert Text Questions

• Try the sentence in each of the places indicated by the squares. You can place and replace the sentence as many times as you want.
• Look at both the structure of the sentence you are inserting and the logic. Pay special attention to logical connecting words; they can provide important information about where the sentence should be placed.
• Frequently used connecting words:

On the other hand

For example

On the contrary

Similarly

In contrast

Further, or Furthermore

Therefore

In other words

As a result

Finally

• Make sure that the inserted sentence connects logically to both the sentence before it and the sentence after it.

Type 9: Prose Summary Questions

These items measure you ability to understand and recognize the major ideas and the relative importance of information in a passage. The correct answer choice will synthesize major ideas in the passage.  To select the correct answer, you will need to create a mental framework to organize and remember major ideas and other important information. Understanding the relative importance of information in a passage is critical to this ability.

Type 10: Fill in a Table Questions

In this kind of item, you will be given a partially completed classification table based on information in the passage. Your job is to complete the table by clicking on correct answer choices and dragging them to their correct locations in the table.

Fill in a Table items measure you ability to conceptualize and organize major ideas and other important information from across the passage and then to place them in appropriate categories. This means that you must first recognize and identify the major points from the passage, and then place those points in their proper context.

 (Taken and adapted from McGraw Hill's materials)

10 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR TOEFL READING SKILL

1. Become familiar with reading in English. You should be reading in English every single day. Read the newspaper or news online (such sources are Thanh Nien News, Tuoi Tre News, CNN news, CNN news for teenagers, BBC Newsround for Teens and Kids  and check the Inside Reading series on our site), and find academic papers at the library or online or even take an  online course that suits your interests (check out Academic Earth and Coursera, or if you have an Apple device, iTunes U is an absolutely good pick!). Do not just stick to topics related to areas that you are interested in – become familiar with a variety of subjects!

2. Practice skimming passages rather than spending valuable time reading the passage in detail. (Skimming is when you quickly glance through text rather than reading every single word). Then go back and read the passage more slowly – you will find you understand more now that you know what the key points of the passage are. By practicing using any passage of written English, you will dramatically increase your fluency and reading rate.

3. Highlight the main ideas of the passage - often you will find this in the introduction. Also highlight key points and facts such as numbers and dates. You will not have time to read every paragraph in detail during your TOEFL reading exam and practicing this regularly will increase your reading speed and fluency.

4. Make quick notes after your first or second reading to save time when looking back for the answers to the questions.

5. Do not worry if you are unfamiliar with the topic of the passage. Everything you need to know to answer the questions will be in the passage in your TOEFL reading section and no prior knowledge is required.

6. Do not spend too much time on a question you are completely unsure of. If you do not know the answer to the question, try to eliminate any answers that you feel are not correct. You want to make sure you have enough time for the questions and answers you are sure of!

7. Practice creating charts placing information from the passage in the appropriate category. For the TOEFL iBT reading exam you do not have to create a chart but you will be expected to fill in the chart with the correct choices and this will help you thinking about putting the information you are reading into useful categories.

8. Increase your vocabulary and understanding of idioms – this will help your overall understanding of passages in your TOEFL reading exam. 

9. Guess if you are running out of time – if you have very little time left, it is better to complete all questions than to leave an answer blank. Remember, you will not lose points for incorrect answers in your TOEFL reading exam!

10. Choose unfamiliar words from past TOEFL reading exams and try to guess what they mean from the words surrounding it, as well as using the context of the paragraph. This will help you stay calm during the exam when you come across words you do not know, as you will be well trained to make an educated guess.

HOW TO IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION

10 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR TOEFL WRITING SKILL

1. Make a list of familiar topics – Practice planning and writing an essay for each topic. First, think of one main idea or opinion for each topic and then think of a few points that support this idea or opinion. When you first start practicing this, take at least forty-five minutes to plan, write and check each essay. Once you improve, you should be able to do this in half an hour or less.
2. Write out every word in full - never use abbreviations! Although you may want to save time, abbreviations such as u instead of you are not acceptable for TOEFL writing. 

3. Keep your sentences simple. Only use big words and complicated language if you know how to use them! Although it looks impressive to show your command of English, if you make grammatical mistakes or misuse complicated words it can actually lower your score.

4. Make sure your essay has structure with a strong introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion that unify your thoughts.

HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE ESSAY

5. Do not try to write too much – most TOEFL iBT essays are four to five paragraphs. If you try to write more than this, you will have less time to check for errors or properly plan your responses. Writing too much in a hurry also increases your chances of making mistakes.

6. Become confident with paraphrasing. Read essays, and newspaper articles and practice writing what you have read in your own words (this is paraphrasing). You will receive a score of zero if you simply copy words from the reading passage.

HOW TO PARAPHRASE:

7. Take your time to make sure you completely understand the question – you don’t want to rush into the essay only to find out halfway that you have misunderstood and have to start all over again.

