As a TOEFL instructor and author, one thing I have noticed, year in, year out: test-takers do not analyze questions closely enough. The result is they answer incorrectly. When I explain to a test-taker why he/she answered incorrectly, more often than not it is because he/she did not take the time to analyze the question. Instead, they just glanced at the question and rushed off to look for the answer without completely understanding the question.
Remember: When you analyze a question or a prompt, make sure you understand it before you answer. As you analyze the question or prompt, look for signal words. For example, the signal word in the question below is "prior." Prior means before "1904."
1. According to paragraph 3, what did Picasso do prior to 1904?
Simple, yes? Yes. But you'd be surprised how many test-takers miss a simple time word like "prior." Instead, they see only "Picasso" and "1904."
Also, make sure you analyze writing and speaking prompts. For example, look at this prompt:
What are the positive and negative aspects of eating out?
A proficient response will answer both sides of this compare-contrast task. However, many test-takers will see only what they want to see. For example, Silvia loves eating out. In her rush to write her independent essay, she will only write about the positive things about eating out (what she prefers) and nothing about the negative side. But this is not a preference task. This is a compare-contrast task. State your preference in the conclusion after you have answered the prompt using compare-contrast in the body.
Remember: Every TOEFL iBT task has two parts: question + answer. If you do not take the time to analyze and understand the question, then you risk answering incorrectly, which will result in a lower TOEFL iBT score, and Harvard will have to wait.
READ THE QUESTION!
The Pro
Which phase of the moon precedes the waning gibbous?
© Bruce Stirling 2011