8. Give details and examples to support your opinions – support your statements with reasons explaining why you feel this way. Increase your vocabulary and learn their synonyms, rather than using the same words again and again.

9. Use tenses appropriately. For facts and observations, use present tense. For example 'sun screen is essential if you are going to be out in the sun' or 'I think that everyone should be tolerant of other cultures'. When describing past experiences, use past tense. For example 'When I was a child, I loved to play outside'. 

English tenses and usage

10. Write in English every day. Write in a diary, find friends to write to and get involved in English. The more comfortable you are with writing in English, the better your essays will be, as your ideas will flow more easily and you will have a greater vocabulary on a variety of topics.

HOW TO KEEP A PERSONAL JOURNAL

TOPICS FOR JOURNAL ENTRIES

Vocabulary learning and practice

In TOEFL iBT, having access to a large vocabulary will enable you to obtain a high score in every section – reading, listening, speaking and writing. 

For the TOEFL, you will want to concentrate on academic vocabulary as this is the main focus of the test. An excellent resource for this purpose is the Academic Word List (AWL), put together at the Victoria University of Wellington. They have identified 570 word families that are frequently used in academic texts.

INDIRECT STRATEGIES 
There are many indirect strategies you can employ to enrich your vocabulary. You can read newspapers, magazines, textbooks, brochures, children’s books, and various types of literature. You can also listen to radio broadcasts, the news, interviews, documentaries, movies, conversations and audio books. If your intention is to improve your vocabulary, you will have to listen for new words, check their meaning, keep track of them in a vocabulary notebook and then try to use them in conversation or writing.

DIRECT STRATEGIES 
Better still, is to combine this strategy with a specific vocabulary building program. You can allot even a short time a day, from as little as a few minutes to up to 30 to 60 minutes, and if you work steadily, the results will be impressive. There are a great number of vocabulary resources available for ESL students, as well as specific ones to prepare you for the TOEFL iBT.

A suggestion is using Quizlet, a website that helps you to generate your own flashcard sets. Below is a video that shows you how to use this website:

VOCABULARY RESOURCES 
To identify the best vocabulary textbook for your needs, visit the local library or bookstore and browse through the wide range of books available. If you are an auditory learner, you may prefer to use an audio vocabulary building program, which you can listen to while commuting, jogging, etc. Whatever you choose, find the book or program whose style and system appeals to you. You could also ask the librarian, your ESL teacher or a friend for recommendations, but let the final choice be yours. Building your vocabulary takes time and you need to find a system you are comfortable with and will use consistently.

10 TIPS TO IMPROVE TOEFL LISTENING SKILLS

1. Take past TOEFL listening tests and become familiar with the format. Quickly read the comprehension questions before the recording begins - this helps you to listen out for key points – often there is a lot of content that you will not be tested on – keep your focus and energy for the points that count!

2. Practice note taking whenever you are listening to something in English – only write down key words or phrases, use abbreviations for long words and always write in English. Record only the major points – you won’t have time to write down the minor, unimportant details in the exam.

3. Improve your vocabulary – the more words you know, the easier it will be for you to understand the listening section. 

4. Listen for signal words (signpost words) that indicate major steps, changes or ideas such as seldom, at the moment, in 1975, so far, usually, often, up to now, at the moment. Make sure to also listen out for repetition, synonyms and pronouns.

How to identify SIGNPOST WORDS
(This is a video for strategies in the IELTS test but it is particularly helpful to show how to recognize signpost words and is applicable to the TOEFL iBT test!)

5. Download listening practice lessons, such as lessons on Behind the news, CNN Students news, or Special VOA English and stop it at different times. Try and guess what will happen next! This is a great way to practice your ability to connect and combine ideas. Then go back and listen to the lesson in full and see how well you did.

How to improve TOEFL listening skill: Listening to news

6. Determine the purpose of a conversation or speech– what do you think the speakers are trying to do? Are they angry? Trying to resolve a conflict? Sad? Express an idea? Practice this technique every time you hear English including English movies or TV shows, any reality programs that you are interested in, or even people you hear speaking English on the street! This will help you focus on the key points and improve your ability to filter out information that is not necessary for the TOEFL listening exam questions.

7. Recognize key points – who or what is the conversation about? What is the main point of the lecture? Why are they talking about this? Remember, the TOEFL listening exam is testing your comprehension, not your ability to memorize and repeat what you have just heard!

8. Find connections between ideas – how do these points connect to the key ideas of the passage? If they do NOT connect to the key ideas, they are probably not the major ideas of the passage and you should not focus on them.

9. Pay attention when someone in the exercise asks a question – often it is a clue that information is about to be given. However, this is not always true so be careful for responses that sound a lot like the answer to a question. Listen very carefully as these responses are often there to test your ability to understand the context of what you heard.

10. Categorize the type of exercise you are listening to when taking practice TOEFL listening tests. Ask yourself – is it a lecture (mostly one-sided and on academic topics) or a conversation (language is more informal, two or more people)? This will help you understand the flow of the conversation more clearly